Gallery

Comments

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  howah January 10, 2012 at 2:11pm

  very nice and luxurious combination of pearls and coral! would love to go there someday! did you see the women there with turquoise studded headdresses called perak? would love to see them in real life someday!
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  Preethi January 12, 2012 at 4:43pm

  Thanks Howah! On a visit to a village near Leh, I did see a number of people in their traditional finery, including peraks during a celebration in honour of a visting rinpoche. Quite a flamboyant piece of jewellery I think, in the positive sense of the word. I was for a long time under the impression that these were worn only by Buddhists but recently read that Ladakhi Muslims and Christians wore it too, although not for some years now. 

  I saw a number of peraks for sale too, but mostly all new. The really old pieces are probably only family heirlooms now?
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  Preethi January 12, 2012 at 4:46pm

  I would love to know when pearls started being used in Tibetan/Ladakhi jewellery! 
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  howah January 12, 2012 at 6:24pm

  Hi Preethi, the genuine peraks rarely become available for sale in the west. once in a while you can see one in an auction of the bigger auction houses. these are true family heirlooms so we need to keep our eyes open and wallet stuffed and hope to spot one someday.

  there is a section on the use of pearls in the book 'jewellery of tibet and the himalayas' . i will try to scan that chapter and send it to you someday ok?
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  Preethi January 12, 2012 at 6:42pm

  Thanks Howah. No rush at all, but any help with info is much appreciated!
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  Patricia Deany January 12, 2012 at 7:57pm

  This is very beautiful, love the inclusion of pearls with the coral -- I think that this is done along the gulf as well.
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  howah January 14, 2012 at 1:23pm

  
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  howah January 14, 2012 at 4:15pm

  
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  howah January 14, 2012 at 4:16pm

  
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  howah January 14, 2012 at 4:18pm

  Hi Preethi,

  I posted the text from the book about the use of pearls in Tibet, Ladakh etc here. enjoy!