How was it made? Guilloché enamelling | V&A

Guilloché is a highly decorative technique which has been used in metalwork since the 18th century to create intricate patterns - such as waves and ripples - and luminescent colours on a metal surface. Combining mechanical engraving and translucent enamels (coloured glass powder, fused to the metal with intense heat), guilloché can only be achieved with specialised machinery known as ornamental lathes. Watch as an engine turner and an enameller decorate a metal plate with the centuries-old enamelling process.
00:00 Sharpening the engraving tool
00:24 Preparing the metal plate
00:52 Engraving with the rose engine turning lathe
02:12 Preparing the engraved plate for enamelling
02:20 Grinding coloured glass to make enamel
03:18 Applying the enamel
03:35 Firing, smoothing and polishing
04:16 The finished piece
Find out more about our enamels collection: www.vam.ac.uk/collections/ena...

[@vamuseum]

Find out more about enamel on our website! www.vam.ac.uk/collections/enamels

[@Oldtanktapper]

I’ve been checking out a few videos on guilloché enamel and engine turning work, and this bloke is hands down the fastest, most confident operator I’ve seen yet. I don’t know who he is but he’s obviously got more than a few hours experience on those beautiful machines, top notch workmanship.

[@susprime7018]

Love guilloche enamel work, engine turning is so nice on old boxes and compacts.

[@valeridawn]

This should have been listed as an ASMR . Wonderful sounds. Great visuals. Relaxing.

[@ande100]

I love and adore watching master crafters demonstrate. Thank You, V&A to proof yet again why I adore You as an institution, it's staff and contribution to preserve and educate!

[@alanbirkner1958]

Several years ago, I saw a collection of snuffboxes at LACMA, they were like jewels. I love fine enamel work. Tina, Al's wife

[@carolinegreenwell9086]

I love enamel, and it's fascinating to see how it's achieved

[@thomashverring9484]

I saw Clickspring do this a few months ago. He had invested in a Rose Engine engraving machine. Quite interesting!

[@Dosbomber]

Thanks, I couldn't remember where I'd seen this before, and Clickspring was the answer.

[@barbaralilygreen6667]

That is very very cool!!

[@richardgabriel1406]

Fantastic! Thanks for showing this remarkable process!

[@shellstars]

I had no idea. Love it.

[@tracyfrost]

That is a lot of very fine work.

[@lorawaring883]

So beautiful. And that cutter is COOL. You must have been doing this a long time to be so skilled, to do such lovely work. THe enamel, the design....wow.

[@stephaniemuller5500]

beautiful, beautiful video. So lovely to find out about this art!

[@masimons165]

Hello, I have small remark about the editing of the video: is it possible to put the subtitles up a little higher so they are not blocked when the video is paused? This would really help with accessibility since some people need a bit more time to read and understand the subtitles. Right now the progress bar runs straight through the subtitles when the video is paused. Thank you for considering!

[@lov3lou]

Hi there😊 after you’ve paused the video, tap the screen again (to the side away from the bar/text) and the progress bar will disappear so you can read the text. Tap again and the progress bar will reappear to restart the video. Hope this helps ❤

[@masimons165]

@@lov3lou Thank you for the tip, but this does not work on my laptop.

[@TinglyTigress]

I really appreciate the videos you create - they are all interesting and relaxing at the same time. Thank you!

[@RyanEglitis]

Oh cool, another straight-line engine. Clickspring got one of these a while back, and they always make such amazing patterns.

[@TheArmachillo]

I believed these are more visually effective with a voice over. It is hard to observe what they're doing while trying to read subtitles. Love your videos and content ✨

[@jaycobie]

The subtitles wrongly called the machine a rose engine lathe. It's not a rose engine, it's a straight-line engine, though both are considered guilloché.

[@wombleofwimbledon5442]

What are you, some kind of Clickspring viewer?

[@thomashverring9484]

@@wombleofwimbledon5442 Hahaha! Great! I should have looked at the comments before I made my own about Clickspring and his Rose Engine.

[@mgbrv8]

Was this queen victorias rose engine I know she was gifted one. And used one

[@henriettahall9731]

Fascinating. Any recommendations for artisans who fix old G? I have a piece which was damaged in a fire. I'd dearly like to get it restored. Im SE uK based

[@HomeBologn]

This looks like a straight-line engine. Isn’t that different from a Rose Engine? Not that it matter, it’s just a nitpick.

[@michelhv]

Oh wow, just like Clickspring!

[@momwifesoulyoga1226]

Also ASMR ❤ very nice sounds 😊

[@b_uppy]

Should have started with definition of the enamel...

[@CFinch360]

There's a definition of enamel in the video description area, you might like to start with that.

[@b_uppy]

@@CFinch360 Well aware it's there. Would have been better to include it in the video because the dropdown fails to be available if you watch on TV...

[@ande100]

​@@b_uppySome self initiative can go a long way! Inconvenience to You is not the museums first thought when making and posting videos. Your choice on how to watch shall be no blame and or reason to complain to the museum. Jmho

[@b_uppy]

@@ande100 This is a video, and it is shown on TV. Museums can lose relevancy if they forget the perspective of the audience and focus on the esoteric alone...

[@ande100]

@@b_uppy About everybody who is subscribed to the channel can GOOGLE to get further info if needed. No reason to give a "should" comment. The museum knows their stuff! If I wanna know details about unknown topics, my first step is to Google. Many times a video is self explanatory, if not; I watch the video again to understand what I missed the first time and watch again with greater understanding. The way to learn is to be inquisitive sans expectations of neither deliverance nor content. All accumulated knowledge is a source of judgement ill or well. Jmho

[@lukewilsonhere]

Who else is here from @Doodlebud?!