smalto

Smalto is the Italian term for enamel, a vitreous coating that is fused to a substrate such as metal or ceramic to form a hard, glossy surface. Enamel coatings are valued for their color, brightness, and resistance to corrosion, and they can be applied to a range of objects from jewelry to domestic wares.

The enamel itself is a glassy composition based on silica with fluxes and stabilizers, plus colorants made from metal oxides. It is usually applied as a powder or slurry and then fired in a kiln. The firing temperature and duration depend on the specific enamel and substrate, producing a durable, glass-like layer when the coating re-melts and adheres.

In practice, smalto encompasses several techniques. On metal, historical methods include cloisonné, where wires create compartments filled with enamel, and champlevé, where recessed areas are filled with enamel. In ceramics, smalto can refer to enamel glazes applied to pottery surfaces, often over a tin glaze in Italian maiolica traditions, followed by firing to fuse the glaze. Enamel colors can be layered to produce detailed decorative imagery in jewelry, religious objects, and decorative panels.

Historically, enameling has roots in ancient civilizations and evolved through Byzantine and medieval Europe, with Italian workshops contributing to its Renaissance refinement. In modern times, enamel coatings are widely used in jewelry, watch dials, cookware, architectural metalwork, and art restoration, offered in various formulations including lead-containing and lead-free systems and a range of firing temperatures.

Smalt, a related term in English and other languages, refers to cobalt-containing blue enamel pigments and is often associated with enamel painting techniques.