Paving the future for Portuguese filigree
- Liliana creates contemporary jewellery with strong Portuguese roots
- She reinterprets traditional filigree from Northern Portugal to keep it alive
- Her jewellery collections are intricate with precious details
Liliana Guerreiro studied art and jewellery making in Porto, with a clear vision of one day making her own jewellery and integrating Portuguese filigree techniques into her work. Her approach has always been collaborative. “As a designer I work hand in hand with filigree artisans as I really think we cannot work in isolation; we are stronger together,” she explains. Liliana likes to celebrate the artisans’ skills. Her pieces have been exhibited in prestigious places such as the MoMa and Museum of Arts and Design in New York and she has also won best jewellery prizes in fairs such as Inhorgenta Munich. An ambassador for Portuguese jewellery, Liliana continuously researches local traditions and techniques, keeping them alive through modern interpretations that capture the hearts of handmade jewellery aficionados.
INTERVIEW
I studied art and jewellery at the ESAD design school and followed more practical jewellery courses in known schools in the north of Portugal. I experiment a lot on my own but for filigree techniques, goldsmith brothers Guilherme and Joaquim Rodrigues are my masters.
I was surrounded by filigree as a child, living in an area where festivities, costumes and gold are important. I loved seeing the filigree artisans coil the thinnest gold cords together. I feel I have a duty to keep this art form alive.
I have been fortunate to exhibit internationally in prestigious spaces, but one of the most important and heartwarming moments was when I received the first prize in Portugal at the Filigree International contest, together with masters Guilherme and Joaquim Rodrigues.
Handmade filigree is threatened by less refined industrial versions. We can keep the technique alive through modern design and processes. We need to evolve.
