A pair of gold child bangles, Bal Kadas, India, Rajasthan, Jaipur, 19th century. Photo courtesy Van Gelder Indian Jewellery.
With magara (mythical sea creatures) head finials, set with diamonds and rubies and enamelled in the traditional Champlevé technique, with a scroll of red flowers and green leafs on a white ground, with red and green parrots all executed in safe chalwan enamel, the outside with green enamel, kachnar ki patti.
The presentation of bangles to a newborn baby was a tradition, which originated in Rajasthan, the home of the Rajputs – the purpose being to bless and ward off the evil eye. This tradition stems from the initial practice of adorning a newborn baby with a black thread on both wrists and for this reason these bangles were enamelled in dark blue, green and even black. These Bal Kadas, Bal meaning child and Kadas meaning bangles, are in gold, embellished with diamonds and enamelled, which reveals the privileged status of the owner.
Van Gelder Indian Jewellery. MasterArt at TEFAF 2014 on stand 241. 14-23 march 2014 - http://www.masterart.com/