Tolin's 2024 World Cruise blog posts, Day 114, May 2, 2024, Leixoes, Portugal, The Art of Filigree
Porto, also
known as Oporto, is the second largest city in Portugal after Lisbon. It is
the capital of the Porto
District and one of the Iberian
Peninsula's major urban areas. Porto city proper, which is the
entire municipality
of Porto, is small compared to its metropolitan area, with an estimated
population of just 237,559 people in a municipality with only 16 square miles. Porto's
metropolitan area has around 1.7 million people (2021) in
an area of 925 square miles, making it the second-largest urban
area in Portugal. It is recognized as a global
city with a Gamma + rating from the Globalization and World
Cities Research Network.
Located along the Douro River estuary in northern Portugal,
Porto is one of the oldest European centers and its core was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996,
as the "Historic Centre of Porto, Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do
Pilar." The historic area is also a National Monument of
Portugal. The western part of its urban area extends to the coastline of
the Atlantic Ocean. Its settlement dates back many centuries when it was an
outpost of the Roman
Empire. Its combined Celtic-Latin name, Portus
Cale, has been referred to as the origin of the name Portugal,
based on transliteration and
oral evolution from Latin.
Port wine, one of
Portugal's most famous exports, is named after Porto, since the metropolitan
area, and in particular the cellars of Vila Nova
de Gaia, were responsible for the packaging, transport, and export
of fortified
wine. In 2014 and 2017, Porto was elected The Best
European Destination by the Best European Destinations
Agency. Porto is on the Portuguese Way path of the Camino de Santiago.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porto
Diane and I chose to go on an excursion to witness the centuries old craftmanship, The Art of Filigree. Our bus ride was nearly two hours each way but worth the time. We saw great scenery as we travel over hill and dale.
THE ART OF FILIGREE IN JEWELRY-MAKING: INTRICATE ELEGANCE FROM TWINED METAL THREADS
In the realm of jewelry-making, few techniques are as intricate and captivating as filigree. With its delicate patterns and intricate designs, filigree has been a cornerstone of jewelry craftsmanship for centuries. This ancient technique involves meticulously shaping and arranging fine threads of metal to create stunning, lace-like jewelry pieces. In this article, we delve into the captivating world of filigree, exploring its history, process, notable designers and iconic jewelry pieces that have immortalized this timeless technique.
THE INTRICATE BEAUTY OF FILIGREE
Filigree is a jewelry-making technique that dates back to ancient civilizations, including the Egyptians, Greeks and Etruscans. The term “filigree” is derived from the Latin words “filum” (meaning thread) and “granum” (meaning grain).
This technique involves twisting and curling thin metal wires into beads and other decorative flourishes.
These are then soldered together, or to the surface of an object of the same metal, to create an ornate pattern.
These patterns often resemble delicate lacework, creating an illusion of lightness despite the metal’s weight.
FILIGREE TOOLS
THE FILIGREE PROCESS
The filigree technique is a labor-intensive process that requires precision, patience and a keen eye for detail. Here’s a simplified breakdown of the steps involved:
Design: A skilled jeweler conceptualizes a design, envisioning the patterns and shapes that will form the filigree piece.
Metal Preparation: Thin wires of gold, silver or other precious metals are carefully selected. These wires are often flattened, twisted or coiled to achieve the desired effect.
Soldering: The metal wires are meticulously soldered onto a base, forming the outline of the filigree design.
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