Traditional Jewelry of India [Paperback]

Oppi Untracht (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 22, 2008

"A wondrous collection of data and visuals documenting 5,000 continuous years of jewelry design." —Booklist

This comprehensive survey combines a sumptuous display and documentation of hundreds of pieces of jewelry with an illuminating discussion of how myth, religion, social structure, economics, and politics have influenced jewelry design in India.

The book encompasses every area of the country, from sophisticated urban enclaves to isolated ethnic communities. Beginning with Paleothic body ornaments, the author goes on to identify the emergence of major traditional forms, such as amulets, rosaries, marriage ornaments, temple jewelry, theatrical jewelry, and adornment for animals. The illustrations are drawn from public and private collections around the world, and line drawings depict traditional design forms and techniques. 870 illustrations, 220 in color.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Following Untracht as he discusses all the permutations and features of Indian jewelry is much like browsing through a National Geographic magazine or two. The pictures and captions catch the eye, but it is the text--nonscholarly, spritely prose--that truly educates and informs. And the author, through years of residency, research, and lectures, prepares all for a thorough backgrounding in a much neglected subject. He begins well before the establishment of goldsmithery, examining the body decorations of Bengal Bay islanders as well as the religious ornaments of various regional peoples. Then, in much-illustrated detail, come chapters on the tradition of entire-body decoration, actual examples and explanations of meanings, the use of gold and silver and gemstones, three specific centuries of artistry (the Mughal dynasty), and the interchange between and cross-cultural influences of European and Indian jewelry design. A wondrous collection of data and visuals documenting 5,000 continuous years of jewelry design. Barbara Jacobs --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Oppi Untracht lives in Finland and lectures and writes on traditional Indian jewelry and culture.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson (September 22, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 050028749X
• ISBN-13: 978-0500287491
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #328,607 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive and Authentic, July 15, 2001

By 

Padma Chebrolu (Cincinnati, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Traditional Jewelry of India (Hardcover)

Oppi's thoroughness and attention to the detail in this book is amazing. Pictures and illustrations are just magnificent. Oppi covers the jewelry of maharajas to jewelry of tribal people. The jewelry descriptions in this book include every region and every style there is in India. I bought this book when I was asked to talk about India's jewelry at an art museum. This book definitely improved my knowledge about the subject.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Traditional Jewelry of India, August 3, 2000

By 

Christine Saalbach (San Antonio TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Traditional Jewelry of India (Hardcover)

Oppi's book is magnificent. It is a culmination of over thirty years of Oppi's research. His book covers more than just Indian jewelry, but forehead marks and henna mendhi.

Inspired by trips to New York's museums when he was young, Oppi crafts a anthropological journey through a fascinating history of human ornamentation, beginning with wood ash and mud. Oppi traveled extensively to personally research his subject in association with scholarships he won, including a Fulbright scholarship and funding from John D Rockefeller III.

He shows the use of natural items in jewelry, such as leaves, flowers, seeds, vines and wood. Unusual jewelry materials like anteater claws are pictured. Of course, gemstones and precious metals are included. There are photos of elegant gold filigree and fist-sized gemstones.

My favorite part of the book is called "Typology from Head to Toe" in which Oppi takes you on a journey in pictures of people wearing ornaments in their hair to those worn on the toes. The book includes an extensive index and bibliography. It is a very human book, showing how ornaments are worn by people, not just showing photos of the ornaments alone as many other ethnic jewelry books do.

Although you might think the subject of Indian jewelry is narrow before you see the book, a glance through the book will make you want to own it even though the sticker price is high.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oppi Untracht provides a wealth of knowledge about India/Pak, February 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Traditional Jewelry of India (Hardcover)

An excellent and well researched study with extraordinary photographs by a well known scholar of Indian art. 430 interesting pages that are very well presented to the reader. You'll find possibly more detail than you may need, but you can return later for the items you missed.