History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c34.s4.t4: Filigree

v1.c34.s4.t4.1

The filigree is one of the earliest techniques employed in India for fashioning the ornaments. The work is done in pure silver. The metal is cast into long bars. The long silver bars are cut into small pieces and the same are beaten and drawn into wires, with the help of a *Jantra*. The wires are taken one by one and carefully arranged and cemented on a sheet of mica to produce parts of intricate designs and patterns. Later, the different parts are united by soldering. lastly, the process of cleaning and brightening the surface is completed to give a snowy appearance.