A heritage showcase

Visitors can appreciate a total of 30 cloisonne works that feature distinctive cultural elements, including the Dunhuang grottos and Chinese zodiac animals.

The Zun of Peace was created by Chinese cloisonne artist Qian Meihua at the age of 82, as a present for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 2009. A zun was a bronze wine vessel used in ancient China and Qian's work features doves of various shapes and colors, as well as blossoms and birds. It conveys peace, harmony and auspiciousness and expresses a wish for the world's prosperity.

A pen container by cloisonne artist Zhong Liansheng also ensures one to appreciate cloisonne's delicate charm at close quarters. The container is instilled with a fashion sense for its romantic snowy patterns. Zhong showed his cloisonne works to international guests at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He says he is thrilled to present cloisonne works in the city's Winter Olympic Village now.

"It's a historic opportunity for Beijing to host both Olympics," he says. "We hope to have the world better appreciate traditional feats and cultural heritage through the international platform of the Winter Games."

Cloisonne enamel craft matured during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Craftsmen first flatten the thin and fine copper wires to make various patterns by hand, and then pinch, weld and paste them on a cooper mold. The patterns are colored with an enamel glaze. A cloisonne item is completed after a complex procedure that includes firing, polishing and gold plating.

To date, Beijing cloisonne has integrated bronze and enamel crafts and inherited traditional painting and metal chiseling. It gives off an air of the majestic palace art with its elegant shapes, diverse patterns and rich colors. Cloisonne has been put on top of the well-known eight palace handicrafts of Yanjing (Beijing) that are cloisonne, jade and ivory carvings, carved lacquer, painted and inlaid lacquer, filigree, Beijing embroidery and imperial carpet.