Sunday, February 28, 2010

Arsi


Here i was thinking that not many people use mirrors in there jewellery...Mirror Rings have been used for over 300 years. They were originally worn by Muslim women but over the years they have been accepted by the Hindu women. They are called Arsi in Northern India.


One of the most richest periods of the development of traditional jewellery in India took place during the Mughal Dynasty(16th-19th century). Niccolao Manucci, a Venetian traveler who spent 60 years India, was lucky enough to be allowed into the private quarters of the mughal courts...he was a part time physician and soldier so he was allowed into the women's courts as well.


In his records he wrote" I have not relied on the knowledge of others;and i have not spoken of nothing which i have not seen." He gives a vivid description of court women's jewellery, "On fingers there are rings, and on the right thumb there is always a ring,where, in place of a stone, there is mounted a little mirror,having pearls around it. This mirror they use to look at themselves,an act which they are very fond, at any and every moment"


I'm not upset anymore...I'm actually glad it existed way before i was born and in a way i am continuing with something that is part of the history of Indian jewellery.




Reference: Traditional Jewellery Of India- Oppi Untracht

1 comment:

tallulah said...

This is so damn interesting!
Can't believe you did this without knowing it already existed, 300 years ago!!