Jewellery

Tribal Jewelry

Indian tribal jewelry is among the most unique and enchanting jewelry forms in the world. Tribal communities have preserved the original design of this jewelry. Tribals traditionally craft jewelry from simple, earthy materials such as bone, wood, clay, shells, and crude metal. While it has a pleasing appearance, it also has a rustic and earthy charm. This jewelry appeals to people quite a lot because of its unrefined charm.

What is Tribal Jewelry?

Tribal jewelry is jewelry made by native artisans using local materials to create adornment objects that are infused with cultural significance for the wearer. Tribal Jewelry made by hand differs significantly from what you can purchase at department stores.

Jewelry pieces in tribal cultures are rarely symmetrical or uniform in shape. Materials are sourced locally, with quality and content varying by culture, artisan, and time. Some stones may have missing and broken sections, significant wear patterns, and debris still attached from being sold or displayed in the local marketplace. There is no doubt that tribal jewelry has traveled across the globe from village to village and generation to generation. Its inconsistencies are part of its value, charm, and heritage.

The materials used by tribal jewelry artisans are carefully chosen for their availability, traditional value, and symbolic meaning. In most tribal cultures, silver is the metal of choice, with gold applied only sparingly, usually as delicate gilding, if at all. Its color palette is dominated by natural elements such as rich blues and reds of turquoise and lapis lazuli, whites and creams of pearl and bone, and warm amber and horn, which have been used in jewelry since ancient times. The use of silver in the form of whole coins or melted coins in Tribal Jewelry is relatively recent, as with Maria Theresa Thaler from the 1700s.

Types of Tribal jewelry

India boasts an abundance of indigenous jewelry crafts. Have a look

  1. Bhutia

The Sikkim-based Bhutia clan is also noted for creating enticing, intricate, and exquisite jewelry creations. Their jewelry is mainly made of gold, silver, coral, and turquoise. Bhutia men and women share a cultural affinity for gold, and only 24-carat gold is utilized to make Bhutia jewelry.

  1. Banjara

Known for its heavy and colorful jewelry, Banjaras are a nomadic tribe of Rajasthan. Their main art form is jewelry, which includes the making of fascinating adornments and belts from simple materials such as shells, metal mesh, coins, beads, and chains. This tribe sells and stores a unique selection of earrings, bracelets, bangles, amulets, anklets, and other accessories.

  1. Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo

The tribal people of the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo regions have a developed sense of jewelry design. The Khasi and Jaintia tribes’ thick red coral bead necklaces, as well as the Garo tribe’s tiny fluted glass stems strung on fine thread, are both fascinating works of art. People from the Khasi tribal society are distinguished by the fact that they are identified by their mother rather than their father, as in other communities.

Tribal and Cultural Importance

Embellishment

There’s no doubt that tribal jewelry is designed to be worn as a lovely kind of ornamentation. However, beauty standards differ widely between tribes. What one group finds attractive may be repulsive to another. Nonetheless, each of these pieces is a one-of-a-kind adornment prized by Tribal groups and collectors around the world.

Prestige

Tribal jewelry also communicates the wearer’s status within a tribe. According to archaeological evidence, certain stones, such as Lapis Lazuli, were solely worn by royalty. Young Turkmen females wear domed head-caps to denote their marriageability. When a woman married, she would replace her head-caps with an elegant silver headband that indicated her new marital status. Similarly, Padaung (Kayan) women living in the borderlands of Burma and Tibet wear unusual neckbands with new coils added as they mature, giving them the appearance of lengthened giraffe-like necks.

Fortunes

Since antiquity, tribal jewelry has been regarded as a haven for treasure. It can be readily changed into currency or used in barter once it has been gathered. It is nearly always a considerable component of the marriage dowry, and it serves as a barometer of the match’s worth. Even though most Tribal Jewelry artists were males, the women owned the pieces and served as the family’s wealthy guardians. Their jewelry served as a financial safety net for the family during difficult times.

Tribal Jewelry in Contemporary Era

Indigenous jewelry is no longer exclusive to small, close-knit tribal communities. The elegance and simplicity yet striking designs of this type of jewelry have captivated people all around the world. People from all over the world can be seen wearing tribal jewelry in their daily lives. You can now choose from a wide range of tribal jewelry options. The alluring necklace can be worn every day and paired with bright colors in your clothing. Tribal jewelry is enthralling because of its primary appeal.

The tribal bracelet features a combination of traditional tribal design and modern-contemporary aesthetics. It is also available in a range of colors, allowing you to select the look that best suits you. It can be worn with any modest casual outfit. Tribal jewelry was formerly a subtle art form limited to the communities in which it was created. Still, today, all communities and individuals from all walks of life have welcomed this art with open arms.

SILVER LONG NECKLACE

The magnificent long necklace presented by Swaabhi entails a beautiful blend of traditional and contemporary designs. The intricate design perfectly complements not traditional but also western outfits. The elongated design pattern covers your outfit considerably.

AADITARI TRIBAL BANGLES

What should one wear to get a sophisticated and elegant look? The Swaabhi tribal bangles are the answer you are looking for. They offer a minimal yet profound look without compromising any bit of grace. From a heavy outfit to a basic outfit, Swaabhi tribal bangles highlight each of them.

Karu Tribal Choker

If you are seeking a blackish design with a matte gold finish, then Karu tribal choker can be the best ornament to be considered. The exciting part of this jewelry is that you get 54 Swaabhi coins that can be used as a token of a discount while purchasing your next jewelry. The 50 – 50% combination of black and golden is the indication of the ancient jewelry culture in a modern changing world.

Satwi Tribal Necklace

The beautifully arranged golden-shaped stones fit perfectly in the necklace and represent the tribal pride culture of the country. The combination of 4 matte-finished stones gives the proper shape like a flower to the necklace and increases the beauty of the ornament.

Layer Oxidised Silver Necklace

The material used for the creation of this 5 layered oxidized necklace is german silver. We would recommend you to handle each of the ornaments with care to maintain the purity of the silver or gold. It is highly recommended to not spray any perfumes, sprays, and deodorants on jewelry to avoid small damages of the jewelry.

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