The secret to cloisonné is that it’s miniature stained glass, and the glass is molten, and the wire is placed first. That’s three secrets.

Thought to have been brought from central Asia by the Yuan (1300s) and referenced in Yuan texts, the earliest known cloisonné examples are from the 1400s Ming.

It was always more prized than porcelain, until the mid-late Qing (1800s). Often used for altar items and animal statues. Early cloisonné used hand-hammered wire, often doubled over and pounded into thin strips. 20th century wire has consistent width. Use a 10X loupe to look closely.