The word filigree means the art of twisting and plaiting very fine threads of silver into a beautiful work of art. Each end is solder together to make a certain design and will last for a life time. One of the oldest forms of jewelry making filigree sterling silver has been perfected through the centuries and is still made today.
One very nice aspect about filigree sterling silver is it hand crafted, no machines can make the fine threads and weave them into a pattern. This technique is passed down from generation to generation, one making a ring or pendant will spend hours and hours on just one piece to get the perfection associated with this craft. The lapidary masters of jewelry never reveal their secrets except the family members or maybe their apprentice.
History has it that the art of filigree sterling silver started in India and crossed the countries lining the Mediterranean Sea. But then again the Celts say they are the ones that have the claim on it. Being perfected probably during the tenth and eleventh centuries, Ireland holds the title of the most filigree sterling silver jewelry ever made.
The Irish filigree sterling silver is known to have one thread of silver that will make up the entire piece of jewelry. You can see many different shapes and sizes, usually only one piece of silver has been used. Greece and Italy became quite knowledgeable in the art of making filigree sterling silver pieces as late as the sixteenth century.
As the centuries came and went precious gems and stones were laced into the filigree and became such a hit that the artisans could hardly keep up with the demand. Sadly many companies have tried to make filigree with machines and if one does get a piece made that way, it will not be as pretty as if it were made by hand. Of course it is cheaper to make a stamp and mass produce filigree and it is less costly, there is no comparison.
Upon the death of Queen Victoria, Edward became king and brought back the delicate art of filigree sterling silver jewelry. It has such elegance and can be made into any design one wishes it to be. When the Art Nouveau era came to be, around the end of the 1800’s and the beginning of the 1900’s, it was just it to have a piece of this jewelry.
There are many different variations of filigree; it can be made from gold, silver, platinum and sterling silver. When one has a piece made of any of these metals, they have a piece of history. Other than looking lovely on almost any type of clothing, it conjures up the idea of the old masters slaving over their wooden tables, interlacing the thread into a masterpiece.
I have a number of filigree sterling silver pieces that have been handed down to me through the years and I will never give them up. This goes to generation to generation as it will never lose its beauty.
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