India, Jewels that Enchanted the World

India, Jewels that Enchanted the World presents for the first time the remarkable history and unique legacy of 500 years of Indian jewellery, from the 17th century to the present. The essays, all written by leading international scholars, explore the rich, distinctive, and unique heritage of Indian jewellery; the striking boldness of South Indian ornaments; the delicate refinement of the Mughal period; the dazzling jewels of the post-Mughal maharajas; the cross-cultural influences between Europe and India in the 19th and early 20th centuries; and the creations of leading contemporary designers whose jewels display the enduring beauty of Indian design and craftsmanship. Published to accompany a major exhibition at the State Museums of the Moscow Kremlin organised jointly with the Indo-Russian Jewellery Foundation, this lavishly illustrated catalogue brings together royal, ceremonial, and personal Indian jewels to showcase the entire range and variety of the jeweller’s art in India. SELLING POINTS: . This exhibition catalogue showcases some 300 pieces carefully selected from over 30 lenders worldwide, many of these works have never before been on public display . Among the lenders are Nasser Khalili Foundation, V&A, Doha Museum of Islamic Art, Musee Barbie-Mueller, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Chaumet, British Museum, Al-Sabbakh Collection, Mauboussin, and scores of private collectors from around the world . Special place is devoted to two of India’s leading jewellery houses – Munnu-Gem Palace and Bhagat famous for their glamour, creative design and fine craftsmanship 410 colour, 25 b/w illustrations

Author Biography

Dr. Usha R Balakrishnan is a jewellery history, curator and cultural capital consultant based in Mumbai.  She is a highly regarded independent scholar of Indian art and culture and the pre-eminent historian of Indian jewellery. She is the Chief Curator of the World Diamond Museum