Pale blue enamelling from South Asia. New?

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Pale blue enamelling from South Asia. New?

Posted by Preethi on February 6, 2014 at 9:54am

I have recently been offered a number of pieces - Indian amulets, a bracelet, this torque - with pale blue enamelling. The amulets also have dark blue and bright green enamelling, and I was wondering if vintage pieces are now being enamelled in South Asia.Have any of you come across similar work before?These were offered by an Afghan trader.

Comments

Preethi February 6, 2014 at 9:59am

The back of the torque.
Preethi February 6, 2014 at 10:03am

A few amulets with new enamel.
ait ouakli February 6, 2014 at 11:20am

congrats Preethi. very nice items.

yes , enameling is still used in india, pakistan,iran and many asian countries
Preethi February 6, 2014 at 11:42am

Hi Rabah, I didn't get these pieces as I felt that the enamel was newly applied to vintage pieces and being sold as old. Thought I'd check if forum members have come across other examples of new enamelling.
Patricia Deany February 6, 2014 at 11:44am

The complex chains on the necklaces are wonderful. The blue of the torque comes off, at least in the pic, as being turquoise which is an enamel color I have never seen before anywhere.
Frankie Carter February 6, 2014 at 11:47am

Aren`t they lovely? - all of them. The blue and green enamel is slightly reminiscent of Multan enamel although it isn`t that. But my gut feeling is that the silver beads of the necklaces are Kazakh (wire work/granulation) or Afghan with Arunchal Pradesh enamelled pendants.

Only a feeling....shape, subject, enamel texture/colour etc.

Not easy though - the pendant bales have those little rosettes that are repeated on the silver trefoil shapes in the chains. Love the enamelled dangle beads of the central pendant especially.
Betty February 6, 2014 at 11:51am

I like it a lot, Preethi!

I second Ait - to my knowledge enamelling is very much alive in Asia. Last summer I have bought some contemporary very skillfully enamelled pendants (more Russian/Caucasian/Uzbek style of enamelling though). Most likely they, too, come from Pakistan/Afghanistan.
Preethi February 6, 2014 at 1:06pm

Thanks a lot everyone for pointing out those interesting details!

Frankie, I wondered about Himachal as well, but the enamelling I've seen from there is much finer and usually has a mix of dark blue, dark green and yellow. The bright green in the amulets is new to me...
Alaa eddine SAGID February 6, 2014 at 2:48pm

I second patti.

Chains are wonderful, but enamel seems to be newly applied

Either made in pupose to bring in more interest or was it a flash trend among natives to add colours on their silver jewelry???
Alaa eddine SAGID February 6, 2014 at 2:49pm

I mean i don't feel that enamel condition is on par with the advanced wear on the silver!

Photos

Pale blue enamelling from South Asia. New?

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