Ear Ornament

Late 19th– early 20th century (Late Dogra Period) Origin: Kashmir Material: Fire-gilded copper alloy, with resin/lac core(lāsh), set with coloured glass and semi-precious stones. A fine example of traditional Kashmiri bridal ear ornament from the late Dogra period. The use of a fire-gilded copper alloy over a lāsh core reflects a long-established local technique that produced richly ornamented jewellery without the expense of solid gold. The ornament preserves the distinctive floral openwork and colourful stone settings characteristic of Kashmiri ceremonial adornment during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Rather than hanging solely from the earlobe, ornaments of this type were traditionally suspended from the bridal headpiece, allowing their substantial size and weight to be comfortably supported while framing the face. Surviving historical photographs from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries show Kashmiri women wearing comparable ornaments as part of the complete ceremonial ensemble. Image Source: Kashmir Life, “The Fall of The Feudal’s?”, 13 May 2010. Photograph from the Drabu family album, Srinagar. Private collection: Trām and Beyond

Not for Sale