History Of Handmade Jewellery In India

History of jewellery in India has been an unbroken tradition from the Indus valley civilization to this day. The bronze statue of a dancing girl with necklace and bangles in her hands and one hand on hip is an example of finest Indian craftsmanship from ancient India. This is the world famous bronze statue with jewellery from India. The use of leaves and flowers as decoration in hair by ladies inspired craftsmen to create gold and silver leaves and flowers for use by ladies.

During earlier times, the artists were using ivory, bones, seeds, flowers and any that inspired them to make fine jewellery. This tradition continues in the form of tribal art and jewellery.  Jewellery is made for exclusively for ladies and for every part of their bodies.  From toes to nose and ears to neck, the size of jewellery is crafted for all occasions. Making items from small size to neck size showed the mastery of the Indian craftsmen. And this mastery continues to this day with use of precious stone and, diamonds in decorating the gold jewellery.

The design of the jewellery showed that craftsmen had mastered the use of mixing of different alloys, creating fine pieces or wires, molding, inlay work, setting gold or precious stone on complex designs and making thin lines of gold and silver. And finally they gave any geometric shape to gold or silver to obtain the required design and pattern. Usually the goldsmiths used to do the entire work from creating design and fixing stone on them. But later, the jobs performed by other artists also as the demand rose and complexity of the designs emerged. Now a goldsmith makes the skeletal framework, the chatera does the engraving, the kundansaaz or jaria fixes the stones and the meenasaaz enamels it.

The jewellery was made both for religious use and in pure aesthetic sense. From ancient Indian to modern Indian before independence the artists engaged in making gold and precious stone items enjoyed royal patronage.  The royal horses and elephants were also decorated with huge gold ornaments during festivals or special occasion.

 Kundan and meenakari are the mughal inspired jewellery making styles where jewellery can be used from both sides. These styles are evident in use of chokers and necklace. This traditional style of jewellery marking is kept alive by some jewellery makers and the jewellery can be purchased from their exclusive stores. Best jewelry stores in Delhi. Kundan the art of setting of precious stone in gold is art from Delhi.  The art of meenakari emerged from jaipur. The art of fine work in gold and silver came from Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. These days all styles are combined to give new shapes and create new designs in handicraft jewellery. Buy handcrafted Jewellery in India. The use of gold jewellery is integral part of the life in India and no festival is complete without its use by ladies.