The invention relates to a process for producing decorative objects-in the fields of fine jewelry, costume jewelry and the like-which have a considerable effect, although said process is simple and rapid.

The invention also relates to the objects which can be produced by the said process.

Essentially, according to the process in question for making three- dimensional articles from filamentary materials, a model essentially matching the shape of the object to be made is prepared from a fluidizable material, a filamentary material is wound around said model with repeated intersections, and the material forming the model is then dissolved. In this way the structure formed from the filamentary material is made hollow, so that it consists of a three-dimensional reticular element which is internally void.

The structure formed from the filamentary material can be stabilized by fixing the filamentary material at a number of points of intersection and contact.

The material for forming the model can consist of wax or other thermoplastic substances which can be fluidized by heat, or substances which can be fluidized chemically by acids or other diluents.

The filamentary material can consist of various materials, such as metals having plastic characteristics, for example silver, gold or their alloys, base metals, resins, wood, or other substances; these materials must be suitable-in some cases-for bonding at the points of contact.

The bonding can be carried out by means of fusible powder, by means of adhesives or resins, or by homogenous bonding or any other kind of bonding, depending on the filamentary material, which can consist of plastic synthetic resin, wood or other substances. The filamentary material can be smooth, shaped by extrusion, hammered, or wound in a spiral, or can have any other suitable morphology.

The invention also relates to the objects which can be produced by the

above process, as objects of fine jewelry, costume jewelry and ornaments in general.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the description and the attached drawing, which shows, without restrictive intent, a practical example of the said invention. In the drawing, Figs. 1 and 2 show two objects in the course of formation on corresponding models ; Figs. 3 to 6 show possible embodiments of components or objects formed by the process in question.

In the illustrations in the attached drawing, the number 1 indicates a core, in other words a model, which can easily be made from a fluidizable material whose solidity, although limited, is sufficient for the purposes indicated below. On this model 1, which is evidently three-dimensional and of a shape appropriate to the shape of the object to be produced, there is repeatedly wound at least one filamentary material, which can be a sufficiently plastic metal material, by means of which more or less irregular turns are formed, intersecting each other to a greater or lesser extent, as indicated in a summary way by the number 3 in the drawing. This winding is easily carried out on the core 1 of the model, so that a reticular structure consisting of the filamentary material 3 is created on the surface of the model. The operation can be carried out with a single filamentary element, or at least with material having identical dimensional characteristics, or with at least two types of filamentary material as shown, in particular, by way of an alternative in Fig. 4, where the presence of relatively thicker turns of filament 3A and thinner turns of filament 3B will be noted.

Regardless of the principle according to which this network is formed around the core 1 or equivalent, the resulting reticular structure will have a plurality of points of intersection and contact between the various turns of filamentary material which is wound on a model such as the model 1 or other.

After this operation, the core of the model 1 is removed by fluidizing the material of said model ; this can be done by the action of heat at a relatively low temperature with respect to the temperatures which can change the

physical state of the filamentary material, for example at the relatively very low melting point of wax or other thermoplastic material, whose fluidization temperature is markedly lower than that of the metal filamentary material, which can be one metal or an alloy, possibly of precious metals.

This arrangement produces a three-dimensional reticular structure which is internally hollow and which has a particular aesthetic effect.

If the filamentary material used is sufficiently strong to enable the turns to remain stable in the configuration produced during winding, the object can be considered finished at this stage. Alternatively, and advantageously, at least some of the points of intersection and contact between the turns of filamentary material, such as those indicated by 3 or 3A and 3B, can be bonded in such a way as to securely stabilize the three-dimensional configuration of the reticular structure produced with the filamentary material or materials used.

The filamentary material or materials can also be used continuously to create appendages or extensions of the object as indicated in a summary way by the number 5 in the drawing, so that, by using the same filamentary materials, links can be created between successive cores having equal or different dimensions and with a reticular appearance produced by the process indicated above, as illustrated for example in Fig. 5.

Clearly, it is easy to make-by the process described above-a plurality of decorative objects in the field of costume jewelry and fine jewelry or other fields, which have a particular aesthetic effect and can be made with great ease and without special equipment and without the need for any special skills on the part of the operator.

It is to be understood that the drawing shows only one example, provided solely as a practical demonstration of the invention, and that this invention can be varied in its forms and arrangements without departure from the scope of the guiding principle of the invention.