Charlotte Hoe - Master Enamelist, Royal Insignia

This is plique a jour (French for letting in daylight). Here, she is bending the silver wires into shape

Recently I got to meet and know Charlotte Hoe, through my other friend that I've photographed, Matthias. If you remembered, he's the local metal craftsman whom I've previously photographed and got to know!

Charlotte is a highly skilled vitreous enamelist based in Singapore. She works at Royal Insignia, a renowned atelier whose artisans specialise in crafting bespoke luxury gifts that has found clients in Royal families all around the world, from the Kingdom of Brunei to the Royalties in the Arab world.

Today, Charlotte is one of the most talented vitreous enamelist at Royal Insignia. Her days at work involve a lot of time in the studio, carefully crafting her creations.

One of the most crucial step in the enameling process is the firing of enamel powder in the kiln.

Charlotte carefully selects the enamel colors that she wants to use, and applies them to the metal surface in thin layers. She then fires the piece in the kiln, allowing the enamel to melt and fuse to the metal surface.

Another technique that Charlotte excels at is plique a jour, which is French for letting in daylight. Here, she bends silver wires into shape, creating delicate designs that allow light to pass through the translucent enamel. It is a highly complex and delicate process that requires a lot of skill and patience.

Before applying the enamel powder, Charlotte spends a significant amount of time grinding it into a fine powder. This is a painstaking process that requires a lot of attention to detail, as any impurities in the enamel powder can affect the final outcome of the piece.

Charlotte's work is a beautiful testament to the artistry and craftsmanship of vitreous enameling. She continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in this field, and her creations are highly sought after by collectors and art enthusiasts around the world.

If you would like to check out her skilled enamel works:
https://www.instagram.com/charrlotteh/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/royalinsignia/?hl=en

And special thanks to Royal Insignia for giving me the opportunity to photograph and document the process itself!