What I Have Learned About Filigree.

[Dennis]

Here's another way to skin a rabbit, or in this case, mount a pearl.

Intending to make a fancy ring for a summer visitor, I sent off for a large black pearl, but when it arrived I could see that to show it off would require quite delicate metal work. So my mind turned to filigree which had been demonstrated to my weekly class a while back.

Filigree is traditional in several countries around the Mediterranean and also in Russia and South America. Usually it is passed down as a family secret, but my links to the videos below let several cats out of the bag.

Basically it is made out of very thin strip, by rolling or drawing plain or twisted wire which is turned into loose spirals, coaxed into shape and fitted tightly into a decorative frame. Soldering is done with filings of solder, or with pallions.

For forming of the delicate spirals short tweezers are used, or the turns can be made by inserting the tip of a three square needle file into the centre. Once soldered it is brushed vigorously in a bowl of brackish water, or a nearby pond with a brass brush. Elf an safety would have a fit.

This technique is much more difficult than it looks and would take months if not years of practice to achieve a really professional result.
Two of the more revealing videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcVhkq4nxo4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLShQYztBHI

Pearl supplied by Pearlescense. Dennis.