Nepalese Ethnic Jewellery

07.01.2016

3 2 minutes read

Earring made in the 18th - 19th century — Earring made in the 18th – 19th century. Nepalese Ethnic Jewellery

Nepalese Ethnic Jewellery
Highlands of Nepal gave peoples living there a great variety of beautiful stones. These same mountains, as a natural barrier to civilization, have preserved unique Nepalese style decorations considered the oldest on earth.
The origin of the Nepalese jewellery art goes back to the era of the gods and legends of the sacred Vedas. Historically, the rise of jewellery art took place during the rule of The Licchavi Dynasty (10th century) and The Malla Dynasty (15th century).
Of the 70 nationalities living in Nepal, jewelers generally come from tribes of the Kathmandu Valley – Newar people. Ninety percent of all jewelers belong to those ethnic groups that traditionally pass their craft from generation to generation.

Amulet box. Silver gilt covered with cut and shaped semi-precious and precious stones. 18th – 19th century. Nepalese Ethnic Jewellery

The key elements of Nepalese jewellery – handmade pendants or beads of gold, brass or silver, richly inlaid with mother of pearl, turquoise, coral, carnelian beads and exotic Dzi bead. Tibetan decorations attract and instantly impress with the bright and rich colors. Blue, green, turquoise, red coral, amber honey, shiny pearls were skillfully and masterfully used in the massive complex compositions. The design of these decorations is simple, but the amount of them amazes. This can be a 5, 6 or more strands of beads of different lengths and sizes.

Buckle made of gold, coral, turquoise, gem stones, 19th century

Nepalese Ethnic Jewellery

Earrings. Silver and silver gilt, with semi-precious and precious stones, 18th or 19th century

Newari work, 18th-early 19th century (collection of Avery Brundage of Asian Art museum, San Francisco)

Pendant with inlaid precious and semi precious stones, Newari work, Nepal 18th-19th century. From the collection of Avery Brundage Asian Art Museum of San Francisco

Set of ceremonial jewelry, made of precious and semi precious stones, 17th-18th century, Nepal.(collection of National Museum of Scotland)

Turquoise and ruby gem set gilded copper breast plate, the Kathmandu Valley, 18th – 19th century

Headdress ornament, gilt silver with precious carved stone inlay, Newari work Nepal 18th-early 19th century

Original Nepalese beads decorated with numerous relief patterns and inlaid with turquoise and coral crumb, made by Nepalese craftsmen by hand:

Gold bead — Gold Dzi bead, found primarily in Tibet, but also in neighboring Bhutan, Nepal, Ladakh and Sikkim

Nepalese Ethnic Jewellery

Silver beads — Worn as a talisman for good luck and protection from evil spirits, Dzi beads

According to belief, the energy of Dzi beads was accumulated over decades, and people highly value it. In fact, the Dzi beads as a symbol of certain energies, are able to change the situation. Made of agate, quartz and even silver, the number of Beads Dzi beads is distinguished by the “eye” and a characteristic pattern on the surface. Very popular are “big-eyed” Dzi beads and hidden meaning:

2-eyed Dzi bead – love and family relations
3- eyed Dzi bead – a symbol of love, health, wealth.
4-eyed Dzi bead – a symbol of success, wisdom, confidence and calm.
5-eyed Dzi bead – a symbol of successful initiatives.
6-eyed Dzi bead – a symbol of surprising longevity.
8-eyed Dzi bead – a symbol of restoration of physical strength.
9-eyed Dzi bead – rapid success, wealth.

Nepalese Jewellery - beads — Nepalese Dzi beads

Nepalese Tibetans have lots of types and forms of jewelry – long earrings, big rings, containers for amulets, fasteners for clothing, items for hats. All of them amaze with their craftsmanship, a riot of colors and sizes. Rings and earrings decorated with large fragments of turquoise and coral. The number of jewelry a woman is wearing meant her welfare. The proverb “All I carry with myself” is associated primarily with the nature of nomadic peoples.