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This portrait by Henrique Medina can be seen in the City Hall of Viana do Castelo.

The painting depicts a beautiful girl who was born in Viana do Castelo. Her name was Maria Estela Veloso de Antas Varajão.
In 1950, Maria Estela posed for the artist. And this oil portrait was seen by the artist's friend Francisco da Costa Gomes.

When they opened the tomb, her mummy fell apart.

According to one version, the archaeologists were not careful enough, according to another version, this was her wish - to turn to dust if someone disturbed the peace of the deceased.

Only the treasures of the Egyptian queen Ahhotep have survived to this day.

Who was Ahhotep?

We will have to go back to the middle of the 16th century BC. Ancient Egypt experienced a period of exceptional importance in its history, marked by the exceptional role of royal women in the management of state affairs.

A cocktail ring is a large, showy ring. The ring can have a complex design. Its base is always a large colored gemstone, which can be surrounded by diamonds. The cocktail ring got its name during the Prohibition in the United States from 1920 to 1933.

An original suit with a bunch of bright skirts, a bodice, a small hat and, of course, a filigree heart created by a jeweler from Porto.

Since September 7, 2023, filigree from the city of Gondomar (District of Porto) has been included in the National Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage (INPCI).

CINDOR - Professional Training Center for the Goldsmithing and Watchmaking Industry, was created on December 26, 1984. CINDOR is located in Gondomar.

Talking about the city of Gondomar and about filigree, I can’t help but talk about Francisco Elói Gomes Viana), who dedicated his life to jewelry and his hometown.

The origin of the iconic heart-shaped filigree decoration is associated with the first Queen of Portugal. Maria I of Portugal (1734-1816) was Queen of Portugal from 1777 to 1816. As the first woman to inherit the throne of Portugal, Maria I revolutionized the previous harsh administration. The Queen was called "Mother of the People" and "Mad Woman". Who was the first queen of Portugal?

Gold is an extremely dense metal. But it is also the most malleable metal. At certain temperatures and mechanical stress, it can undergo irreversible deformation. And the most flexible. It can be pulled out to the thinnest thread. But it is too fragile and flexible to be used only in its pure form in jewelry. Therefore, gold is mixed with other metals, which gives it greater strength.

After the discovery and use of gold and copper, other metals appeared - tin, silver and lead.
The similarity of the properties of silver with gold led to the fact that this metal also began to be used for making jewelry and handicrafts.