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Indian Jewellery 
History || TOP ||
'Indian Jewellery' - two simple but heart touching words. When you think about, your minds races back in centuries. Eye capture ornamental history from passing billions of years will come in front of you. It is believed that Indian Jewellery craft is over billions of years old and over these years; it has evolved into an art - in terms of design and craftsmanship.
As Indian earliest history; when the country called Hindustan - before Chakravarti Maharaja Bharat (As per Indian history the first Emperor of the world, who become Emperor before more than 10000 billion years ago. And Chakravarti means the Emperor of the whole world.) the Indians well known with the art of Metal working, Stone cutting, Stone setting, Filigree work, Minakari (Enamelling), Kundan work, Embossing & other art of jewellery. Not only have this art of Metal working, but they well known with Jewellery Designing. By metal working and the art of jewellery designing they made many types of ornaments like Crowns, Rani-Haar (long necklace), Hansali or Hansdi (circular neck ornament), Necklaces, Pendants, Earrings, Tops, Thumb rings, Finger rings, Toe rings, Bangles, Bracelets, Kadas, Kadandias, Armlets, Armbands, Tikas, Borlas, Dots, Chains, Nose pins, Nose-rings, Nath chains (worn with nose ring), Ear chains, Waist-belts, Anklets… there is no limitation of the jewellery they made. Not only jewellery but many ornaments pieces, architectural constructions prove that the art of that time is not comparable with any other culture. Earliest Indian gives all this knowledge to the world.
 India has always been a land of gems and a variety of precious stones. The test for colour in jewellery had its greatest manifestation in the lands of Hindustan and among the civilization of the Hindus. Large quantity of a wide variety of precious and valuable stones abounds in Hindustan (India). Sculptures and paintings of men and women adorn with jewels testify to their use, as does recent work which in quality and test points to the inheritance of a very ancient tradition. To the rich variety of stones was added the widespread use of pearls and of enamels and vitreous pastes, which were very popular in jewellery in India.
Adorning the hair, feet, ankles and every part of the woman's body, Jewellery occupies a prominent place in every woman's mind. And for the Indian woman - jewellery always was, still is, and will continue to be her innermost desire - a most intimate reflection of her grace and beauty.
Many Indian historical places of that time have proved that India has the greatest art of metalworking, lapidary, jewellery designing, architecture and all types of work related to art. The art of the time is amazing and worldwide famous.
In Harappa, one of the most ancient centers of the Hindu civilization, ornament was found are mostly made from red cornelian. In 4th & 5th Century AD the paintings of Ajanta show men & women wearing more jewels than clothes. In India the size & complexity of earrings, bracelets, armbands, belts, head dresses, leg bracelets and rings, which adorn these masterpieces of pictorial art, reflect the fantastic splendor.
According with the changes in centuries, a vast variety of designs & different types has been emerged with a specific purpose. Today, women will not wear ten pieces of jewellery on her head. At other times they were less bulky but still richly adorned with clusters of pearls or colored stones some were half moon shaped and minutely decorated with bezels and pendants. Armlets & Bracelets could be made of light metalwork or tabular hoops or jeweled bands. This similar type of ornament was also worn on the foot. The number and variety of belts was comparative with necklaces. The Hindu women of Rajasthan were up to ten jeweled anklets one on top of the other, each with a specific denomination rings were often more on the toes.
Indian Jewellery is characterized by some of the finest handwork and symbolizes the painstaking efforts, the utmost care and the attention to detail in every piece that the workers create. The other facet of this jewellery is that it is custom-made and often created to match the original and individual persona of the woman.
In the world, jewellery known by culture or some religions; but in India every State in India has its own special style of crafting and these styles have been adapted by the Goldsmiths and Workers of that region.
'Jadau' Jewelry || TOP ||
Also called as 'Jadtar' or Kundan Jewellery - is embedded with precious stones and reveals the traditional art of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Jadau creations are usually studded with multi-coloured precious and semi-precious stones and are reminiscent of the old Mughal tradition of Jadau jewellery craft. The art of Kundan, combines enameling with uncut or rose cut diamonds and other precious stones encrusted on gold. Kundan Jadtar is a very special craft and not everybody's cup of tea. It requires exceptional skills, concentration and loads and loads of patience. And again, these skills and capabilities have to combine with hard work and aesthetic sense to create a master piece of art.
Whether it is Jadtar, Minakari or Kundan - each style of art imposes stringent process requirements and absolute concentration because of the intricacy involved. Owing to such painstaking efforts and time requirement to craft each piece, there are only a few master Karigars who have this finesse and expertise. Each piece is a unique creation and with quality, purity and care going into its making - it can take several weeks to craft and finish, but one glimpse at the final product and most customers forget the agony of their wait.
Minakari or Enamelling Jewellery || TOP ||
The one kind of traditional jewellery comes from North India. Minakari Jewellery is an exquisite combination of gems, enamel pigments and precious stones. This timeless craft goes back to the days of Shah Jahan - whose aesthetic vision transformed the process of lacquer enameling into a fine art. Minakari was the preferred style for the imperial thrones of those times. And even today, Minakari - with its unique carving style on Gold and Silver continues to dazzle women the world over with motifs of flowers, plants and scrolling vines.
Hollow ornaments || TOP ||
The unbelievable art of gold work comes from Tamilnadu and Karnataka state mostly South India. These types of jewellery are looking like heavy weighted but actually light weighted ornaments.
Gold Jewellery with Filigree work || TOP ||
The great work of small plain and twisted wires, different small flowers & other shapes with gold grains comes from Gujarat.
Diamond or Stone studded jewellery || TOP ||
Most world-wide popular work of Diamonds & Gemstones. The master workers of this art are Bengali-workers, from West-Bengal, East India.
Thewa Jewellery || TOP ||
Thewa is the art of 18th century inaugurated from Rajasthan, India. Thewa Jewellery is a different type of art work done by 23k gold and worked on glass. Unique glasses for Thewa Jewellery are treated by a special process to give a glittering effect, highlights the intricate gold work. The motifs used on Thewa jewellery are reflecting the culture, heritage and tales of romance and valor of State Rajasthan, India. Four gold sheets, each intended for a Thewa unit, are fixed to a lac-resin compound spread on a board. Following the design inscribed in line on the gold, an openwork pattern is pierced through the sheets using fine cutting chisels. The designs may be a hunting scene, a delicate climbing plant with equally delicate flowers and leaves, a gazing deer, a dancing peacock, a woman dressed up in typical Rajasthani attire, Krishna with gopikas and many other related to this theme. |
