A Virtual Tour of a Cloisonne Factory On the Outskirts of Beijing   In June 1998 I visited this cloisonne factory on the outskirts of Beijing. The women who worked here labor eight or more hours a day for six days a week under very rigorous working conditions. Cloisonne is an ancient art form that was considered so beautiful, it was reserved for the emperor and his family only. Cloisonne is made by hand through a painstaking process. Women lay the copper wire frame on the copper vase by hand. The work is tedious and, over time, it can damage a woman's eyesight.   Once the outline of the design is laid out, the women then pour in the enamel to fill the outlines. The vase is then sent to be fired. Up to this point, all the work is done by women, who are paid less than their male counterparts. Women factory workers are provided with housing and child care and earn approximately $30 a month.   Men fire the vases, and then polish them. At this point, they are ready to be sold. Prices for small cloisonne goods may begin around $10 US; prices for larger and more detailed commodoties may run into the hundreds and thousands of dollars. Thousands of tourists visit these factories every year. Our delegation, which consisted of nine women, collectively spent more than the monthly earnings of 30 women workers at the factory. This art form once considered fit for the gods is made through the backbreaking labor of thousands of Chinese women.   Created by Dr. Deborah Vess, copyright 1998. All rights reserved.   Return to China: Development Return to Global Issues Home page Return to GC&SU Home Page Return to "Women Hold Up Half the Sky"