cloisonné

[ kloi-zuh-ney; French klwa-zaw-ney ]

noun

1. enamelwork in which colored areas are separated by thin metal bands fixed edgewise to the ground.

adjective

1. pertaining to, forming, or resembling cloisonné or the pattern of cloisonné.

cloisonné

/ klwɑːˈzɒneɪ; klwazɔne /

noun

1. 1. a design made by filling in with coloured enamel an outline of flattened wire put on edge
   2. the method of doing this

adjective

1. of, relating to, or made by cloisonné

Word History and Origins

Origin of cloisonné¹

1860–65; < French, equivalent to cloison partition ( Old French < Vulgar Latin *clausiōn-, stem of *clausiō; Latin claus ( us ) closed ( clause, close ) + -iō -ion ) + -é < Latin -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of cloisonné¹

C19: from French, from cloisonner to divide into compartments, from cloison partition, ultimately from Latin claudere to close ²

Example Sentences

“I was blown away by her incredible sense of design, how she uses a very tiny brush to make little lines that keep the glazes separated, similar to the look of cloisonné,” Gulbran says.

From Los Angeles Times

After he died, Mary inherited his home, Garden Lodge, which he'd filled with collections of everything from tiny cloisonné boxes to 16th-century furniture, closets of clothing, walls lined with gold and platinum records, books of handwritten lyrics, jewelry by Cartier, art by Picasso and Chagall.

From Salon

Though his sleeves were rolled down and fastened by cloisonne cufflinks, I recognized him as the tattooed man from the Whitechapel Club.

From Literature

Early Monday, Ye posted a photo showing cloisonné pins of his and Kardashian’s faces, with an alien face between them.

From Los Angeles Times

From dozens of business trips over the years, he gave me one gift: a cloisonné Japanese compact, an odd gift for a 10-year-old.

From Salon

Related Words

• coating
• glaze
• lacquer
• stain
• varnish