What is relief in jewellery design?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
In jewellery and decorative arts, relief describes any raised design that projects above the background surface of the material. The degree of projection gives it its name: bas relief, from the French for low, refers to shallow decoration where the design stands just slightly above the ground, while high relief describes forms that project dramatically and sometimes nearly in the round. Cameos are a classic example of relief work in gemstones, while repoussé is the technique of hammering raised relief designs into metal from behind.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between bas relief and high relief?
- Bas relief is shallow, with the design projecting only slightly from the background surface, like a coin portrait. High relief has much greater depth, with figures or forms standing well out from the background and sometimes almost fully three-dimensional.
- What materials are used for relief in jewellery?
- Cameo shell and stone are classic relief materials, cut away so a portrait or scene stands proud of the background. Metal is worked in relief using repoussé and chasing techniques, and wax carving and casting also produce relief designs in gold and silver.
- Is intaglio the opposite of relief?
- Yes. Intaglio is a design cut or incised into the surface so it sits below rather than above the material. A seal ring uses intaglio so it leaves a raised impression in wax, which is the reverse process to relief.
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