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What is Basse-Taille

Basse-taille

Basse-taille is a French word that means "shallow cut." It refers to an enameling technique which has chased relief metal that is overlaid with a translucent enamel finish. In the technique, the metal is engraved deeply enough so that the enamel can be held when heated. It has sides high enough to be sure that the colors of the enamel are kept separate. The addition of the translucent enamel allows light to reflect from the relief and creates a very artistic effect. The end result has a lovely play of light and shade and a brilliance of tone.

The process of basse-taille was developed in Italy in the 13th century, and was especially popular in Europe during the Gothic and Renaissace periods. This technique was also very popular with mid 20th century Scandinavian silversmiths such as David Andersen. The technique has also been called "translucent enameling."

Examples of Basse Taille Jewelry: (click the pictures for more detail)

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