In the north of Portugal, gold is another word for Minho. Generation after generation, it is here where many craftsmen work the most delicate gold wires. This is the art craft of the filigree. While a symbol of social distinction, the Portuguese filigree was also seen as an investment of high-value put forth amongst traditional families. Both the better-off and more modest families use the pieces as precious accessories in special occasions, perhaps and most prominently in the bride’s wedding dress. The pieces are commonly worn by women in folklore dance groups all across the Minho region. Fully hand-made, the craftsmanship demands great patience, as well as imagination and utter skilfulness.
