Glossary · Case & Dial
Enamel ground
A fired enamel base supporting subsequent painted-enamel decoration.
Explanation
The V&A explains that improved miniature painting in enamel around 1630 used a metal support covered with a fired enamel ground, subsequently painted with metal oxides and fired in stages. The ground is not merely an unfired paint primer. Its appearance in a photograph does not identify every layer or the firing sequence of a particular object. The museum’s general account explains the technique, while accession 2359-1855 identifies a surviving painted-enamel watch by Nicolas Bernard.
Sources & references
Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.
In the object catalogue
Catalogued objects whose own source record mentions “Enamel ground”. The quoted line shows where; it is the seller’s or museum’s wording, not independent verification.
