When did you decide to pursue this craft?
The family workshop was located in one of the rooms of our house; I used to play there as a child. Aged 12, I would go with my father to melt metal in the forge and he would let me stoke the fire. I always knew I would follow in his footsteps, and as soon as I finished school at 14 I was ready to learn.
Has there been a particularly memorable moment in your career?
My father was my mentor and my master. One day, in about 1995, he visited the workshop and while he was closely examining a pendant he said to me that he couldn't tell anymore which pieces were his and which were the ones my brothers and I had made. It still makes me proud when I think of it.
© Gsus Fernandez
How is filigree linked to your region?
My grandparents Julia Vieira and José María Méndes moved from the north of Portugal to Spain and brought the tradition of filigree from their homeland. They then had to adapt it to the tastes of Salamanca, respecting local patterns but elevating them through the handmade process and high quality finishing.
How do you adapt a traditional craft to the 21st century?
Our works are inspired by patterns of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries from Salamanca and nearby areas, like the pear or fan shapes. However we also make pieces of jewellery that are relevant to our times, that is to say lighter and smaller, without compromising on quality or on the finishing.