Exquisite metal works were created in ancient crete with gold and copper imported from abroad.
The Minoans employed several techniques to shape various metals into utilitarian objects and works of art. They mastered the techniques of lost wax casting, repuse (embossing), gilding, faience (grannulation), and nielo.
The bee pendant (image above) is a good example of the artist's mastery of the demanding process of faience, during which tiny beads of gold are adhered to the surface of the cast jewelry with a special low-heat solder alloy. This is a technique most likely learned from the Syrians and with whom the Minoans had regular contact.
The Minoans introduced the niello technique to the Mycenaeans, who used it to create black, bold outlines on gold decorations, and mastered the delicate process of gilding objects with gold leaf (extremely thin sheets of hammered gold foil). The Harvest Rython (image below) and the Bull Rython's horns were gilded with gold leaf.