At the Amrapali Museum in Jaipur, which has recently opened its doors, there are pristine examples of tribal jewelry and heirlooms made of silver and gold that have never been seen before. Attention: A treasure trove of ancient tribal jewelry and stunning heirlooms in fine silver and goldsmithery can be found at the Amrapali Museum in the Pink City, which spans an area of 6,500 square feet. This museum is a must-see for those who are passionate about jewelry and are interested in antique ornaments. It has been a labor of love for Rajiv Arora and Rajesh Ajmera, the men who are responsible for the legendary Amrapali jewelry brand, to collect over four thousand of the most enchanting artifacts over the course of forty years. These artefacts are rich in history and Indian customs. Through a series of fortunate events, they were able to prevent handmade objects from being pawned or sold by locals, and then as a way of giving back to society, they assembled a collection of these items. As a result, we get a glimpse of a fairly poetic unfolding of pieces: a lavish mirrorwork necklace in emerald green and white, dating back to the 19th century, when mirror was yet to come to India; an ornate silver sehra (forehead ornament for the bridegroom in Himachal Pradesh), finely crafted hairpins, mathapattis (head ornaments), kaanphools (earrings), hastphools (hand jewellery), pair phools (foot jewellery), araipatta (waistband), bichwa (toe rings), naths (nose rings), kadas (bracelets), the traditional Rajasthani head ornament, borla and umpteen others from the interiors of Kutch, Rajasthan, Awadh and yonder. Yellow metal reigns supreme in the Gold Room because of the chiselled haslis (chokers) with ornamental clasps from Karnataka, the treasured bajubands (armlets) with rose-cut diamonds from Hyderabad, the jaw-dropping jadai nagam (hair ornaments) in rubies, emeralds, white sapphires… from Tamil Nadu, and the gleaming Parsi necklace that is laced with diamond inlay and words from the Avestan credo. Customized drawers with built-in lighting open silently to reveal artifacts that have been displayed with great care. The hooks on which the pieces are hanged are hidden, drawing attention to the workmanship. Magnifying glasses that have been carefully positioned on the back of the pieces allow visitors to appreciate the great artwork that is located at the conclusion of the works. In contrast to the subtle pebble gray cloth backdrop, the illumination that is concealed draws attention to the intricate details of the decorations and curiosities that are presented. Creating a captivating visual mosaic may be accomplished via the use of 3D illuminated close-ups in black and white or by detailing the carvings on some of the pieces. From the Portuguese-style filigree and golden thewa of Pratapgarh to the colonial silver from Kutch and ateliers of Awadh, the grandoise of Hyderabad courts to the treasured swatches of splendid Indian bolts of silks and zaris, the space is a truly delightful experience for those who are passionate about fine art. The walls are covered with heirloom stretches of gold and silver that have been glorified in textiles via the craftsmanship of kalamkari. An exquisite necklace made of a rare tiger claw, a fossilized shaligram that is woven into a delicate silver belt, gold jooties (footwear) that are adorned with valuable stones, and silver khadau that just captivate. Then there are the very little gold earrings that were discovered in the riverbeds of the Ganga and the Yamuna rivers. The Museum is a breathtaking celebration of Indian history in ways that have not yet been considered. Every art enthusiast should make it a point to get there. Jaipur, Rajasthan home of the Amrapali Museum, located at K 14/B Ashok Marg, C Scheme, Ashok Nagar 11 am to 6 pm is the time frame. Last entry at five o’clock Available from Monday through Sunday. Ticket of Rs 600 per individual Explore the pictures of the historical jewelry that can be found on the website indiaartndesign.com.
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