When Jewellery Speaks (Celebrating the Tradition of Kundan Minakaari)

Language: English Pages: 267 (Throughout color Illustrations) About the Book ? When Jewellery Speaks provides a fascinating insight into the genre of Kundan Minakaari jewellery. Once a powerful symbol of regalia, this jewellery tradition continues to enjoy unbridled popularity even today. The book forms a veritable kaleidoscopic odyssey as the Kundan Minakaari tradition journeys through annals of history, comes alive with aesthetic grandeur, unravels layers of symbolism, describes the crafting process and techniques to every single detail, and highlights its socio-economic relevance in the context of its craftspersons, along with its contemporary appeal and future prospects. A visual celebration of exquisite pieces of jewellery and artefacts from India, combined with an absorbing corpus of facts, make this book a compelling read. All in all, what comes to the fore is the need to preserve and cherish the cornucopia of traditions that India possesses, the cultural legacy of Kundan Minakaari being an integral part of the same. ? Foreword ? India, which is known around the world for its heritage and royalty, never had the practice of documenting its traditions and indigenous art forms. Due to this, so many traditional techniques and art forms of India seem to have been lost over a passage of time. ? From the excavations of Mohenjo Daro and Harappa to the crown of Elizabeth II, the queen of United Kingdom, Indians are known for their expertise in creating innumerable forms of jewellery which have fascinated the world, of which Kundan is one of the oldest form of jewellery made and worn in India and co