Antique Portuguese design: Pérolas de Viana

At a recent dinner party, one of my friends reminded me of a type of old Portuguese jewellery that I hadn't thought of for years. The Portuguese town of Viana do Castelo is famous for its decorative gold filigree jewellery which reflects back to the time of Moorish occupation. It's traditional for Portuguese girls to be given "pérolas de Viana" (pearls made of gold) on their 18th birthday but a lot of the larger work is extremely intricate and ornate. Because it's Portugal, this jewellery is impossible to get online but it's worth a visit to the town just to check out the museum if you're ever visiting. The pearls in particular are a great example of traditional Portuguese design.