Variations in Jewellery Craft

The art of designing and crafting jewellery is known as jewellery design. This is one of the earliest types of decorating in human history, extending back at least 7,000 years to the first known human communities in Mesopotamia and Egypt. The craft has evolved throughout the years, from basic beading in ancient times to intricate metallurgy and gem cutting in current times.

Process of Jewellery Making

The process of crafting decorative objects worn for personal ornamentation or adornment is known as jewellery making. The materials used can vary from stone to precious metals, and the processes used are flexible and endless. Various styles of jewellery creation require different abilities, so do your study before you begin.

Regional Varieties of Jewellery:

• Kashmir: Their jewellery is quite distinct

• Ear ornaments known as kan-balle was worn by Muslim women on both sides of the head. It comprises several rings, which are attached to the hair or the cap
• It is also worn in Ladakh, Lahaul, Spiti, and Kinnaur

• Punjab:  Women wear a special ornament, chonk. It is cone-shaped and is worn at the top of the head with two smaller cones, referred to  as phul, worn at the sides
• Himachal Pradesh: The pipal patra, made from bunches of heart-shaped silver mould leaves fastened to an enamelled piece of silver,  worn by women on both sides of their caps

• Their necklaces are formed out of huge metal plates, engraved with the traditional designs of the region, and crammed with green and yellow enamel
• The most common design found is  Devi riding her lion
• The nose ornaments of Kullu are greatly specialised. The large-sized nath and boulak designs of a single leaf pattern aren’t  to be seen in other parts of India
• During festivals they wear a large nath, often larger than the face of the wearer

• Andhra Pradesh: The belts worn in Andhra Pradesh have intricate clasps of the double head of a rakshas or kirtimukha

• Another pattern of a kara, is that of serpent-heads which appear to be holding the earth in their mouths
• The necklaces often derive their designs or patterns in the shapes of grains

• Assam: The tribes patronise silver jewellery, while gold jewellery is preferred in the plains

• The patterns of gold jewellery are extremely delicate and frail
• The earring, referred to  as thuria, has the form of a lotus with a large stem
• Thuria is usually made of gold and studded with rubies in the front and back portion

• West Bengal: The filigree work on gold and silver jewellery is frail

• Finest pieces of jewellery known are the hair ornaments such as the tara kanta and  paan kanta
• Hair pins are designed like a star and a betel leaf

• Orissa: The folk jewellery in silver and gold is rich in patterns, forms, and designs
• The most common method is filigree, which has a strong personality and is separate from what is made professionally in Cuttack today
• Head ornaments worn in Orissa are quite less
• The accent is found to be worn on arm jewels, necklaces, nose-rings, and anklets, with the best designs found on nose ornaments
• One of the designs referred to as maurpankhi, is crafted almost like the image of a peacock with open feathers,and  made with the processes of granulation, filigree and casting
• In Sambalpur, brass jewellery is common
• Bangles in different patterns are polished and appear to be made of gold

• Kerala: It has a very rich variety of gold jewellery designs

• Precious stones are not widely used here
• Variety is seen mostly in necklaces
• The garuda necklace depicts the fine workmanship of the craftsmen

• Tamil Nadu: Silver filigree armlets worn by Vellalars of Coimbatore have a famous workmanship in granular work
• Chettinad adornments made of whole rubies, is one of the best gems known. Addigai is a neckband that is just made of a line of whole rubies set in gold. A focal theme of the padakam takes the example of the lotus. Mangai-malai might be a jewellery of mango-formed pieces that are studded with whole rubies and precious stones

• The plait cover often resembles  the top the head of a snake commonly called the Naga
• The jewellery of the Todas and the Kotas of the Nilgiris are very distinctive

Conclusion

Jewellery creation has a rich history in personal adornment and symbolism that extends back thousands of years and spans many countries. It includes a wide range of materials, from beads to wire, gemstones to precious metals. You can start manufacturing jewellery as a pastime or as a professional jeweller.