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Which metals are commonly used as bases for enamelled jewelry?

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Samson killing Philistines — Enamelwork Standing dish depicting Samson crushing the Philistines with the jawbone of an ass, enamel on copper by Pierre Courteys, c. 1580; in the Taft Museum of Art, Cincinnati, Ohio. Height 9.8 cm, diameter 22.9 cm.

In the context of enamelwork, the metals most commonly used as bases for enamelled jewelry are gold, silver, and copper.12

These metals serve as the foundation for various enameling techniques, such as cloisonné, champlevé, basse-taille, and plique-à-jour. When enamel is applied to these surfaces, it is often placed into areas that have been cut lower or are surrounded by a raised rim of the base metal. Because transparent enamel allows light to pass through, it can catch reflections from the underlying metal, which highlights any engraving or decorative work performed on the surface. While copper is frequently used for its malleability and suitability for these processes, gold and silver are also traditional choices for high-quality jewelry pieces.132