Kasumala

‘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.

Literally translating to 'necklace of coins', i.e., Kasu (coin) Mala (necklace), the Kasumala is a garland of gold coins strung very closely so they often slightly overlap each other.