Metalwork made of fine gold or silver wire, twisted or coiled into patterns and soldered, usually as openwork.
Filigree uses fine precious-metal wire to build a patterned structure. The maker twists or curls the wire into motifs and joins the elements with solder. A framework can hold smaller coils and twisted wires, with tiny metal beads added as decoration. The V&A’s example of a silver button shows these separate components coming together before cleaning and polishing. Although the result can resemble lace, the pattern is made from assembled metal elements. This construction distinguishes filigree from engraving, which cuts a design into an existing surface.
In job listings
Filigree is most likely to come up in design, bench work and repair. Because the work is so fine, a jeweller may be asked about whether a damaged piece can be repaired, and how visible the work would be. Search local jobs for “jewellery”.
