Craft comparison

Under review

Filigree (Malileh) vs Jewellery and gem setting

ملیله‌کاری · جواهرسازی

Filigree (Malileh): A metalworking technique in which fine drawn wires of silver or gold, often twisted or beaded, are soldered into openwork lattices and coiled floral forms to build jewellery, vessels and decorative panels. Jewellery and gem setting: Iranian jewellery ranges from gold and gem-set court ornaments to silver tribal adornment, often combining enamel, turquoise, pearls and coloured stones.

Side by side

Filigree (Malileh)Jewellery and gem setting
Persian nameملیله‌کاریجواهرسازی
CategoryMetalwork · WireworkMetalwork · Gold and silver jewellery
Materialssilver, coppersilver, turquoise
Techniqueswire-filigreewire-filigree, metal-enamelling
Regionsisfahan, sistan-baluchestanisfahan, mashhad
Periodsqajar, pahlavi, contemporaryseljuk, safavid, qajar, contemporary
Motifseslimi-arabesque—
Current vitalityAt riskLiving tradition

What they share

  • Materials: silver
  • Techniques: wire-filigree
  • Regions: isfahan
  • Periods: qajar, contemporary

How to tell them apart

  • Materials such as copper point towards Filigree (Malileh).
  • Materials such as turquoise point towards Jewellery and gem setting.
  • Jewellery and gem setting typically involves metal-enamelling.
  • The stated place of making is a useful clue, but never proof on its own.

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Disclaimer

This comparison is educational and built from entries still under review. It cannot confirm what a particular object is.