Gilding covers a surface with gold or a gold-colored layer. Ottoman tombak is especially associated with gilded copper-alloy objects whose surfaces resemble gold. Historical mercury gilding is hazardous; modern explanation must include safety and conservation warnings. Gilding can transform relatively common base metal into royal, ritual, or ceremonial appearance.

Enameling fuses colored glass to metal. It appears in jewelry, vessels, fittings, and luxury objects across various Islamic and neighboring traditions. The site should distinguish enamel from paint, lacquer, stone inlay, and colored corrosion. Enamel adds color but requires careful firing and compatibility between metal and glass.

Filigree uses fine twisted or shaped wires; granulation uses tiny metal spheres attached to a surface. Both are common in jewelry and small luxury objects. Their inclusion expands the site beyond large brass vessels, showing that Islamic metalwork also includes intimate wearable objects and fine goldsmithing traditions.