'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),
Kanthi, Magmala (neck ornament with small gold balls), Necklaces, Tanmaniya
(Mangalsutra), Pendants, Earrings, Tops, Karnaful (a type of neck ornament),
Zumar, Suraliya, Thumb rings, Finger rings, Binchhua (a type of finger
ornament), Toe rings, Bangles, Bracelets, Kadas, Kadandias, Chuda, Pachheli,
Hathful, Punchiya, Armlets, Armbands, Maag Tika, Borlas, Dots, Chains, Nose
pins, Nose-rings, Nath chains (worn with nose ring), Ear chains, Waist-belts,
Anklets, Zanzar, Toda… 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.
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 Silver 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.