Mastering a miniature world
- Anita is renowned for her intricate enamel watch dials
- Her work is in demand by the biggest names in watchmaking
- She has won many prestigious prizes during her career
Anita Porchet is the best-known enamel artist working in watches today. She was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, in the very heart of Switzerland’s fine watchmaking region. And it is precisely in the luxury watchmaking industry where she has become famous for the splendid dials and cases that she skilfully decorates with the sophisticated enamelling techniques of cloisonné, champlevé, plique-à-jour, email Grand Feu, paillonné and miniature painting. In 1994 she opened her workshop, where, besides carrying out her own enamelling work, she has for the past ten years taught enamelling skills to other artisans.
INTERVIEW
In my childhood, when I found myself a place filled with calm and beauty, where I felt protected. This place was my godfather’s workshop. It’s thanks to him that I am an enameller today. I set up my workshop in exactly the same way he did, with a maple tree in front of the window.
It requires patience, meticulousness and great knowledge of the alchemy of colours and their transformation when exposed to high temperatures. It also takes great psychological endurance, because failure is quite common.
I love immersing myself in the world of miniature, and I love the tranquillity of my workshop. I also like how long it takes to achieve these objects. Nothing can be done quickly and it is necessary to accept that you are not in control of the material. It’s very humbling.
The basic material is a simple coloured piece of glass, which becomes precious thanks to the expertise of the artisan. It’s a craft that we try to master, but we have to accept that there is a part of it we cannot control. It’s the fire that will decide.
