Workshop Clock Challenge - Part 4

Sunday 16th Aug 2026

Workshop Clock Challenge - Part 4

Designing and making the enamelled copper elements

Designing the Hour Plaques

Now that the final design of the clock has been worked out and all the materials collected and prepared, it is time to design & enamel the copper elements. These are the decorative features of the clock and a major reason for making it. They will be like a canvas, displaying some of the wide variety of techniques and effects that can be achieved in the art of vitreous enamelling.

There are many decisions to be made. Should each of these hour plaques have a number, or not? Monochrome or colourful? I wanted to create a strong distinctive look using a combination techniques including stencilling, sgraffito (drawing in enamel powder) & cloisonné (setting shaped wires into enamel).

In enamelling the specially made glass powders can be applied dry through a fine sieve. When using copper it is necessary to enamel the reverse as well as the decorative face, because heat makes the metal flexible and this process makes it firm once more. It’s best to build up layers rather than use one thick one. You can draw through enamel powder to reveal a previously fired layer of contrasting colour beneath and re-fire to preserve your drawing. Alternatively, a shape can be coated in wet enamel, dried thoroughly and a design drawn through to the copper. This second technique enables finer details to be created. Both opaque & transparent enamels can be used.

Enamelling the Hour Plaques

There were 8 hour plaques remaining, so I decided to enamel half these with a black background & created a strong motif based on the shape of the pointed end of the fondue forks. I would later cover this base layer with more colourful enamels and draw a design revealing the black enamel. It was also necessary to cut stencils and templates to apply enamel powder to specific areas ,to achieve the effect I wanted. Finally, copper wire was bent into shape and fired into the enamel, so it became part of the design. The other four hour plaques were made in a similar way to the semi-circular pieces. However I wanted to alter their appearance using a technique which gave the drawn lines a more subtle reddish coppery look. All the enamel colours used in the clock were chosen to complement the wooden mirror frame and silveriness of the stainless steel.

Enamelling the Number Plaques

I decided to make the numbers 3.6.9.12, as circles and in order for them to stand out, enamelled them in black & white. The templates for the figures were designed especially for this project. The number twelve required a larger circle in order to be the most prominent, and visually similar sized numbers seemed more appropriate.

Enamelling the Centre of the Clock

For the centre of the clock I have chosen to feature semi-circular copper shapes. I drew the design the using a fine pointed tool, the heat of the kiln caused the bare copper lines to become very dark contrasting well with the colourful transparent enamels which I added as a covering layer.