The fibula of serpentine form from the 7th century and the acorn-shaped parts of a clasp, which were probably part of a necklace from the 5th century, are characteristic examples of the Etruscan goldsmiths art. Both pieces of jewellery are decorated in the techniques of filigree and granulation, in which the Etruscans were great masters. Minute grains or tiny balls of gold were applied to a gold sheet and the resulting pattern was framed in thin gold wire.

Filigree was used by the Etruscans to decorate the surface of jewellery or to forms cells that would enclose granules or gemstones. In granulation the tiny gold granules were placed carefully onto the surface they were to decorate. They were probably 'painted' on with a brush and an adhesive substance. After that they would be left to dry before applying heat to fuse them in place.