Historical origin of painted enamel

Painted enamel originated from France in western Europe, and was introduced to China by European businessmen and missionaries in the16th century. It was first born in Guangdong, and it is called "burning green" or "wide enamel" and "foreign enamel" locally. As soon as this exquisite craft entered China, it was loved and valued by emperors of past dynasties. Emperor Kangxi, Emperor Yong Zhengdi and Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty all set up enamel workshops in Beijing Palace and Guangdong, and sent excellent enamel painters from Guangdong to Beijing for mass production many times. All their enamel products were for the royal family to enjoy. Enamel products reached their peak in the three generations of Kang, Yong and Gan in the Qing Dynasty, and the country declined in the late Qing Dynasty, and gradually became scarce after the war in the Republic of China. Beijing is famous for cloisonne, and Guangdong is famous for painting enamel. The crafts of the two places have their own characteristics. Both of them are two treasures of China's traditional enamel craft, enjoying high reputation at home and abroad.