The Encyclopedia · Settings & techniques
Granulation
Decoration made of tiny grains of gold fused to a gold surface.
Granulation decorates a gold surface with tiny spheres of gold, fused in place without visible solder. It was mastered by the Etruscans, and its revival in the nineteenth century by the Castellani workshop in Rome launched the archaeological revival style of Victorian jewelry.
What to look for
Fine granulation is even and well attached, with grains of consistent size. Missing grains and areas flattened by wear are common.
Related terms