The Elaborate Motifs in Silver Filigree Ornaments

The market popularly caters to young Odissi dancers. Silversmiths fashion delicate and detailed designs from silver wires into light jewellery and ornaments for the performers.

The jewellery made for the dancers ranges from bangles to ornamental hairpieces (as seen in the image) which are a crucial part of the costume.

Besides catering to classical dancers, the silversmiths also make modern jewellery pieces, like this wrist cuff, for the general customer.

Silver bangles combined with minakari are also popular.

The designs in filigree are versatile with some craftsmen using gold to highlight the motifs.

Light pieces like this earring are also made for general customers who wear simpler jewellery for social occasions. Such filigree earrings are one of the most popular items, in demand all year round.

Another commonly made item is the delicately crafted silver chain.

Foliage motifs are popular with silversmiths when designing finger rings.

The designs can range from a simple flower to an elaborate one.

Boxes made in elaborate and fine silver filigree are a common gift item that can be found in Odisha.

Everyday utilitarian objects like a spectacles case, gets transformed into a work of art when rendered in silver filigree.

Decorative sindoor or vermilion boxes with elaborate details are also popular.

Silversmiths excel in fashioning flowers like the rose in silver filigree. Not surprisingly, the gulab is one of the most popular flowers used in any of the silver filigree products.

Although silversmiths excel in large ornamental pieces used to add grandeur to the idol of a deity during major festivals, it is smaller items like these that demonstrate the intricacy of the craft.

Read more about Silver Filigree work here:

- A Silver Throne for the Goddess​
​- Silver Filigree During Festivals in ​Odisha