Tribal Jewellery

Right from the beginning I was always interested in the in tribal and their artefacts.  During my travel I always make a point to buy some souvenir and most of the time my heart is won over by tribal jewellery.  There are a lots  of  brands who have been working on contemporary tribal jewellery.

These brands gives a new perspective to the tribal culture, creatively turning tribal ornaments for high fashion market. Tribal jewelry in India is quite rich,  each tribe has preserved  its unique style intact even now. Jewelry that is made of bone, wood, clay, shells and crude metal, is not only attractive, but also holds a distinct rustic and earthy charm. Tribal jewelry is made of the products that are available locally. The unrefined look of their jewelry is something that attracts people most.

As it has been said each tribe has its own indigenous jewelry craft, which they have honed over the years. The jewelry of each region is unique and in sync with the eco system.

Here is the list of the tribes, with their jewelry art described in brief.

Banjara,  Rajasthan

Tribal Jewellery

This nomadic tribe of Rajasthan is known for its colorful heavy jewelry. Beautiful ornaments and belts that are embellished with shells, metal-mesh, coins, beads, and chains are major jewelry art work by this tribe. This tribe provides huge collection of earrings, bracelets, bangles, amulets, anklets, hairpins and necklaces.

Bastar,  Madya Pradesh

Bastar Jewellery, Madhya Preadesh

The tribes of Bastar (Madhya Pradesh) make jewelry out of grass, beads and cane. Traditional ornaments made of silver, wood, glass, peacock feathers, copper and wild flowers are also popular. Necklaces made of one-rupee coins are also worn by the Bastar women.

Adi, Apatani, Bugun, Galo, Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh Jewellery

Tribes The tribes in Arunachal Pradesh make jewelry from cane and bamboo. They also wear metal coin necklaces and waistbands of leather, studded with stones. These tribes use brass, bone, ivory, silver and gold in their jewelry too. In addition, colorful beads, blue feathers of birds, green wings of beetles are used to make ornaments. Karka Gallong women wear heavy iron rings that are coiled several times, while Wanchos make earrings of glass beads, wild seeds, cane, bamboo and reed.

Khasi, Jaintia and Garo , North East Region

Group of Khasis

The people of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo tribes have typical sense of jewelry art. Thick red coral bead necklaces of the Khasis and Jaintias and thin fluted stems of glass, strung by fine thread, of the Garo tribe are interesting jewelry items.

Bhutia,  Sikkim

Turquoise Jewellery

The Bhutia tribe of Sikkim are also known for making beautiful jewelry. The people of this tribe usually make use of gold, silver, coral, turquoise and zee stone.

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