Melange of craft and concept

Cl: Friday Review

MAGNIFICENT, EXOTIC, imaginative, dazzling. Mere words seem inadequate to describe the splendour of the prize-winning jewellery of the World Gold Council's `Swarnanjali Awards 2000' and the `De Beers Diamond Design Jewellery Awards 2000,' now being displayed at Prince Jewellers, Panagal Park, T. Nagar. Cascades of gold florets and beads structured into ornaments mesmerise one, along with woven gold configurations adorning neck, ear, arms, and hair, `sarpech' and cufflinks for men, bridal wear celebrating and adorning a woman's beauty with the fiery dazzle of intricately worked gold ornaments. And there are diamond jewellery stunners, with the cold fire of thousands of diamonds flowing into a `Niagara Falls Necklace', or picked out with infinite delicacy of craftsmanship to form a `dew drop choker'. Inspired by tradition and modernity, by Nature's beauty or the weave of textiles, the prize-winning jewellery exhibits are a tribute to the enormous creativity of India's young world class designers.

Every exhibit of the `Swarnanjali' and `De Beers Diamond Design Contest' awards is a winner. If Sangeeta Dewan's African art- inspired ethno-contemporary fusion gold piece, which was adjudged first in the `overall category' of the World Gold Council Award, dazzled with its exciting melange of concept and craft excellence, the De Beer award winner `Niagara Falls Necklace' was a magnificently structured fall of 2,120 diamonds shaped by Chaya Jain into a necklace. Among the gold jewellery exhibits in the Bridal wear category is a stunning woven corset to fit the contours of the body, an angavastram-inspired necklace with a traditional bordered effect, exquisite neckpieces and hair ornaments full of impeccable detailing, a peacock necklace sporting wondrous peacock feathers and many more.

There is, for instance, a rather whacky but visually lovely necklace mimicking an ECG graph, a gold collar complete with intricate gold weave and a pair of gold cuff links featuring thumb print impressions. And bringing in traditional and modern realities in one harmonious frame or show window is a lovely `sarpech' ornament for men - and a delicately crafted neckpiece inspired by life within a severed tree...

The `Sparkles of Joy' neckpiece is an exquisite coming together of gold and 1,047 diamonds. Pavithra Manus' diamond bracelet, intricately crafted with nylon thread and ethereally lovely, a magnificent diamond- dripping neckpiece, `Ecstasy', and Preetinder Brar's `Wedding Necklace' are just some of the eye catchers in a niche exhibition, the first of its kind in Chennai, showcasing the best in contemporary expressions in jewellery today.

Another first to the credit of Prince Jewellers is an exclusive counter of antique jewellery from various parts of India showcasing kangan, bangles, manga malais, rani haar, ruby floret bangles, emerald bracelets, `Vankies', `Kundan' and temple jewellery pieces. Some fine `reproduction' antique pieces are also on display and sale. The exhibition concludes on April 22.

PUSHPA CHARI

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