Cloisonné is the art of applying a bronze or copper wire on a metal object and then filling in the space with colored glass paste, or enamel. The word “cloisonné” comes from the French word “cloisson”, or “cloissons” which means partitions or cells. Chinese cloisonné is probably the most well known but is sometimes confused with Canton enamel, a similar type of enamel work that is painted on freehand and does not utilize metal partitions to hold the colors separate. During the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) cloisonné enamels were considered too brightly colored to please the Chinese scholar, who found them to be too fancy and extravagant compared to the matte finish of a simple glazed porcelain bowl or a landscape painting done in ink. However, Chinese temples and imperial palaces were places which were furnished primarily with cloisonné.