Despite the anger her pretty little mouth is contorted in, an eerie calm lines her brow. The sombre Radha-Krishna couple in the background are figments of her imagination, as she tries to console herself with how the divine lover had made Radha wait endless hours for Him, only to finally come to Her and pacify Her. Radha has turned Her face away from Her Krishna, whilst He draws Her close and offers His explanations. It is His divine conduct that she expects out of her mortal lover, who would walk in through those dark red velvet curtains any moment now. She awaits him, having arranged a tray of wine and fruits within an arm's reach to serve to him, while she plays with a peacock feather to keep herself from losing her temper.
This bronze rendition of Her has been handpicked from the studios of local artisans in Swamimalai, the home of contemporary bronze tradition. It was the rulers of the Chola dynasty who patronised bronze sculptors in their kingdom, resulting in a superlative reputation for the South to this day. This Ma Kali sculpture bears the hallmarks of a fine Southern bronze. A highly polished, supersmooth finish; an iconography replete with the the inverted-lotus pedestal; and a standard of aesthetics that most devotional art could merely aspire to. What adds greatly to the composition is the multi-tiered aureole set off by a ring of fire, which complements the flaming halo behind Her head.
Adding to its beauty is the gorgeous embroidery done in fiery pastels such as red, orange, and blue. The zigzag weave that you could zoom in on has a special name, kinnauri, that is endemic to Himachal Pradesh. There are three thick and spaced out panels of coloured weave from the border upwards, which dominate the field of the shawl. Its inky black base colour, interspersed with some inevitable bits of white observable upon zooming, serves to bring out the charm of the kinnauri. Team this with a statement evening saree at a gala in the height of the winters.
It comes with an adjustable cord, so you could arrange it to spread comfortably around your shoulders or turn it into an ethnic choker. The central chunk of cut-glass chunk has been ground into a wider piece with its lower edge polished to imitate the silhouette of petals. Along the lower edge of the whole necklace is a multitude of pearly white and red drops of miniscule proportions. Similar ones are to be found along the lower edge of the earrings as well. Let this vivid-coloured set become your signature ethnic accessory by teaming it with your everyday Indian suits and sarees.
The Ardhanarishvara stands against a background of dense sunset-coloured clouds. A network of green vines and pink and white blooms frame the figure, like a natural aureole. The central figure is formed in the best proportions of both the male and the female forms, the distinction between the two given away by colour as well as silhouette. Decked up in streams of pearly white shringar, the silk clothing of the divine is held below the navel by a kirtimukha brooch and floats about the figure as if floating. The pale blue clouds at the feet of Devi Parvati and the blue jets of stream at Lord Shiva's complement the vibrant colour palette that dominates the composition. The soothing effect of these colours are matched the superb calm on the beauteous face of the divine.
It is an unassuming colour palette - rose gold and moss green and steely silver, all of which are in seductive, translucent tints. This bracelet would go with a wide variety of outfits. Think everyday western-wear, contemporary suits and sarees, or Indo-western moods. It will not only up the glamour quotient of your presence, but also serve to make a statement grounded in ethnic fashion. Charming and quirky, it is a superbly youthful piece and one to turn heads and start conversations whenever you are wearing it.
The structure of the dress is such as to highlight the woman's form and whatever she has by way of tallness. The straight-fit kameez comes with a deep neckline, which is complemented by the superbly long sleeves and low hemline. Crocheting work in blue makes up the designed panel at the centre against the yellow, the hem defined by more crocheted panels in varying colours. The signature choodidar trousers complements the rest of the dress. The chiffon dupatta, as light and translucent and dominantly pink as it is, completes the glamour of this dress.
Marble is a difficult medium to work with. It takes years of learning and practice to perfect one's way around stone. The marble sculptures that you see in our collection, of which this is a fine example, have been handpicked with the greatest care. Note the sheer degree of skill that must have gone into this number - the Devi's and Her lion's minute proportions such as the digits and the expressive facial features, the stateliness of the lifelike posture, and detailing in the weapons. Hints of gold detailing in the adornments of the two as well as the weapons bring out the pristine colour of the high-quality marble. The composition has been placed on a relatively austere pedestal to highlight the aforementioned details.
It is the superbly carved pendant that is the most statement-making aspect of this devotional neckpiece. Zooming in on the sacred figurines would enable you to appreciate the precision and skill that have gone into the work. The altar is replete with serrated pillars and an engraved roof rimmed with lotus petals, typical of South Indian temple architecture. The haloes of Shiva-Parvati are intact, and it is on Nandi Himself that they are seated. A jade-coloured gem sits on the roof of the temple, besides the dark red stones that punctuate the silver in the rest of the neckpiece. Note the pearly white drops beneath the pendant that add to its beauty.
It is pure pashmina, the colour of jet black dusk. Adding to the allure of the foundation black is the dense embroidery in the foreground. The colour palette is decidedly feminine - pinks, oranges, and reds with hints of blues and greens - such that it could go with a wide variety of evening sarees and suits. Zoom in on the work to appreciate the precision and symmetry with which it has been carried out, that also by hand. It is this rare skill with the needle, as well as the time and labour that have been put into this wearable work of art, that would make this pashmina shawl your most statement buy of the season.
Email a Friend