A filigree is a form of intricate metalwork formed into delicate jewelry (typically gold and silver).

This jewelry, usually of gold and silver, is made with tiny beads or twisted threads, or both in combination, soldered together or to the surface of an object of the same metal and arranged in artistic motifs.

The silver used in filigree openworks must be of high quality.

The first process is melting down silver by traditional techniques, with charcoal or gas.

Further, the metal is cast into a mold which solidifies forming various shaped ingots, of which the most suitable is typically thin and oblong, wire drawing and rolling with a kalandër (rolling mill) as per different diameters.

Guide (wire shaping as desired) is accomplished by means of molds (flat shapes of copper metal that facilitate shaping), following a pre-planned freehand sketch.

The next step is the soldering process of guide wires by gas-air blowpipe burner building up a solid structure (soldering is realized by means of a “secret” substance, a powder containing various components in different ratios, melhem/flux). The work continues with filling up the structure with mainly spiral decorative elements (lacework, birds) and purifying (cleaning up remaining elements from soldering with mineral acid).

The last step is the glazing process performed by employing a baraban/volute (a small drum that contains minuscule centrifugal steel grains).