Guluband

‘Family Jewels: Indian Adornment Revealed’ is an effort to impart knowledge on the distinction of India’s precious jewellery, recognising many of its roots including tribal, agrarian, trade-based or royal in nature.

The Kasumala is made by stringing many identical coins together which overlap slightly. Some of these coins were part of trade, while some are specifically designed with special motifs of birds, prominent personalities like Queen Victoria or goddesses including Lakshmi.

Ornaments of this type are prominently worn by Hindu brides and Bharatnatyam dancers and, previously, devadasis or temple dancers.

The identical square units are strung on a cord. Other hanging elements such as baroque emeralds or pearls are later attached with fine wire.

Said to have to come to India from Colombia, via the Portuguese trade, emeralds are a favored gemstone used by both the Mughals and Nizams.