emalj

Emalj is the term used in Swedish and Norwegian to denote enamel, a vitreous coating fused to a substrate by firing. In these languages, emalj covers both vitreous enamel used on metal and ceramic objects and the natural dental enamel when discussed in general terms.

In enamelwork, powdered glass frits are applied to a prepared surface and fired at high temperature until they flow and fuse into a smooth, glassy layer. The process can produce transparent, translucent, or opaque colors, and multiple layers may build complex designs. Common techniques include vitreous enamel on metal, porcelain enamel on ceramic, and decorative methods such as cloisonné and basse-taille, which create compartments or reliefs filled with enamel.

Enamel coatings have a long history, with early enamelware appearing in the ancient Near East and China, and later flourishing in medieval Europe. In modern craft and industry, emalj-style coatings provide color, corrosion resistance, and wear protection for jewelry, cookware, sanitaryware, and architectural objects. In dentistry, the term enamel refers to the natural outer layer of teeth, the hard substance that protects underlying dentin but is not a coating applied by firing.

See also: enamel; porcelain enamel; cloisonné; dental enamel.