Where'd You Get That Filigree Jewelry?
Filigree bracelet from Santa Cruz de Mompox, Colombia (Photo: Jacqui de Klerk)
What: Handmade filigree bracelets and rings
Where: Santa Cruz de Mompox, Colombia
The Cost: From $30
The Low-Down: I traveled to Mompox on a whim; I had heard it was a beautiful, sleepy colonial town, full of stories and friendly people, and home of the ancient metalwork technique of filigree. I went with an open mind, hoping to discover something inspirational.
Rocking chairs in Santa Cruz de Mompox (Photo: Jacqui de Klerk)
On my first day, while strolling casually through the narrow streets, I realized that Mompox should actually be famous for its abundance of rocking chairs. They are everywhere; the most I’d ever seen in one town. Whilst I was pondering about whether or not to buy a chair, I passed an old building with the door open. Feeling brave, I ventured inside. One young man was deeply involved with antique tools, another was washing white-colored jewelry, and another was delicately decorating a ring with tiny strands of silver.
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A filigree ring (Photo: Jacqui de Klerk)
I watched them work for a while, and one young gentleman patiently explained to me that the Momposinos are renowned in Colombia for their unique filigree metalwork, a trade they have kept alive for over five centuries.
The young men of Mompox working on jewelry (Photo: Jacqui de Klerk)
Momposinos take immense pride in this art and almost every single family in Mompox has at least one or two active filigrana craftsmen. The ancient art was brought over during the Spanish conquest by expert silversmiths who were attracted to the excess gold accumulating in the town. At present, the artists work mostly with silver, and with gold only on demand.
Old tools for an old tradition (Photo: Jacqui de Klerk)
I’m not a huge silver fan, but this intricately handmade jewelry, created by passionate artists that strive to keep their age-old traditions alive, stole my heart, and every time I wear it, the first thing that pops into my head is an eccentric tiny village full of rocking chairs.
After living and traveling in several countries, the beauty and passion of Colombia got rooted deep in Jacqui de Klerk´s soul, and this is where she now calls home. Jacqui is a freelance environment and travel writer for various publications such as The City Paper Bogotá and Quimera Divers.
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