Jewelery is the adornment that speaks of the time by gone. Today the usual gold jewelery has been overcome by the traditional yet chic Kundan, Jadau and Lac jewelery.
Unveiled by the Mughals this art of jewelery has been nurtured and pampered in Rajasthan, where it is known as Jadtar. The use of precious and semi precious stones are the redolent of the old Mughal tradition. Jadau is that art in which there is a combination of various crafts. 'Meenakari' pr-enameling is done with great care and for 'Kundan' or gold the artistry lies with goldsmith. The stone setters popularly known as the 'jadiyas' set the precious stones such as Jade, crystal, emeralds, topaz and spinal into the creations. The method of functioning is that stones are set in silver foil and then fused in the finishing of pure gold. The artwork done at the back increases the aesthetics of these jewels.
The vogue style of jewelery is the Kundan, which talks of the eloquent traditions of our country. The much-acclaimed 'Meenakari' a specialty of North India is fused with 'Kundan' technique. This jewelery is perhaps the oldest forms of jewelery that is worn in India. This too is done by the method of setting of the gems and insertion of the gold foil between the stones. This art too belongs to the Mughal era and the best pieces were doubtlessly created at that very epoch.
The process involved in the production of this lavaliere is arduous. A basic form of hollow jewelry is created at the preliminary stage. Then Lac is filled and the delicate designing is done by the craftsman. Lines are engraved to contra distinguish the different colors. According to the temperature required by them the colors are filled and fired until both the sides are enameled. Stones are then respectively placed and the final step is to polish the jewelery with a leather cloth.
This 24 carat gold jewelery is the oldest form of jewelery that is known to India. This art is now performed best in the state of Rajasthan. If dresses talk about the contemporary trends in fashion then these jewelery are corroboration of the royal era gone by.
Rita Jain is an eminent writer and has written extensively for fashion magazines. In this article she tries to portray the rich and vibrant craft of India which is famous worldwide. To read more of her works on the
art and craft of Rajasthanlog on to
Shubhyatra.com
