Eighteen maharajah turban plumes encircle this sterling silver bracelet from 1930s India. The maharajah rulers of Rajasthan adopted the plume-shaped turban ornaments they called "sarpech" from the Mughals. Made of feathers and jewels, worn pointing skyward from their turbans, the plumes became symbolic of the colorful princely rulers. An inventive jewelry maker from India's Jain minority used the distinctive sarpech shape as the design motif for this bracelet. In India, where they ...click for details
This beautifully made sterling silver bracelet is exceptionally comfortable to wear even though it weighs 64 grams. The six braided chains are supple and move well on the wrist. Five shining flower disks are affixed to the chains and add subdued sparkle as the chains flex. A secure prong clasp is set in a handsome tube. The bracelet is 92.5 percent sterling silver and is stamped as such on the inside of the clasp. It was made in the Indian city of Jaisalmer, a remote outpost in the Thar Desert i ...click for details
A beautifully made sterling silver link bracelet is formed of 28 small crests that sparkle on the wrist. An unusual link system gives this piece exceptional flexibility, and the 27-gram silver weight gives it a substantial yet comfortable look and feel. The bracelet was made by the Jain people of India, who are known for their artistic skills, particularly in creating fine jewelry. They are a small minority in India, accounting for about only .4 percent of the population, and follow an ancient r ...click for details
A bracelet of braided silver has three silver emblems that are an identifying symbol of Janism, an ancient belief system practiced primarily in India, where small but influential Jain communities are scattered throughout the country. The symbol on this bracelet often is seen outside Jain houses. The Jains, typically well educated and prosperous, are known for business acumen and for their prominence in India's jewelry trade. This bracelet is from Jaisalmer, a remote western Indian city on th ...click for details
A miniature from Mandawa in the Shekhawati Region of Rajasthan is focused on just one subject--a kneeling musician. The single subject and muted colors demonstrate differences between Indian miniature schools of painting that were heavily influenced by Mughal style and those that were not. Here there are no strong Mughal colors, intricate patterns of scrolling and textiles, flowers, birds and people filling the space. By contrast, the soft brown tones and space in this Mandawa piece give it a qu ...click for details
A miniature by Kishangarh painter Yogya Pralash, this work, with the addition of a peacock at the lady's feet, becomes a symbol of grace, joy, beauty and love. The peacock, national bird of India, figures importantly in Indian culture as an emblem to convey those sentiments. The musician's attire echoes the colors of the peacock's plumage and she plays a stringed instrument in a traditional pose found in miniatures from the Indian state of Rajasthan. This late 20th century painting, ...click for details
A finely detailed miniature from Kishangarh, this painting has the lyrical quality that characterizes much of the work from this area in the state of Rajasthan in India. Two delicate figures sit in the foreground within an elaborate setting of cushions, flowers, arches and windows, all rendered in tiny intricate designs. Both are richly dressed and heavily jeweled. They gaze into each others eyes before drinking a toast, he from a bowl, she from a tiny cup. This idealized scene, influenced by Mu ...click for details
The graceful musician in this Rajasthani miniature gazes at birds while she plays a stringed instrument. The painting, from the late 20th century, is in a style that originated in the Kishangarh area of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is done on heavy old parchment and includes two lines of calligraphy in Urdu above the painted area. A signature in the lower left indicates the painter was Yogya Pralash. The miniature is in very good condition. Dimensions of parchment: height 7.5" (19 cm), ...click for details
Fine silver wire braided into three ropes gives texture to this mid-20th century sterling bracelet from India's remote Western outpost city of Jaisalmer in the Thar Desert. Three disks, each with an embossed flower, are affixed to three of five bars that clamp the ropes together. This elegant, understated piece of jewelry is in excellent condition. About 70 years old, it was made by the Jain people, a minority group in India who practice Janism, an ancient belief system that includes element ...click for details
