4.7 x 3 x 0.15 cm
Argentium silver (935)
Argentium Silver is an alloy similar to sterling but has more fine silver, less copper, and a small amount of germanium in it. It is resistant to tarnish, better for people who have metal allergies, and a brighter white color.
Michelle Lierre is the self-taught filigree artist behind Lierreworks Filigree, and specializes in one-of-a-kind, wearable art jewelry in silver and gold. She works from her home workshop in Mount Vernon, Washington, while her three small children are at school or napping.
Her filigree journey began in Jan 2019, when she took a basic soldering class from a local bead shop in the midst of a community devastated by wildfire. Metalsmithing became her therapy and helped her navigate the messy job of recovering from a local disaster and then being quarantined with three little kids in 2020.
Michelle has taught herself filigree techniques through research, trial & error, and a lot of youtube videos. While a lot of the videos were in another language, it didn't matter because most of the techniques can be learned by just watching an artists hands.
Besides its beauty, filigree is really special to Michelle because it makes her feel connected to other people and cultures. With a tradition of filigree on nearly every continent worldwide, and stretching back thousands of years, it has quite a heritage. Michelle has made it her mission to learn the major filigree styles of the world, tell their stories, and keep their traditions alive. She hopes to work with historians and museums in the future to revive ancient goldsmithing practices.
Michelle is the winner of 2021 Jewelfund hosted by London Jewellery School and currently enrolled in the Diploma of Fine Jewelry with Jewellers Academy.