Filigranes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Delicate ornamental work made from fine wires of metal
2. Artful craftsmanship characterized by intricate designs created with thin gold or silver strands
3. A decorative technique involving intricate lace-like patterns formed by twisting and weaving fine metal filaments

Etymology: "Filigranes" is simply the plural of "filigrane", the French noun for the delicate metalwork known in English as filigree. The singular "filigrane" is the form that carries the word's history: it comes from Italian "filigrana", itself built from Latin "filum", meaning thread, and "granum", meaning grain or seed. The name describes the technique directly, since the craftsman's fine wires were often twisted and soldered into tiny beaded or granular shapes that looked like threads strung with seeds.