Silver filigree work has its origins in Mesopotamia and Egypt from where it spread to Turkey and other parts of Asia. From Turkey, it was exported with Ottoman rule into Yugoslavia and Greece. It is also known as cift isi (tweezer work) and vav isi from the Arabic letter vav which is somewhat similar to “g” and is a frequently used motif.
All the work involved in the creation of a filigree piece is carried out by the same craftsman. This involves the design of the object as well as the production of the silver wire from which the frame, and infill motifs, are made.
Productions of the Objects
Some of the beautiful objects produced are flatware – plates, trays, belts, bracelets, mirror frames – but others are hollowware, filigree coffee cup holders were once particularly popular when the cups themselves were made without handles. Whatever the desired result from, the design is first drawn flat on paper, but if the object is to be hollow the paper is manipulated into shape before the design is completed.
The production of the silver wire involves risk, considerable strength and special equipment. The silver is melted in a crucible then poured into a mold to make thin rods that are drawn through steel plates with tapering holes until wire 1 mm in diameter is produced. During this process, the metal is constantly reheated and coated with beeswax. In the early stages, the pulling is done by hand, using pliers but when this becomes impossible the wire is tied to the craftsman’s water buffalo hide belt and he uses his weight to finish the job.
The piece is completed on a flat walnut slab, which has been flamed to burn off the oil and compressed for several days. Every filigree object has a frame (muntac) to which the different motifs are attached. The muntac is made first with a double thickness of wire then the fine wire is shaped to make the motifs that fit into the openings. The motifs are not soldered to the frame but welded with a silver and borax mixture. After the motifs are in place the final, smallest, decorations (silver balls, etc.) are welded on. In the case of hollowware, the frames and motifs are prepared in sections on the flat surface and then welded together supported by hardwood or metal molds.
These craftsmen are still working in Turkey, often in villages and small towns, from where their work is collected for sale in the cities and tourist resorts.
