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Comments

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  Marie-Ange January 17, 2012 at 2:31pm

  From Rajasthan?
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  Joost Daalder January 17, 2012 at 5:15pm

  This type is frequent, and occurs in many books. They are fine anklets, and regularly defined as coming from Gujarat. They are much admired by Westerners because we are reminded of e.g. Scandinavian silver from the 50s and after, and these pieces suit a contemporary taste. They are usually made of high-quality silver, and carry a substantial price tag, but are worth that, as they are very satisfying. They come in pairs.
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  Joost Daalder January 17, 2012 at 5:20pm

  For literaue confirming that they are from Gujarat one can go to many places: as always, Untracht is the first port of call, as he was (and no doubt remains) the greatest expert before his untimely death. See his book, p. 272, illustrating a pair from the Ghysels collection. "Gujarat" is the agreed area, and not really subject to doubt.
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  Joost Daalder January 17, 2012 at 5:31pm

  Marie-Ange, with Rajasthan  you were not far wrong, but neither that nor Madya Pradesh is the label that should be chosen: it really is Gujarat which these pieces come from. Books - and I don't mean just *Ethnic Jewellery and Adornment*! - are invaluable in finding answers as to where such pieces were (and are) made. Once you have got hold of the fact (or even if you suspect) that they are from India, a decent book on ethnic jewellery that includes India is extremely likely to settle the matter of the place of origin for you - just as a nitric acid test (more definitely) settles uncertainties about silver. Indeed, such a test would confirm that these anklets are usually a minimum of 80% silver. In other words, this is a case where we don't have to guess (as is still to an extent true of the Pakistani armbands which you have wisely bought), but there are definite answers available.