We've all seen filigree in jewellery shop windows; the delicately twisted silver art form that has recently caught the attention of Dolce & Gabbana in their latest accessories range! Sadly, this art form might be slowly dying out with our long-lost Maltese traditional crafts such as old-fashioned handmade lacemaking, but there's one man by the name of Kevin Attard who's taken the craft to a whole new level.

Known for his extraordinary creations in filigree, such as a life size 3D skulls and even a silver filigree snake, Kevin Attard ventured away from the Maltese cross and butterfly designs long ago, choosing instead to focus on his own imaginative creations, which set his pieces away from the norm. It's safe to say these are more like pieces of art!

Attard's craftsmanship is definitely far from just a souvenir of Malta, but a beautiful tribute to it, and they've earned him a bunch of art collector fans already! We caught up with the artist himself to find out a bit more about his work. Here's what he had to share with Guide Me Malta.

Hi Kevin! We're amazed by your incredible work! Tell us, how and when did you start practicing filigree?

"I started making filigree at the age of 14. My father was a jeweller specialising in corrections and fixing jewellery. His friend, Raymond Falzon had a workshop which I used to go to and I practiced there. My father had connections in the industry so I could sell my filigree work in their premises. So that was a big plus! Over time I got better at it..."

Where do you sell your pieces?

"I sell my work in a variety of places, jewellery shops being one of them, mainly in Valletta. I also have occasional stalls in Artisan Markets in Palazzos or through my cousin's art platform- Artisan Alley Malta. However, nowadays I work with art galleries and private collectors quite often."

Do you make any bespoke pieces or commissions?

"Yes! Usually, the client sends me a sketch and comes to my workshop for a chat. One of my last clients wanted a filigree mermaid made for his wife, they often get very excited about their bespoke pieces! Whatever the client wants can be done. At the moment I am getting a lot of interest for big, oversized earrings which I make for private collectors."

What do you think about the disapearance of this old craft?

"It's inevitable that there will be an eventual metamorphosis into a mechanical process but handmade filigree will take years to die out, especially in Malta. Until then, the government is investing a lot of money and energy into keeping the craft alive through an incentive called 'Investing In Crafts'. So far, three quarters of a million Euros have been put into organising courses, of which I am one of the teachers at the Malta Society of Arts."

Do you think filigree is having a resurgence in fashion in Malta?

"Yes! One of the things I'm trying to do is to produce things that can be worn in the fashion world. My cousin Natasha Pullicino had asked me to create earrings for her collection at Malta Fashion Week and I was very pleased with the outcome. I have also made filigree handbag clips for Cessani fashion designer Mary Grace Pisani. As well as this, I have made a number of wearable filigree eye masks, collars and even a chastity belt and leather whip handle for clients...they can be quite kinky!"

What has been your most desirable fine art piece to date?

"A full-size filigree violin ten years ago. It cost €35,000 at wholesale value to a specialist shop. I'm not sure how much they went on to sell it for though!"

How long does a piece take you to create?

"I can make a small filigree tray in a day, but some trays take about 300 hours! I made an oval tray for a client recently which took a month to complete."

What is your working style like? What mood do you have to be in to create?

"I don't work according to my mood unlike other forms of art...I just have my set hours and work within them. Even when I'm sick, I work just the same but produce less. I listen to Italian radio stations in my workshop and tune in for satirical programs and interesting debates."

"I wake up at 4am and feed my cats and work for an hour. That first hour is open to anything; I just sit down and have a think about what I will make that day, it's sort of a "playful" hour. I then go for a walk around Manoel Island, eat something then get back to work for a solid 4-5 hours of work until noon, after which I start to take it a bit slower. I have a bath, cook, and usually round up my day's work by around 9pm!"

Thanks Kevin! We're excited to see what innovative filigree designs you come up with next!