Kundan Jewellery: Meaning & Style


India is a nation renowned for the variety of its culture, religion, and handicrafts. It is widely known for its traditional jewellery as well as its luxurious fabrics. There are many different designs, styles, and types available. Kundan, an antique kind of jewellery that is embellished with gems and gold foil, is one of the most well-known kinds of jewellery. Because it is thought that the production of kundan began in the royal courts of Rajasthan centuries ago, it is regarded as being of royal origin. Others refer to it as Jaipuri or Bikaneri jewelry. The word “kundan” indicates exquisite gold. A base of gold foil formed of a highly refined and pure kind of molten gold is used to encase jewels or pieces of glass, giving the jewellery its name. Along with the kundan pattern on the front, it is also produced with brilliant colour enamelling on the back. Its rich history dates back more than 2500 years.

Kundan is a traditional type of gemstone jewellery that is thought to have originated in the Gujarati and Rajasthani royal courts. Many people have erroneous ideas about what Kundan craft actually is. On the one hand, some people think that the term “kundan” refers to valuable stones set in gold, while others tend to equate it with the terms “polka” or “jadau.” Kundan is a distinctive craft that uses glass fragments that have been encrusted in gold to produce works of art. Kundan jewellery sets are works of art in and of themselves. Every mother offers a Kundan jewellery set for her daughter’s bridal trousseau, and every second lady wishes to own Kundan stone jewellery.

What Exactly Kundan Jewelry Is?

Kundan is a type of gold jewellery that typically has a wax core. This form of jewellery typically uses 24 karats pure gold, which is what the word “kundan” itself refers to as highly refined pure gold. Kundan jewelry, one of the oldest types of jewellery in India, has a long history dating back more than 2,500 years. Only the jadayi portion, which is finally known as kundan, is done in 24 karat gold since it is slightly softer than other metals. Kundan-making is often referred to as jadau jewellery.

Historical Background

Kundan jewellery is one of the oldest types of jewellery made in India, with origins in the Rajput and Mughal eras. The Mughals’ support allowed this style to flourish after it was introduced to the nation many years ago. Royal families in India successfully adapted it after that. The art and craftsmanship from the Mughal and Rajput eras can still be seen in this type of jewellery today. Kundan jewellery has historically featured extremely elaborate and exquisite motifs. It used to be made only for royal families. This jewellery design has changed over time and has even been imitated in silver metal. When commercialization gained traction, the average person could also purchase this type of jewellery. The level of craftsmanship has decreased in contrast to earlier times as accessibility has expanded. Only chosen craftspeople may now be relied upon to provide genuine, high-quality work. A piece that used to take three to four months to complete should ideally be produced in one month.

Kundan Jewelry Styles

When someone first encounters Kundan jewellery, they are captivated by its grandeur and pure beauty. Jewelry made of kundan has a timeless allure due to its presence and intricate motifs. Both silver and gold Kundan jewellery items have a beautiful appearance and are constantly fashionable. The Design Cart provides you with a distinctive selection of Kundan stones to embellish your clothing and jewellery.

MEENAKARI

This kind of Kundan jewellery has coloured metal surfaces that enhance its brilliance. Meenakari is typically done on the jewellery made from Kundan’s back side. The required level of heat resistance determines the colours used in this painting.

POLKI

The uncut diamonds in the polka set are its main draw. These jewellery sets could also be made with alternate precious and semi-precious stones.

JADAU

One face of the Kundan jewellery set has stones inserted into it. The jewelry’s opposite side is decorated with Meenakari art. Jadau comes in a variety of designs that are beautiful.

Procedure for Making Kundan Jewellery

It takes a lot of time and effort to complete a kundan job. There are several steps involved, as well as skilled craftspeople and artisans. The main focus of Kundan jewellery is stones, and it does not contain a lot of gold. Making the holes for the stones that these jewellery pieces are embedded in involves first having the jewellery shaped by artisans. These Kundan stones are kept in beaten gold sheets that have been formed into cups. When setting the gemstones into these cup shapes, laakh or lac is used as filler. Hot coal is used to stick the gemstones that make up kundan into place. Additionally, the back of certain Kundan jewellery designs features intricate patterns. Meenakari is the name of the technique used to create these patterns, which uses enamel in a variety of colours. Then, the gold foil holding the frame and the stone are joined. Following this, Kundan jewellery is dressed in lovely clothing andcleansed to remove stains. Many creative individuals are recruited to create gorgeous Kundan jewellery pieces. For both the creation of a basic design and the engraving process, various groups of people are employed. If any of these pieces of Kundan jewellery have Meenakari work, various people are employed to do it.

Conclusion

Kundan-making is often referred to as jadau jewelry. This exquisite jewellery is a handmade work of art that needs skilled labor. Its design incorporates a variety of motifs, with floral patterns being a perennial favorite. There has been a change in the jewelry’s weight over time. It used to be heavy, but jewellers are currently working to make it lighter to appeal to contemporary tastes. Additionally, it is now more widely known among Indian brides.

Kundan has long been popular for weddings and traditional rituals because of its refined and graceful appearance. Recently, the silver kundan jewellery design that has become popular among the local communities has been successfully imitated by the states of Bihar and Punjab. Kundan jewellery complements all Indian clothing beautifully. Kundan jewellery should unquestionably be kept in one’s jewellery box for special occasions.

Updated on: 06-Dec-2022

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