1. Plural of champleve; a decorative technique in which grooves or cells are cut into a metal surface and filled with enamel, then fired and polished smooth.
Usage: art and metalwork; also spelled champlevé or champlevés; from French, meaning 'raised field'

Examples

• The museum's collection includes several medieval champleves with intricate blue and gold designs.
• Champleves differ from cloisonné in that the metal itself is carved away rather than built up with wire.
• The artisan spent months perfecting the champleves technique for the cathedral's altar piece.
• Renaissance craftsmen created stunning champleves by filling carved grooves with colored enamel.
• These champleves demonstrate the skill required to achieve such vibrant, durable decorative work.