Opus Interrasile

Opus interrasile, also known as openwork, is an extremely elegant metalwork technique developed by goldsmiths and used to craft jewellery between the 3rd through to the 10th century AD. Firstly, designs were traced onto sheets of gold and then the background was punched with holes of differing sized in order to highlight the pattern, then fine details were worked on the surface. This technique enabled the light to cross the item’s surface, thus giving out a beautiful effect.