Cloisonne shines again as old crafts regain luster

Bent over a luminous vase of pink peonies, a young craftsman guided his enameling tool in patient, practiced circles at a factory in central Beijing, breathing new life into China's cloisonne tradition.

At Beijing Enamel Factory, cloisonne, which was more broadly used in jewelry and metalware in the ancient royal court, now quietly evolves through the hands of young craftsmen.

"Cloisonne has always been about adaptation," said Zhong Liansheng, chief craft artist at the factory. Born in 1962, Zhong has watched this transformation unfold before his eyes.