| Rajasthan 
              became famous for its jewelry industry from very early times, being 
              an important source of precious and semiprecious stones. Sophisticated 
              jewelry, set with precious stones using the kundankari technique 
              or decorated with bright enamel work, known as minakari, were made 
              for these Rajput court and affluent people. Skillful artisans from 
              Lahore, Delhi, Gujarat and Bengal, attracted by the liberal patronage 
              of the Rajas, came to work in Jaipur, Bikaner, Udaipur and Jodhpur. 
              Throne Silver was used extensively in the court to make Cradles, 
              Carriages, Howrahs, Utensils, Door Panels and Thrones. The lion 
              motif, could only be used for the throne or other formal furniture 
              of the ruler. Various Techniques of Jewelry Making. 
               
                | Enameling 
                    - A lithograph of 1884 showing a typical 
                    workshop of a monikar. While three young assistant shape the 
                    ornaments and engrave the design on it, the old master craftsman 
                    carefully fires it in the earthen bhatti (kiln) fired with 
                    charcoal. The process is not much different today. |  |  
              
                |  |  
                    Minakari - 
                    Enameling or Minakari, is not indigenous to Rajasthan. It 
                    was introduced at the turn of the 16th century by Raja Man 
                    Singh of Amber. He is said to have brought five skillful enamelers 
                    from Lahore where the craft had flourished under the Mughals. 
                    They settled in Jaipur and created fascinating types of jewelry 
                    and decorative pieces with exquisite enameling work in brilliant 
                    colors, such as this beautiful goblets and this necklace. |  
              
                | 
 Kundankari Technique - The 
                    Jaipur lapidary displays superior skill in carving from hard 
                    stones such as jade, rock crystal, agate, garnet, emerald, 
                    topaz, amethyst and spinal. The Jadiyas(stonesetters) create 
                    fabulous pieces of jewelry using the age-old kundankari technique. 
                    In this typically Indian technique, the gemstones are set 
                    within solid walls of gold. Types of Jewelry.
 |  |  
              
                |  | 
                    
                      | Tribal Jewelry - 
                          The ornaments of Barmer, Bhilwara and of the Meos of 
                          Alwar follow age-old designs typical of a particular 
                          tribe. The design often mimic the shapes of leaves, 
                          tendrils and flower buds, finished with a classical 
                          simplicity.
 |  |  
              
                | Turban Jewels - Following 
                    the Mughal emperors, the Rajput rulers wore costly turban 
                    ornaments, jigha, made of dazzling, enameled gold and set 
                    with rare rose-cut diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires and 
                    pearls turban jewels like this one are still made by the jewelers 
                    of Jaipur. The sarpati, made of enameled gold, is tied around 
                    the turban on formal occasions. The reverse of this piece 
                    is beautiful enameled in white, red and green.
 |  |  
              
                |  | Body 
                    Jewelry - Women wear jewelry 
                    on many parts of their body. Personal ornaments include specific 
                    type worn on the Feet, head, forehead, ear, nose, neck, chest, 
                    arm, wrist, fingers and waist. Nose rings are attached to 
                    the earrings by fine gold chains and globular pendants are 
                    worn on the foreheads.
 |  Village 
              Goldsmith - In every small town 
              or village, the resident sunar(Goldsmith) produces traditionally 
              designed ornaments to meet the needs of the tribes living in the 
              surrounding areas and those of the ordinary village folk. He also 
              works as the repair expert, money lender and pawnbroker.
 Manufactures 
              List : Visit 
              Our Manufactures List Section
 
  | 
              Natural 
              Ecosystems 
              | Agriculture 
              | Religion 
              | | Art & Crafts | 
              Folk Dances | 
              Instruments 
              | Costumes 
              |
 | Cuisine 
              | Maps 
              | Palace 
              On Wheel | Adventure 
              Tourism | Specialties 
              |
 |