Rectangular silver box, embossed, with applied filigree, 3 x 2 inches. Carnelian gemstone. Minute globules of silver, twisted wire and narrow silver bands soldered on a metal surface.
The mark looks like Stuhlweißenburg, Székesfehérvár, no maker`s mark (common in provincial Austro — Hungary). There is 13 loth purity and grid pattern; the only mark recorded resembling this is Székesfehérvár.Early 19th century.
This is high-end applied filigree work; even the bottom is elaborately made,rarely seen. The rule of thumb with filigree; the more solid silver, the better — more demanding soldering.
Granulated gold was known to Etruscans and their work is seldom matched. The problem is how to solder minute granules to gold or silver surface - they would melt when soldering. The mystery was solved by a British chemist as late as thirties,20th century. Granules were fixed to the surface with organic glue and then fired in a low oxygen environment in the furnace. Organic glue evaporates creating gasses reacting with gold and creating an alloy which melts at lower temperature, thus soldering granules to the surface and leaving granules undistorted.
Powdered solder is used with filigree; twisted wire and granules are arranged in desired pattern, powdered with solder and fired with mouth pipe burner. The process is quite simple with open filigree; soldering filigree work to silver is more demanding. Care must be taken not to overheat because the object, already assembled, would be damaged.
It was common children helped in making granules; silver or gold wire was cut into very short pieces and rubbed between two flat stones until perfect minute spheres were created.