Elegantly Grand Sterling Silver Filigree "Queen" Earrings
Designer: Portuguese Filigree Artisans
Portugal
The Story
According to Portuguese tradition when Queen Maria II (9 December 1810 – 28 March 1835) visited Viana do Castelo in the north of Portugal she was gifted a pair of earrings in this exact same style. Today the beautifully detailed design is replicated with pride and always referred to as the "queen earrings." Many brides wear this special design. You will be mesmerized by the labor intensive detail.
- 3.5" L x 1.5" W
- Sterling silver filigree with latch hooks - light weight
- Handmade in Portugal in Viana do Castelo
While I was in Portugal I didn't have the opportunity to visit the north were they have a strong tradition in the art of filigree jewelry. But even in Lisbon the pride of this craft was overflowing. The stunning art of Portuguese filigree has remained important over the years and is a distinct symbol of the northern regions of Gondomar, Viana do Castelo and Póvoa do Lanhoso. Every piece due to the rigor of creation, assembly and finishing requires a large amount of manual labor.
In Portugal, filigree is an essential accessory and a mark of social distinction. It is mostly used in special events such as weddings or popular festivals. The pieces we feature were made in Viana do Castelo by skilled artisans. In this region a bride wears not only an astonishing pair of the iconic sterling silver "Queen Earrings" (rumored to have been gifted to Queen Maria II during her visit to Viana and said to bring fertility to the wearer ) but also two or more gold necklaces around her neck and at least one heart-shaped pendant.
**The additional photos is of Lisbon.