Learn the basics of the filigree craft in just two hours.

In this workshop, you will bend an elegant floral pattern from silver filigree wire using a specially designed tool. You’ll also be introduced to the modern PUK welding technique, a precise method for connecting wirework, and soldering with a flame using a specialized approach.

You will go home with your own handmade silver filigree pattern and a newfound appreciation for this centuries-old craft.

The workshop is suitable for both beginners and more advanced participants with an interest in fine metalwork.

Filigree is a specialization within the silversmithing craft, where ultra-thin metal wire is shaped into delicate, ornamental patterns. The technique is thousands of years old and found across many cultures, from the Middle East and Asia to Europe. Filigree is often used in jewellery and decorative objects and is known for its lace-like elegance. The craft requires patience, precision, and a keen eye for detail. Despite the Netherlands’ rich history with regional filigree jewellery as part of traditional costume, the technique is at risk of fading into obscurity. Fortunately, modern makers are working to preserve and innovate this extraordinary craft.

Eva van Kempen is a silversmith and the founder of The Filigree Embassy, an online knowledge platform aimed at making filigree accessible to a new generation of makers and wearers. Together with Ming Design Studio, she developed Tool-RF (Reproducing Filigree): a gear-like tool that makes it easier to bend filigree wire. This makes the craft more accessible, even for those with less experience or those looking to work more efficiently. Tool-RF helps keep the technique alive while opening new possibilities in design, fashion, and art. Eva’s mission is to preserve, innovate, and share filigree with the world.

Practical Information

• The workshop is conducted in Dutch
• Price includes all materials and VAT

Eva van Kempen. Foto Fan Liao