:: All prices listed are wholesale to shops :: Retail prices to individuals are twice those listed ::
Gold, silver, glass, base metal, pearls, coins, shell, bamboo, yarn and thread...
you will find all of these materials in the selections of jewelry we show here.
Jewelry shown has traditionally been worn in upper ear piercings, earlobes, and nostrils.
Pieces have been selected to be both affordable and functional,
but may also appeal to those beginning an ethnic jewelry collection as well.
Gold or silver content has not been tested, and there are no stamps to indicate their purity.
However, Indian gold overall is generally of a very high karat (over 20k),
as many Indian women wear their wealth in this form.
Indian silver is generally of the coin or tribal silver variety, containing more nickel than sterling silver.
These are generalizations; purity will vary widely from piece to piece.
Old ethnic jewelry has not been cleaned nor polished to preserve patinas
and the overall appearance of the pieces at the time of collection.
All jewelry is shipped non-sterile and ethnic jewelry should be assumed to have been previously used.
INDIA
Indian Gold Earrings, Earcuffs, and Ear Plugs
For an excellent reference source of Indian gold jewelry,
please see p. 218-226 of
Traditional Jewelry of India.
To see examples of many types of Indian gold earrings, earcuffs, and earplugs once depicted in this section but have now SOLD,
please visit our sold ethnic jewelry page.
We can get similar pairs if you are interested!
South Indian gold barbells!
There is a great diagram depicting dozens of styles of multiple ear cartilage piercings, with names of the accompanying jewelry, on p. 218 of
Traditional Jewelry of India. I highly recommend it!
The koppu pieces shown below are also mentioned on page 10 of our catalog.
Examples can also be seen on p. 149 of
Ethnic Jewellery.
Gold South Indian upper ear barbells. $145/pair.
This style has been traditionally worn in upper ear piercings, but they can be worn elsewhere as well.
They are internally threaded (left/"backwards" threading) with ornate ends.
Silver South Indian upper ear barbells, with dangling balls.
$20/each, or $40/pair.
South Indian high karat gold upper ear pieces -though of course do not have to be worn there-
feature internally threaded barbells and long gold drops. These are $300/pair.
Indian gold nostril jewelry
Indian gold and ruby internally threaded nostril piece. $75.
Naga tribe glass earweights
Naga weights like these are hard to find! Glass ones are more affordable, though they also traditionally make them in quartz crystal. These Ao Naga tribe glass tongpang earweights from Northeast India/Western Burma are not perfect, but they are very well priced based on condition and how matched the pair is. There is some unrepaired damage. Some of the chipping appears newer, and some looks older, with smoothed out edges.
Two different pairs of (probably Konyak) Naga tribe shell ear ornaments (earcovers) with beads. The string of beads fits up and over the whole ear; the shells hang in front of the ears. The shells themselves are quite thick and heavy.
Click the thumbnail image to see these unique pieces at full size.
These are tentatively priced at $160/pair - though we're not entirely convinced we'll be selling these, as they are pretty collectible. Please call if interested.
Please see p.148-149 in
A World of Earrings, p. 232-233 in
The Nagas,
p. 173-174 in
The Vanishing Tribes of Burma, p. 157 in
The Splendor of Ethnic Jewelry, p. 125 in
Ethnic Jewelry, and p. 62 in
Traditional Jewelry of India.
Indian silver hoops
Indian hoop earrings with three flat diamond shapes and square-ish cut dangles. $40/pair.
Himachal Pradesh (India) hoops with star shapes and wrapped wire. $50/pair.
Two images shown: the first is a side view, and the one with my fingers is the 'bottom' view.
Simple indian hoop earrings:
$20/pair (top)-16ga tiny coiled hoop earrings;
$25/pair (bottom)-17ga medium coiled hoop earrings.
Small old hoops from India are $20/pair.
From now until the end of 2007, all Indian ethnic jewelry is wholesale for everyone - no retail markup!
Indian silver ear plugs
Plugs like these are traditionally worn in both stretched earlobe piercings
and upper ear cartilage piercings. They are called karanphul, which means 'ear-flower.'
Please refer to them by the letters shown;
all are $40/pair; these plugs are not threaded.
#A (between 0ga and 00ga; on page 5), and
#E (between 00ga and 7/16"; on page 7).
Shown above is a pair we refer to as 'similar to #A,' randomly scanned in black and white.
The wearing surface of this pair is between 7/16" and 1/2"; they appear on catalog page 7.
A pair of 0ga Rajastani plugs-$40/pair; on page 7 of the catalog.
Rajastani internally threaded plugs.
The wearing surface is <0ga but >1ga. $40/pair.
These are found on page seven of our printed catalog.
Gujarati screw plugs
These internally threaded screw plugs feature huge flares in comparison to the wearing surfaces.
The top row shows a pair of smaller 8ga plugs with a red colored "stone" (usually glass) at $100/pair and are shown on page 5 of the catalog. The threaded backing disc is also shown on the very far left.
The top right pair with a gold tone and huge front flares have a wearing surface of less than 2ga.
They are from Angar village, and are $130/pair. These are on catalog page 5.
A similar pair can be seen on p. 159 of
Ethnic Jewellery, where they are called bhungri.
They are traditionally worn by men in their upper ear piercings!
The bottom pairs are all $40 and appear on our catalog page 5 as well.
Please refer to them in order as: #K (0ga), #L (1ga), and #M (2ga).
Another pair of internally threaded Gujurati plugs have a wearing surface that is <1ga.
They are similar to #L as seen above, also on page 5 of the catalog, and are $50/pair.
Gold-toned (vermeil?) Gujarati (India) internally threaded
<2ga but >3ga plugs with red and green enamel. $95/pair.
I've seen pictures of these being worn by men in their upper ears!
Gujarat plugs (non-threaded)
The top pair with large flares and short shafts are $15/pair (4ga); on catalog page 5.
The bottom single >5/8" hollow piece (Surastra, Gujarat) is merely $10 (retail or wholesale); page 6.
Flower-fronted Indian silver plugs
Even more karanphul silver plugs; all are again $40/pair. Likely from Gujarat, India.
Please refer to them as #I (with petal shaped flares; 7/16"-SOLD) or #J (on the right; around 9/16").
These can be found on page 7 of the catalog.
Gujarat jumpka
These pairs with hanging pieces are called jumpka (or jhumka, meaning bell), from Gujarat:
one with blue in the middle (around 00ga; also appearing on page 7 of the catalog),
and one that looks like flowers (around 7/16"); they are both $100/pair.
Rajastani disc shaped plugs
Older Indian disc shaped plugs from Rajastan, India, with huge front discs.
This pair is available for $40/pair. Shown on our catalog page 7.
Rajastani cartilage pieces
These are traditionally worn in upper ear cartilage piercings,
and come from Rajastan, India. On catalog page 7.
Two views are shown of this pair with convex fronts
surrounded by wire petal-like decoration. $15/pair.
Gujarati (India) set of three upper ear pieces per side, coming together at the top with long attached chains
and hooks that would go into the hair or a headdress. $70/set.
Flared Himachal Pradesh earplugs
This around 3ga pair are from Himachal Pradesh and have enamel inlay; shown on catalog page 7.
They seem to be covered with some sort of dark resin, and are $30/pair.
Jaipur silver necklace
Jaipur (India) new silver necklace. $50.
Click on the thumbnail above to view an image that is life-sized.
The shapes often represent plant matter such as seeds or clove buds.
NEPAL and TIBET
Tharu plugs
Plugs from the Tharu women of Nepal, made from basic of "white metal". The word bir is used to describe any Tharu earrings with round flower designs, which would definitely apply to these pieces.
With large flower-like spikes and red centers-$80/pair. SOLD
Tibetan women's earrings
Tibetan women's aylong earrings set with turquoise and coral. $60/pair.
The first two images show the same pairs; front views shown first, followed by side views.
These are all a bit smaller than ones I have seen in the past. Top right pair has SOLD, all others are available.
Other styles we've had in the past include those with smooth wires, strings that go up and over the whole ear to help the heavy cabochon fronts to stay upright, and coral inlays instead of turquoise.
For reference, see p.154 in
A World of Earrings.
New gold vermeil Tibetan aylong earrings with turquoise inlays. $50/pair.
SOLD, though we can probably get more, just ask to be placed on our waiting list!
These, like the ones above them, will be front-heavy; a reality traditionally remedied by looping thread through the top spiral, up and over the whole ear, and then reattached to the back of the earring.
