Silversmithing is a very old art that flourished since the Byzantine period and did not disappear when the Ottoman Turks conquered Epirus. Silver came from the region of Mademochoria in Chalkidiki or from abroad (Odessa, Italy) or from recycling old silver objects. Gord was rarely used and was not really distinguished from silver; the former was known as yellow gold, the latter as white gold. No matter what he called it, silver was a precious material for silversmiths. He usually worked sitting on the floor of his shop, but he always spread a rough blanket beneath him to avoid losing any fine chips between the floorboards.