Gianni Murgia | Vetrine dell'Artigiano Artistico

Gianni Murgia

Patena pendant

The prized Patena, an element which represents the sacred filigree jewellery of local tradition, considered to be the highest expression of skill and craftsmanship, is characterised in this version by the movement of the upturned leaves and the finely engraved central mother-of-pearl bez

Gianni Murgia|Cagliari
Drop earrings

The elegant teardrop shape of these earrings with ruby burl takes on unique elegance with the baroque pearl border in the fine frame of granulated filigree, crafted according to tradition in a composition of striking contemporary taste.

Gianni Murgia|Cagliari
Buttons

Prized elements of the traditional costume for women, the twin buttons are realised with original stylistic fidelity using filigree technique, with the unequivocal garnet bezel in the centre.

Gianni Murgia|Cagliari
Coral ring

This prized band ring has important and elegant lines and a central bezel in Sardinian coral. It is enriched by the clear-cut twisted filigree thread, realised with authentic technique and remarkable contemporary taste .

Gianni Murgia|Cagliari
Dorgali Sun

The Sun of Dorgali, a unique element of the local filigree goldsmith collection, is crafted with very thin threads and rare aesthetics with feather-light traits that evoke the seethrough transparency of lace.

Gianni Murgia|Cagliari

The artisan

The master goldsmith Gianni Murgia, preserves in his workshop one of the oldest and finest crafts of the Sardinian tradition: filigree. His production is characterised by faithful manufacture, realised with great skill and technical virtuosity, in continuity with the past in every single stage, as only a few highly committed filigree goldsmiths like him are still capable of. Gianni started his apprenticeship when he was only thirteen, as was common practice at that time, in the workshop of his brother-in-law, expert and renowned filigree goldsmith in Cagliari. Here, he learned, thanks to his power of observation and clear artistic flair, the refined procedures necessary to craft the elaborate jewellery typical of traditional Sardinian costumes. Just to name a few of said artefacts of great aesthetic value, rich in history and evocative power, he learned to craft filigree buttons, beautiful complex pendants such as su lasu and sa gioia, and even the patene, regarded as the highest expression of the filigree technique owing to their technical complexity. He set up his own workshop in 1977 at the age of twenty, distinguishing himself from the very start for his skill and mastery and took a personal path characterised by continuous technical and stylistic improvement, which is evident in his consolidated 40-year-long activity. His prestigious shop/workshop in the San Benedetto district in Cagliari counts on the invaluable support of his wife Caterina and his son Cristian, who work with him in perfect synergy realising new productions.

The collection

Gianni Murgia’s production includes all the elements of the wide range of Sardinian filigree jewellery, which he performs with exemplary skill, faithfully reproducing the traditional procedure. From the typical Sardinian wedding ring to the elaborate rosary patena, together with all the enchanting traditional pendants, earrings and brooches, every artefact fascinates for its quality and exquisite manufacture, revealed in these perfectly executed and elegant creations. In addition to the traditional production, Gianni has devised a new line, Iskida, in collaboration with his son Cristian, which combines old techniques with new forms.

The technique

Gianni Murgia skilfully masters all the filigree techniques, both in the openwork and in the granulated versions, in all the phases, starting with the design and the manual preparation of the filigree thread. The processing phases therefore require the preparation of the silver or gold rod, lamination, wire-drawing or ruby-embedding, the preparation of filigree threads by means of wooden tablets, the assembling of the parts of the jewel, including the addition of tiny pearls where foreseen, and welding, performed with extreme skill in accordance with the most sophisticated traditional procedures.