What is meant by filigree?

Definition of filigree

(Entry 1 of 2) 1 : ornamental work especially of fine wire of gold, silver, or copper applied chiefly to gold and silver surfaces a headband decorated with silver filigree. 2a : ornamental openwork of delicate or intricate design. b : a pattern or design resembling such openwork a filigree of ...

What are examples of filigree?

What does filigree mean in literature?

anything very delicate or fanciful: a filigree of frost.

What is filigree in art?

filigree, delicate, lacelike ornamental openwork composed of intertwined wire threads of gold or silver, widely used since antiquity for jewelry.

What does filigree mean in history?

The word filigree derives from the union of the Latin word “filum” meaning thread and “granum” which means grain (bead). The first main centres of this intricate art were Mesopotamia and Egypt, it then spread through Asia and the Roman Empire.

What does filigree mean?

What is filigree texture?

Filigree is the delicate manipulation of thin strips of metal that are woven and twisted to form incredible texture and detail. The process of making filigree by hand is methodical and time-consuming, starting with stretching metal into thin, threadlike strips.

How is filigree done?

Filigree work is created by carefully twisting, untwisting, curling, and/or plating together thin threads of pliable precious metals, such as gold and silver. Sometimes tiny beads are used too.

Where is filigree from?

Filigree began to be produced in Portugal in the 8th century with the arrival of Arab migrants, who brought new patterns with them. With time, the peninsula began to produce different filigree patterns, but while in Spain the filigree jewellery-making tradition became less relevant, in Portugal it was perfected.

What is silver filigree?

Filigree, called earlier as filigrann or filigrene represents a delicate form of jewellery metalwork, and it is usually made of gold and silver. The pieces of work are accompanied by tiny beads or twisted threads, or both of these in combination.

How do you use filigree in a sentence?

How is filigree jewellery made?

Filigree jewellery is constructed in the opposite way from engraving, in that it is formed by laying ornate patterns of metal fibres onto the jewellery, or creating the structure of the filigree jewellery itself of these fine fibres. The history of this delicate, refined craft is extensive and fascinating.

What is the difference between filigree and Milgrain?

Jewelry with filigree resembled delicate lace, adding grace and femininity to any filigree piece. When small metal beads are applied over and over in small rows to complement filigree, we call it milgrain.

Who invented filigree?

One of filigree's most popular ways of decoration, the granulated work, created with tiny beads and globules of gold soldered to form patterns on a metal surface, was applied by Mesopotamian craftsmen, but Sumerians were probably the first ones to practice this technique of metalwork.

Is gold filigree expensive?

Since precious metals are often less expensive than gemstones, filigree is a relatively inexpensive way to embellish a ring.

How is jewelry made?

In order to create these pieces, a range of techniques are used, from the ultra-traditional cutting of metal using a saw, through soldering, into lost-wax casting and in more recent years 3D technologies such as laser-sintering and digital technologies such as laser-cutting have begun to play a part in the jewellery ...

What is milgrain gold?

Milgrain (sometimes spelled millgrain or milgraine) is a jewelry-detailing technique where tiny metal beads are added, typically to create an ornate border.

What is the etching in a ring called?

Engraving is when the jeweler cuts grooves into the surface of your ring to create images or patterns. Relief is much like engraving but instead of simply carving a pattern into the surface, in a relief the background is deeply cut away to leave a raised surface which is then carefully engraved.

What is the beading called on rings?

Milgrain/Beading: Milgrain, also known as beading, are the small beads of metal used to accent the edge of a setting or add pattern or adornment to features like a halo and bezel. This detail is most often seen as an embellishment on antique or vintage-inspired rings.

How many techniques are used in making filigree jewellery?

Filigree technique in jewellery-making. There are two types of filigree that are determined by the structure of its make. The 'surface filigree' is where the metal threads are twisted and shaped, and then soldered to create the embroidery-like surface.

What jewelry is Portugal known for?

Filigree jewelry in gold and silver is popular in Lisbon and elsewhere in Portugal. The art of ornamental openwork made of fine gold or silver wire dates to ancient times. The most expensive items -- often objets d'art -- are fashioned from 19 1/4-karat gold. Filigree is often used in depictions of caravels.

What is a diamond filigree?

Filigree is a delicate jewelry embellishment in which fine, pliable threads of precious metal are twisted or curled into a design and then soldered onto (or into) a piece of jewelry. The definition of the word filigree comes from the word “filigreen”.

How do you use gibbering in a sentence?

Gibbering sentence example

The argument about whether his tax cuts are a promise, guarantee or strategy made him look like a gibbering idiot. Or, of course, he's just a gibbering loon.