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Silver Filigree
 Tarkashi, or silver filigree from Cuttack region, is one of the most exquisite renditions of silver craft. Beaten silver is drawn into fine wires and foils which are then fashioned together to create jewellery of infinite beauty. Royal households were known to hanker after the snow glazed filigree works of
Cuttack.
The workmanship here is similar to that done in Indonesia and it is these cross-cultural influences which may have introduced this wonderful art to India.
Since silver utensils play a significant part in family life and religious rituals, some beautiful filigree works bear their mark on the silver utensils available in the state's numerous markets Silver dishes and decorative pieces are also available.
Like brass and bell metal items the bride is also usually presented a set of silver dishes, which is reserved for offering food to the deities during religious festivals. Many temples have a set of silver ornaments for the presiding deities including silver crowns, which are used on ceremonial occasions. Silver filigree has been an important export item of Orissa from ancient times and has been a symbol of the dizzy heights of excellence reached by
Orissa's craftsmen.
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