islandfiligree.com

Hi there!

We just put up a new storefront with a lot of new items. We are still in the process of adding new items, and will have some lovely items up in time for St. Valentine’s! In the meantime, we hope you will enjoy browsing for handmade filigree jewelry from our new storefront.

“Filigree: Tradition and Innovation” has been launched on Friday 9th of October, showcasing works of  two filigree artisans and artists Kevin Attard and Charmaine Gerada. The exhibition will be open until the 13th of November and is certainly worth a visit if you’re on the island! Charmaine Gerada and Kevin Attard are both veteran filigree artisans who will be exploring and showing the beauty of what filigree can do in this month-long exhibition. Don’t miss it! The exhibition is being held at Palazzo Castellania, 15, Merchants Street, Valletta, Malta.

Hello hello!
As you can see we have been making some radical changes to our website! Soon we will move to a new website and a new store format. We are also rephotographing practically all our stock. Keep tuned to see what going on!

Hello again,

We are now doing home parties in the Gothenburg (Sweden) area! If you are interested contact us for more information. If you are interested in seeing the jewelry live before committing, a short meeting can be held.

Bonuses for hosts include 200Kr of filigree  jewelry (of your choice) and also an extra 100Kr for every 1500Kr of sales during the party.

Last time we talked about how to care for your sterling silver filigree (this applies to all silver items really).  This post is about cleaning your silver filigree jewelry. There are several different methods, some easier than others. While other kinds of silver jewelry are quickly cleaned and polished, filigree jewelry can take some extra patience due its (usually) intricate designs.

First of all, you should note that different methods are best suited for different types of sterling silver ware. If your sterling silver filigree jewelry has some sort of carvings or etchings on it, it is best to just clean it and buff it with a piece of closh and silver polishing cream.

Method 1 - Brush and soap

• Use a soft brush to remove any loose dirt from the item’s recesses. 
• Put the filigree item in some lukewarm water mixed with a little bit of mild detergent (like hand dishwashing soap).
• After a few minutes,  the piece and softly brush it again.
• Rinse with clean water.
• Dry and buff with a clean, soft cloth.

Method 2 - Brush and cream

After removing dirt with a soft brush, do the following:

• Acquire a silver cream cleaner. Be sure that it is formulated for silver, not for another metal, since this can damage the silver.
• Using a soft brush, take some cream and slowly work it into the filigree piece.
• Clean and polish slowly and carefully using a soft cloth.
• You can rinse the filigree jewelry piece in warm water (not soak), after you are done with the previous steps. Always remember to dry the piece afterwards.

Method 3 - Aluminium and Baking Soda

• Take a little bit of aluminium foil - 1 little schrunched ball of foil is enough - and put it with the silver filigree at the bottom of a bowl (Best if glass/aluminium/stainless steel). 
• Add about 4-6cm of boiling water on top.
• Add one spoonful of baking soda, and 1 spoon of salt, and mix until dissolved.
• Keep the water boiling for about 2 to 3 minutes, then remove and rinse the silver.
• Finally, buff the silver with a dry, clean cloth.

Method 4 - Toothpaste

• Coat the filigree jewelry piece with toothpaste.
• Brush the toothpaste with a wet brush into a foam.
• Rinse with warm water.
• Dry and buff with a soft, clean cloth.

Quick method - Buffing

If you really need to clean a filigree item quickly, just buff it with a soft, clean cloth. For more speed, you can also use a specially treated buffing cloth for silver, which you  can buy. 

Precautions

Always make sure that your jewelry is completely dry before storing it.

Never use abrasives or rough materials to clean your jewelry. These will damage the surface considerable.

There are other ways of cleaning silver jewelry, but the inherent risks are too high if you are not careful. If you really want to clean up your jewelry professionally, it is worth taking it to a professional jewellery who will have better means of cleaning your silver filigree jewelry and bringin back its former glory. You will only need professional services if you have really mistreated your jewelry or have not cleaned it for years.

Filigree jewelry looks somewhat fragile, but is actually very durable and strong. Silver filigree will remain in great condition for many, many years with some extra care.

Here are some tips to keep your silver filigree jewelry looking good:

• Do not expose to chemicals, even during housework. Exposure to chemicals can tarnish silver. Although damage is not usually irreparable, it’s better to be safe!
• This counts even for soap. While no harm is done, soap residues will build up, which means that your jewelry will require more frequent cleaning. 
• If applying make-up, remove jewelry, and put on again only after you’re done applying make-up and washing your hands.
• Perfumes - never put silver jewelry in contact with perfumes. As with make-up, apply perfume first, then wash your hands and put on your jewelry.
• While filigree jewelry is not fragile, it does not mean that you should do any rough work while wearing it. Take your rings, bracelets, etc. off before doing any heavy work.
• Tarnishing will also occur if you put your silver filigree in contact with salt- or chlorinated water.
• Store your jewelry away from direct sunlight. Keep  jewelry pieces separate from each other by using cotton, fabric, or some such material, and if possible keep in an airtight container.

Even if your silver filigree jewelry does get tarnished (which it will at some point over the decades) you can very easily bring it back to its former glory by cleaning it. Tips on how to clean silver filigree will be published in the next post.

We have added a new section in our online shop, containing unique jewelry pieces.

 The first group of filigree jewelry items comes from the artist Kevin Attard (who also produces many other works available from our site) who exhibited some of his work in the eclectic exhibition ‘Mediterranean’, mentioned in the previous post. We have acquired some of the best work in filigree jewelry displayed on the ‘Mediterranean’ exhibition and are now offering several unique items for sale on our website.

 These are one-offs which will not be created again by the artist, and which thus possess special value. Take a look at the pictures below, and click on any of the items you like to get more information.

“Mediterranean” was the name of a collective effort between three artists: two eclectic Maltese artists - Kevin Attard and Chris Muscat, and a Spanish artist - Vanesa Ruiz Casuso.

The exhibition was held at Art Academy in Mosta, Malta, from 2nd to 12th March, with an official opening on Friday 6th at 19.30 where visitors got to meet the artists themselves.

Kevin Attard was presenting a collection of 300 silver filigree works, together with some mixed media constructions. Vanesa Ruiz Casuso exhibited a number of brilliantly executed portraits in oil on canvas, while Chris Muscat presented some silver jewellery and ornaments together with some paintings.

One of the problems faced by people looking for authentic filigree jewelry online is knowing whether the jewelry they’re interested in is really filigree,  and really handmade.

 I have just put up a short guide on how to recognize authentic handmade filigree jewelry from non-handmade filigree jewelry or jewelry which is described as filigree, but which is not. Take a look! Link

Hello everybody! 

This is the first post in the new island filigree blog, where we will be posting news from the world of Maltese filigree jewelry and of island filigree! It’s been a couple of months since Island Filigree went online, and it is slowly taking off. The idea behind island filigree was to promote filigree jewelry from Malta.  Maltese filigree has been appreciated the world over  by connoisseurs who appreciate it for its unique qualities. 

In Malta, filigree is quite well known, although the fact remains that it is mostly produced for tourists and other foreign visitors. Its market share with local buyers is somewhat lower. I hope that Island Filigree will be the first step towards an increased awareness of the beautiful craft of filigree jewelry from the Mediterranean island of Malta.

Keep tuned to this blog, because it will be updated frequently!! In the meantime, if you have not already done so, take a look at our page about the history of filigree. Link