Page:The Industrial Arts of India.djvu/106

 Gold and silver filigrain work of great excellence is also produced at Murshedabad and Dacca in Bengal - and gold and silver jewelry of all kinds, rosaries, bracelets, necklaces, &c,, at Monghyr ; and silver ornaments at Potocakhalli in the Patna division. The silver jewelry of Dinajpur in the iRajsliahye dis trict is of highly interesting primitive forms [Plates 49 and 50]. At Sahibganj in the Dacca division imitation Dacca jewelry is largely made. From the Hindu drama l£ The Toy Cart' 1 already quoted it is clear that the excellence of the imita- tion jewelry of India was recognised at a very early period. A question is raised in a court of justice about the identity of certain ornaments, whereupon the judge asks :

Judge. — “ Do you know these ornaments ? ”

Mother : — Have I not said? They may be different, though like* I cannot say more they may be imitations made by some skilful artist.”

Judge. — “ It is true. Provost, examine them ; they may be different, though like ; the dexterity of the artist is no doubt very great, and they readily fabricate imitations of ornaments they have, once seen, in such a manner, that the difference can scarcely be discernible.”

The primitive character of Tibetan jewelry has already been noticed. A good deal of it now finds its way into India through Bhutan, Sikkim, Nipal, and Cashmere, chiefly in silver — ornamented with large crude turquoises, and sometimes with coral,— in the shape of armlets, and necklets, consisting of amulet boxes, strung on twisted red cloth, or a silver - chain ; and in various other forms, such as bracelets, anklets, &c., hammered, cut, and filigratned. It is identical in character with the jewelry so profusely represented in the Bharhut sculptures. The women of Ladak wear a curious ornament called a parak, which falls from the forehead over the head, down the back to the waist. It is covered with precious stones, and the wearer does not marry until she has possessed herself of enough of them to form a