The hans of Arlindo Moura, the youngest Filigree artisan, tell stories. It was in his workshop in Gondomar, which once belonged to his grandfather, that a sheep measuring more than a meter long took shape on an old wooden bench, with Arlindo hunched over the Filigree and concentrating on the detail of his craft.

The invitation came from The Value of Time Group with the aim of paying tribute to the Serra da Estrela Sheep. It is precisely in Serra da Estrela that The Value of Time Group has its roots, and it is on Portuguese heritage that its social economy project focuses, a value that is transversal to all its flagship brands, of which the century old Joalharia do Carmo is part.

With an elongated face and expressive eyes, it is the spiral horns that stand out most in this sheep with a strong personality and prodigious memory. Filigree recreated it well. The Filigree sheep is a unique jewel in the world, materialized in 15 kg of golden silver in a complex structure with more than 60,000 welds that simulate its wool. In the project led by Arlindo, 17 artisans were involved, including master filigree makers, goldsmiths and fillers, and 3652 hours of work were recorded for the sheep to come to life.

On display at Joalharia do Carmo in Lisbon only until the end of November, the filigree sheep will then symbolically follow a transhumance route (ancestral practice that promoted the seasonal movement of sheep in search of pastures) from Lisbon to Serra da Estrela, where it will be permanently installed at the Serra da Estrela Sheep Interpretation Center, in Santa Marinha.

Located in a building dating from the first half of the 18th century, the Center will open to the public on December 8 to celebrate this indigenous sheep breed, raising awareness of its economic, historical, and cultural importance in the region. Over 3 floors, the space displays the routes of transhumance, the history of the sheep and the endogenous products that are their origin: wool and Serra da Estrela cheese, a delicacy with 1300 years of history and with a Protected Designation of Origin.

The sheep, a gift from Joalharia do Carmo to the Serra da Estrela Sheep Interpretation Center, has a special symbolism. It is an allegory that highlights the region of origin of The Value of Time Group by celebrating a unique sheep in the world with a genealogical book that preserves its identity, but also reaffirms Filigree as a timeless art capable of defying conventional logic.

It is in this unlikely encounter that lies the beauty and irreverence of this jewel that exudes spectacularity and that can be seen until November 30th at Joalharia do Carmo, Rua do Carmo 87B in Lisbon, from 10am to 8pm.