Shining across borders: The cross-cultural connection of jewellery

Jewellery has often been overlooked as just a piece of ornament, but the actual meaning beneath it provides a fascinating connection across the world.

Nowadays, it seems like there is jewellery available for almost every part of the body, from head to toe, giving it multiple meanings since it is important to many people. It may be worn on the body, but in a single piece of jewellery, there lies a deeply ingrained global exchange carrying the artistry of different cultures.

Similar to how multiple treads of gold and silver are woven together to create a great piece of jewellery, it is also innately connected with cultures and traditions from different parts of the world.

With every piece of jewellery, there lies a unique story in itself that collectively conveys the story of humanity through shared belongingness and desires, carrying the meaning across time and countries.

SIGNIFICANCE OF JEWELLERY ACROSS BORDERS

The journey of jewellery extends beyond borders from one culture to another, as it carries different methods, unique stories, stones, and materials. It's the human creativity that weaves them together across migrations, trades, and spiritual symbols.

It should not be considered merely as a piece of decoration, as its connection has impacted civilisations, identities, and aesthetics.

The market in ancient times had always carried jewellery from various parts of the world, such as gold from India, gems from Persia, jade from China, etc., via ships and trade, serving as a medium for cross-cultural exchange. Jewellery is never bound by geography; it travels across the world, adapts to different cultures, and becomes a part of local stories.

JOURNEYS OF STONE, METAL, AND MOTIF

Since the dawn of civilization, jewellery has been an essential component of human culture. The oldest jewellery that has been discovered was made from stone, bone, and shells and spans back many thousands of years.

Gems, methods, and metals have moved across the India ocean routes and the Silk Roads between centuries and civilisations. During that period, Indian artisans used to receive Persian enamel (also known as meenakari), which was combined into Kundan jewellery.

Meenakari was introduced much later in India, where artisans provided a local touch further, but it originated in Safavid Iran. In the Kundan jewellery, the stones were set under gemstones using gold foil, and over the years, it became a signature Indian style shaped by outside influences.

Similarly, other jewellery pieces such as pearls, rubies, and emeralds were brought to Indian culture through trade routes from Persia, Sri Lanka and Burma. These brought foreign artists' creativity to the Indian markets. providing jewellery with a different touch.

SYMBOLS AND SHARED MEANINGS ACROSS CULTURES

Jewellery designs are heavily impacted by cultural factors, ranging from classic designs with deep historical roots to modern interpretations shaped by international interactions.

Historically, jewellery was often used to convey cultural ties, values, and beliefs. The beliefs and customs of various groups worldwide are reflected in the deep meanings of symbols frequently woven into jewellery designs.

Trade and culture have historically been interconnected in India. Indian artists used to incorporate foreign ideas into their usual work during the Mughal Empire or the Silk Road.

A Chinese ornament called Yingluo serves as a striking example, as it has deep roots that lie in Indian Keyura (meaning body ornament in Sanskrit). It bridged the gap between India's famous ancient jewellery pieces and the Chinese style of decoration.

The symbols which are very common in Hindu and Buddhist art, like buta, crescents, lotus, etc., also appear in various jewellery pieces of Persia, Central Asia and others. There have also been traces of religious or spiritual items migrating to other parts of the world, like amulets, prayer beads, and many more.

MATERIALS AND CRAFT CROSS-POLLINATION

Image Courtesy: Aniba

The cross-cultural and cross-border conversations are not only true for materialistic and physical jewellery pieces like gems, but they are also very much relevant for techniques and crafts.

The ancient artisan methods that have been passed down through the years are the foundation of the jewellery-making art. In order to produce complex items that highlight their cultural background and skill, artists from various backgrounds use a variety of techniques, including casting, etching, and filigree.

Filigree is an art form wherein the threads of gold and silver are twisted to eventually form lace-like patterns, which spread across Asia from Egypt and Mesopotamia. This filigree art has developed across various parts of India, such as Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, where artisans of different backgrounds try to create delicate work.

WHY IT MATTERS TODAY?

In current multicultural societies, jewellery is much more than just a piece of ornament; it is a way to express their identities through their cross-cultural jewellery. People can feel rooted in multiple cultures and heritages, even by wearing multiple jewellery on their body from different countries, for instance, half Indian, and the other half Persian.

Indian jewellery is constantly evolving due to this cultural appropriation. It adapts while maintaining its strong heritage roots, because of which jewellery from the past and its current creations continue to be popular worldwide.

The story behind the motifs and methods deserves way greater respect than the finished piece of jewellery. And this has been proven over the years as consumers want story and transparency. The key reason for the cross-cultural being so evident amongst consumers is that the stories are really compelling.

This matters a lot, especially in India, as it has a long history of cultural fusion with designers drawing inspiration across borders.

CONCLUSION

Jewellery, merely a piece of materialistic art made from small stones and other materials, brings wonderful journeys through trade, belief and identity. Whenever any jewellery piece, its method, or craft travels across borders, it meets new hands to create new meanings, amazing art and especially more unique stories.

Jewellery has become a conversation, be it in ancient times or current times, in every part of the world. In each piece woven by a great artisan that fuses one country's design with another, and the method of the third country, putting it all together, connecting more vividly than it presumes. It truly transcends borders to create a cross-cultural connection that speaks more than it shines.