champlevé

[ shahn-luh-vey ]

adjective

1. of or relating to an enamel piece or enameling technique in which enamel is fused onto the incised or hollowed areas of a metal base.

noun

, plural champ·le·vés [shah, n, -l, uh, -, vey, -, veyz].

1. an enamel piece made by the champlevé method.
2. the technique used to produce champlevé enamels.

champlevé

/ ʃɑ̃lve; ˌʃæmpləˈveɪ /

adjective

1. of or relating to a process of enamelling by which grooves are cut into a metal base and filled with enamel colours

noun

1. an object enamelled by this process

Word History and Origins

Origin of champlevé¹

1855–60; < French, past participle of champlever to lift (i.e., take out) a field (i.e., a flat part), make hollow places on the ground to be engraved; camp ¹, lever

Word History and Origins

Origin of champlevé¹

C19: from champ field (level surface) + levé raised

Example Sentences

As we entered, I could not help being impressed by the wealth of articles in beautiful cloisonne enamel, in mother-of-pearl, lacquer, and champleve.

From Project Gutenberg