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Showing posts from April, 2018

Lesser known facts about filigree art

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You cannot turn away from filigree jewellery without examining it closely. That’s the charm of this ancient art form that has travelled all the way from the western Asia to our country. Originated in Mesopotamia and Egypt, it popularised across the Asian continent during 2500 BC. Especially craftsmen belonging to Midyat city in Mardin province of upper Mesopotamia, carved out a niche for themselves for developing a filigree patterns called Telkari , using gold and silver wires. But as soon as this art form landed here in India, its popularity saw a new high. Already obsessed with jewellery, Indians zealously embraced its arabesque patterns . They not only started creating their own versions but with time, mastered it well enough to not just find takers across India but also become one of the prominent exporters of filigree jewellery in the world. Famous for their Cuttack Tarkashi from Orissa, they also spread their wings to other regions with West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh’s K

The science behind piercing a baby's ears

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Indians are obsessed about jewellery . Even a new born child will have his/ her own trinket box. From a taviz, a waistband and a pair of anklets to even earrings and bangles, there is a range in baby jewellery too. But they do not wear them for nothing. Every jewel is conceived keeping in mind the child’s health prospects. Onlookers may sometime feel horrified at the thought of how on Earth someone can pierce a baby’s ears, but don’t we take them for  vaccinations ! Similarly, ear piercing too is one such painful experience that will go a long way in ensuring your baby’s well-being. Karna Vedha Sanskar Out of the 16 Sanskaars of the Hindu dharma,  Karna Vedha Sanskar  that involves ear piercing  is held on 10th, 12th or 16th day after the birth of the baby or in the odd years of the child like 3rd or 7th years. In some cultures, this ceremony is called Chhedan and is conducted in the first half of the day, followed by a feast. While performing the rituals, the child is ma

Designs that are so you!

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Not everyone wears jewellery for style. For some it is a way of expression, while others look at it as a reflection of their inner-self. In fact, in some of the tribes in India, it is a mark of their identity. Also, since time unknown, by means of Mangalsutra in India and wedding rings in the west, women make known about their marital status.  Even through the history of India, the jewels of various eras reflect the time in which they originated. The Rajputs, the Mughals, the Marathas, the Mauryas…you can tell from the designs which jewel belongs to which dynasty.   Although since then we have come a long way in terms of design themes and technology and a lot of western influence is seen in our creations, the yearn to personalise our jewellery still persists. Sometime the desire is so strong that we go in for customisation. It may be a design that we have either seen somewhere or created on our own but all that matters is that we identify with it.  For many years, our i