One of my many loves is looking at and reading about ethnic vintage jewellery. For over two years now, I have been slowly but surely buying vintage components to add to my collection. Recently, I visited Kashmir and happened upon a treasure trove. They were vintage jewellery collected a long time ago by a father-son duo who run a store of touristy souvenirs. It was my frustration over my failed trip to Gulmarg that led me to find Kashmiri and Pahadi vintage jewellery. After lovingly caressing, trying on and gaping at the vintage beauties, I bought a few pieces to repair, wear and sell. In my blogiversary post earlier this year, I wrote about the difference between making vintage jewellery (which is not possible) and making jewellery using vintage components. Those of you interested in making jewellery using vintage components will find several tips there.
Shop Sayuri originals made using vintage components
Slowly, as I started cleaning pieces and repairing them, I realised that I could use some of them as components. Earrings became pendants, a necklace became several earrings and a bangle a pendant. I added beads and chain and eventually, they went from components to reconstructed jewellery. Here is the first set of jewellery that I made using vintage components. Please check out the Instagram handle @jewelsofsayuri to see the length of the pieces and how they look when worn.
Hariyali
Haryali means green and Kashmir valley is known for its lush greens. From the slopes of Gulmarg to the riverside of Pahalgham, Kashmir delights you with its various shades of green landscapes. Hariyali has been made using components from vintage Kashmiri earrings. Combined with grass green and turquoise green glass beads and puffy vintage leaves, it makes for a lightweight easy to wear necklace. The centre is enamelled and you can see a reminiscence of the original turquoise paint on one of the raised circles. The necklace is available for sale with earrings.
Aasmaan
Coming up next is a necklace in blue-greens and orange with silver. Titled Aasmaan or sky, this piece reminds me of the blue skies, the winding mountain ranges and waters of Lidder that I saw during my Solo travel in Kashmir. While the barrel shaped beads are dyed onyx, the rondrels and rounds are agate. The Pendant is a single jhumka earrings – part of an alhakor and has a beautiful floral imagery on it. The necklace is available for sale with simple beaded earrings.
Laal
Kashmir is known for its Kashmiri mirchi. It is a peppe – chilli that produces a rich red coloured powder with very little heat. Inspired by the colour and taste of that spice is this Kashmiri vintage mango necklace with red glass beads. The focal pendant is the pair of the one used in Hariyali. The most interesting aspect of this necklace are the puffy mango connectors. Mango charms are big part of Indian jewellery – both silver and gold. Each region, each state in India has its own variation of mango inspired components in jewellery. The Kashmir version is unique for it has its trademark fringes along with the mango. This is definitely a “not to be missed item.” The necklace is available for sale with mango earrings.
Vintage jewellery – sold
I was when I have this stained pendant with missing charms that I realised that I wanted to repair the components and use them in my collection influenced by vintage jewellery. I think that this might be a replica pendant of carnelian set in embossed silver. As I cleaned and polished the round pendant, the glass cabs started to shine and I knew then that it needed an eclectic selection of beads. Therefore, I looped together poppy jasper, onyx, lacquared wood and metal beads to make this necklace. The collector who I bought the pendant from told me that it would be worn by people from a lower strata of society. However, I think that the finished piece looks fashionable and high-society-classy. Therefore it was snapped up in minutes when I posted a picture by an accomplished architect and researcher.
All the vintage components used in the jewellery are atleast 50-70 years old. They are in silver tone and are made of pot metal alloys. Furthermore, Marks, dents and tiny slashes on the components are indicative of their age.
I hope you enjoy looking at (also purchasing and wearing) these pieces. There is more to come, so stay tuned.
I hope you find it interesting
Cheers
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