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Depleting Craftsman Count
‘To harness a silvery moonbeam and weave it into a delicate lace of
intricate patterns’ – comes close to describing the beauty of a filigree
artifact. Created with only the purest silver or gold, the magician is
the craftsman, whose nimble fingers, guided by his heritage handed down
father to son, brings to life ethereal creations coveted by the kings
and nobility.
Indian’s wealth lies in its rich heritage of crafts that rests in the
hands of the few who inherited the secrets and techniques whispered into
their ears even before they left the cradle.
ANTIQUITY
Historians have attributed the advancement and mastery of the filigree
craft to Egyptians, Greeks and Etruscans around 6 BC to 3 BC. In
Mesopotamia, filigree workmanship in silver and gold, is prevalent to
day and their ‘Telkari’ jewellery is known for its delicate designs.
However, archaeologists have dug up interesting evidence of a highly
evolved filigree making technique dating 2 BC to 2 AD, from Peddabunkur,
Kotlingala, Dhulikata and Kondapur in Andhra Pradesh. Over the years,
outside influences played into the designs. The Portuguese, who produce
fine filigree objects d’ art, may have swapped ideas, and exchanged
influences with the Karimnagar craftsmen. The silver filigree work of
Cuttack in Orissa is known as ‘Tarakashi’, and shares
similarities with Indonesian silver art. The early trade links between
the regions could have led to the swap in ideas. South Indonesia’s Kandari Filigree is likely to have been influenced by the Arab, Persian and Indian traders sailing into the ports. It’s a round world...
