Plique-a-jour, pleek ah ZHOOR, is a delicate type of enameling. It is produced by forming an object out of wire and filling the spaces with colored enamel. Firing then bonds the enamel to the wire. Plique-a-jour enamels are the most translucent enamels. They produce a glittering stained glass effect because there is no solid background to stop the light. Glittering plique-a-jour enamels often give the effect of small jewels. The process originated in France, probably in the 1300's. See also Enamel.