Viana's Contas Necklace Gold Plated Silver from Portugal
Designer: Portuguese Filigree Artisans
Portugal
The Story
This bead necklace is simple and beautiful. The old story says a young woman from Viana do Castelo had great ambition and sold her chickens and eggs until she was able to buy a necklace such as this. Its beads celebrate achievements that have been won with consistent effort and the victories they entail. Something we all can relate to.
Such a perfect addition to your accessory collection, or a stunning, thoughtful gift for your favorite person.
- 17" chain plus .5" adjustable length
- Gold bathed sterling silver pendants and chain
- 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 photo is of Lisbon.