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A digital archive showcasing the extensive collection of jewellery and adornment images shared on the former Ethnic Jewels Ning site over the years. These images have significantly enriched discussions on cultural adornment and its global dispersion.

Makara Bracelet from Madras

Posted by Lynn Ardent on May 18, 2015 at 9:15pm
A 19th century makara head bracelet from Madras, India. Worked in the most exquisite, tiny repousse. The makara's have waves on their backs, tiny scales on their bellies, and hold a magical jewel in their jaws. From what I understand, this was a bracelet for men. More views in the comments.
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Tags: bangle, bracelet, india, indian
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Comments

  • Lynn Ardent May 18, 2015 at 9:20pm

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  • Ethnic Embellishments May 19, 2015 at 12:44am

    Gorgeous workmanship Lynn!

  • Lynn Ardent May 19, 2015 at 2:10am

    Thank you Hillary!

  • Preethi May 19, 2015 at 7:31am

    Beautiful patina, Lynn. I love these bracelets! Mine's below, could be a twin of yours :) I've been looking for the Sri Lankan Tamil version of this bracelet with tiny lion heads on the side, but no luck yet.

    May I ask where you found the reference that this was made for men? By size, these seem to be made for women. The design is still being made, in gold with ruby eyes, and I've only seen women wear these, although men in India do wear substantial bracelets.

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  • ingrid Langerak May 19, 2015 at 9:35am

    Beautiful Lynn . Every detail amazing, what a skill, love and patience. Enormous respect for the maker.

    Gr. Ingrid.

  • Lynn Ardent May 19, 2015 at 2:34pm

    Thank you Preethi and Ingrid.  Preethi our bracelets are twins!  These must have been made by the same craftsman.

    Re: worn by men, there was something online that said it explicitly that I can't find, and then the sentence from Oppi Utracht, "given by rajas to their subjects as marks of favor."  It's possible I have hallucinated the explicit reference since I can't find it.  :)   Do you have any photos of the Sri Lankan version? 

  • Mustafa J. Salem May 19, 2015 at 3:34pm

    Just beautiful work and indeed very attractive decoration on this fantastic bracelet. Thank you for posting this to show it to us.. as members of the forum... Very nice

  • Betty May 19, 2015 at 8:33pm

    This is a true treasure hunter piece, Lynn. Congrats!

    It looks large as well as extremely refined. Could you tell us the approx. measurements?

  • Lynn Ardent May 20, 2015 at 2:34am

    Thank you for your kind comments Mustafa and Betty.  The exterior dimensions are 86mm x 84mm.  The interior dimensions are 60mm x 45mm.  I think it is about 60 grams, relatively light as it is hollow inside.  

  • Lynn Ardent May 20, 2015 at 2:58am

    I found the reference to men: "Utracht (1997, p.254) illustrates an example in silver, and comments that such bracelets also were made in gold (as is the example here) and that they weregiven by rajas to their male subjects as a mark of favour. Indeed, examples in gold were made exclusively for royal households."  It's on Michael Backman's website here:  http://www.michaelbackmanltd.com/1886.html

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