Roman Filato Micromosaics and Jewellery

I create fine jewellery using the Italian filato technique — a rare and highly intricate form of micromosaic developed in 18th-century Rome. This process involves pulling Venetian glass (known as smalti and madretinte) over a gas flame into long, thin threads. These threads, called filati, are carefully shaped, then cut into tiny segments with a file and tweezers, known as tesserae — the individual tiles that form the micromosaics.

Each tessera is placed by hand onto a prepared base of Roman stucco, made according to ancient recipes. As the stucco sets, it firmly holds the mosaic in place. I use silver or gold as the settings for my jewellery, allowing the mosaic work to shine as the centrepiece.

At the heart of my practice is a deep engagement with both material and process. Every piece is handcrafted from start to finish; from melting and pulling the glass to embedding the tesserae and completing the final design. Layering colours and varying thread thickness allows for subtle gradations, intricate shading, and detailed imagery — all at a miniature scale.

While my primary focus is on filato jewellery, I also explore contemporary interpretations, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern design.

Owing to the nature of the process, each piece is completely unique and can be made to custom order — preserving a centuries-old craft while reimagining it for today.