Filigree involves melting 16 parts of silver with 1 part of lead casting it into bars/sticks by pouring it into moulds. Next, the bars or sticks are beat into plates wires. Designs/patterns are formed by carefully arranging wires on a mica sheet, bonded by special cement. The parts are then joined by soldering. The ready article is cleaned given finishing touches. Cuttak in Odisha and Karimnagar in Telangana are the 2 most famous centres of this craft, known for their delicate workmanship.
