Jewellery

Lac is collected from forest and very commonly used for costume jewellery. In northern Bihar about one hundred tons of rejected lac which remains in the pack after squeezing, is used for bangle cores and the better quality lac is used for decoration. Lac bangles are worn by married women of the aboriginal tribal people of Bihar including Bhumij, Mo, Munda, Oraon and Santal tribes. Lampshades, toddlers push carts, serving bowls, nose rings decorated with bright red colour are few beautiful examples o craftsmanship.

Kundan is a special style of jewelry making specially practiced in Rajasthan. The precious and semiprecious gems are set in gold and silver. The surface of the jewelry is crafted skillfully and meticulously leaving holes for the gems. The gems are then set with a lac base at the back of the ornament. kundan is the local word for gold which forms the interface between the lac and the gemstones. The pieces are often enameled giving them a bright look.

Meenakari Jewelry is another specialty of the states’ artisans. Precious and semiprecious gems are embellished into gold or silver jewelry and the meal itself is enameled with bright colors. Introduced to the state’s jewelers by Raja Mansingh of Amer, this style of jewelry crafting was originally discovered by the skilled workmen of Lahore. Honed to perfection by the jewelry makers of the state, Meenakari jewelry now bears the unmistakable stamp of Rajasthani expertise. Jaipur is the hub of this skill and the city is famous for the intricate and bright masterpieces produced here.

The thewa work of Pratapgarh is highly exquisite and popular, in this technique, designs are enamelled in gold on a glass base. The base used is generally green or red in colour.

Thewa work is the famous art of creating golden patterns on glass. Chittorgarh is famed for such Thewa jewelry. The universal appeal of the intricate designs and the raging colors reflects in the popularity of Thewa pendants not only in India but all over the world. Brilliant greens, blues and reds and floral patterns of gold cast a spell over every woman’s heart.

The village women of Rajasthan are togged up from head to toe in cumbersome silver ornaments, which they never remove.

Silver jewelry is the specialty of the state of Gujarat. The premier centers of silver ornaments are Rajkot and Ahmedabad. Other than this, Kutch is also known for silver engravings and ornaments. You can also pick tribal jewelry in silver from Poshina. Some nice daggers and knives with beautiful sheaths and hilts can also be bought from here. Khambhat (Cambay) is known for the ancient craft of stone cutting and bead making. Many precious and semi precious stones are cut and polished here along with Agate. It is mined in the hills along Gulf of Kambhat.

The vast desert state of Rajasthan is home to the culturally rich tribes such as the Banjaras, the Bhils and theGayaris . These tribes deck up in a vast array of jewelry. The Banjaras are gypsies and nomads by nature. They fashion out their jewelry from beads, sequins, cowries and colorful threads. Glass beads and brass ornaments are part of their daily attire. The ornaments are made up of gold, silver and mainly brass. Animal bones and ivory are used too.

Just like other parts of the country, Tamil Nadu has its own traditional jewellery-especially the stone-encrusted jewelery, which reached its peak here. The ornaments, which are popular here are the oddiyaanam (gold waist belt), vanki (armlet) and jimiki (eardrop), which are traditionally crafted and finished with great dexterity. The jimiki is a bell-shaped ear jewel set in colored stones with pearls hanging at the lower end, and hangs from the lotus shaped kammal of diamonds or rubies worn on the lower lobe of the ear.

The jewelers of this region specialize in making lightweight, hollow gold and silver ornaments, with emphasis on filigree and open work. Semi- precious stones, artificial pearls, glazed quartz, and glass are used to recreate elegant old designs, which can pass off as family heirlooms. Of course, for those with a penchant for the best that money can buy, there are centuries old jewelry shops selling the real stuff like the Basra pearls, emeralds, rubies and diamonds.