The Viana Heart. A timeless classic of Portuguese jewellery.

The Viana Heart is one of the most emblematic motifs of Portuguese filigree, an interpretation of divine love, of the faith and devotion of our people, which has become a timeless symbol of love worn by generations of women.

While throughout the 19th century and much of the 20th century this pendant was referred to as the ‘heart of Minho’ and advertised as such by jewellery manufacturers and traders, in the second half of the 20th century it was associated with Viana do Castelo through its use in illustrating advertising campaigns, initially with the motto ‘Viana is love’ and later ‘Viana is in the heart’. 

Its iconographic impact was so strong that this adornment eventually lost its religious and loving connotation, becoming a symbol of a region, and since 2010 the symbol and brand of the municipality of Viana do Castelo: a stylised red heart with the word ‘Viana’. 

The heart and so many other adornments of the so-called Portuguese ‘popular gold’ are confused with filigree, the jewellery technique used to produce many of these pieces - made of fine gold or silver threads - which we call ‘Portuguese filigree’.

It was the love of the art of filigree, passed down from master to apprentice, that led to the creation of the House of Filigree with the mission of protecting handmade Portuguese filigree, which is threatened with extinction due to the proliferation of reproductions made in industrial moulds.

The Rosas family - whose origins are in Gondomar and who have been in the jewellery business for five generations - have embraced the cause of filigree, which is at the heart of their work, by opening a space in the centre of Porto that is a symbiosis of museum, atelier and boutique, inviting us on a journey through the history of Portuguese filigree. It recreates traditional jewellery, such as the Coração de Viana, and presents new pieces by contemporary designers. 

In defence of the cause of 100% human, 100% local and 100% living filigree - and in promotion of sustainability and cultural diversity - the House of Filigree relies on the partnership of small workshops, where the best craftsmen keep alive this tradition made up of knowledge that has been lost over time.

It is from their passion and mastery, from the soul they put into the pieces they create, that the Heart of Viana is (re)born. In fine gold filigree it is a testament to rare artistic perfection, only available to the best masters, which elevates the art of Portuguese filigree to the level of high jewellery.   

A unique and unrepeatable piece of jewellery, a delicate lacework that celebrates the noblest of motifs, a reflection of the expertise of which we are proud, the fidelity to canons and the care put into the details. 

A little treasure for women with big hearts.