Enamels of the World 1700-2000 on Display in Moscow

The State Hermitage Museum has opened the exhibition Enamels of the World 1700-2000. The exposition introduces works of enamel art by masters of Europe and the Far East. More than 300 items have been brought to the capital by the collector David Khalili. One of the most unusual exhibits is a silver wine vessel made in one of the early techniques. Masters would make special cavities in the metal surface, and then filled them with enamel powder. Afterwards the object was baked and polished. It was the so-called champlevé enamel. Other known technologies are relief enamel and partition enamel. Platters decorated in such methods were used in Old Rus during important receptions to served bread-and-salt. The exhibition is times to the 245th anniversary of the Hermitage Museum. It runs till March 14, 2010.