Vintage Chinese cloisonne enamel hand bell, enamels on brass. Multi-color flowers with visible partition wires, black enamel background with small clouds shaped out of brass wire; an interior is turquoise enamel with a bead clapper. Unmarked.

The bell is 4.1/2" [11.5cm] tall including handle, c.2" [5.1cm] across at the bottom, very good condition.

Cloisonne is an ancient technique for decorating metalwork objects with colored material, enamels or gemstones, held in place or separated by metal strips or wire. Chinese cloisonne is sometimes confused with Canton enamel, a type of painted enamel on copper that is more closely related to overglaze enamels on Chinese porcelain, or enameled glass. In contrast to Cloisonne, Canton enamel is painted on freehand and so does not use metal wire partitions to hold the colors separate.

US: Priority (c 2-4 days) --------- $12.50
Canada: 1st Class (c 2-6 weeks) -- $27.50
World: 1st Class (c 2-7 weeks) --- $35.50