Portuguese filigree is an openwork pattern made of thin gold or silver thread.
Gold is melted and made into a rod, which is pulled out on a machine so that it turns into a very thin strip - a wall, a frame, a future piece of jewelry. This frame is then filled, creating a pattern of the finest gold or silver threads. By joining and intertwining, the threads create circular patterns, resulting in products of incredible beauty.
Does Portuguese filigree resemble oriental patterns?
Filigree appeared 3000 BC in Mesopotamia. Ancient objects were discovered in Syria and Iraq. Portuguese filigree is reminiscent of oriental patterns. Indeed it is.
How did filigree get to Europe?
Why is filigree considered a national tradition of Portugal?
FiligranaPT.pt
