Shopper's Paradise: Gold & SilverWare

The princely states of India demanded not only enameled jewellery but also enameled utensils such as wine-cupsm finger-bowls, pill boxes etc. in both gold and silver repousse, sometimes studded with jewels.

The craftspersons of India excel in this art. With the evolution of new tools, techniques and skills, they are now better equipped to cater to modern tastes.

Fully geared to meet modern market demands, today the gold and silver plated articles produced are usually plain or, even when ornamented are devoid of extensive encrustation.

Portions of silver articles are sometimes covered with gold water. The designs thus formed are known as the Ganga-Jamuna pattern from the rivers Ganga and Jamuna which meet a Allahabad and flow together.

Lucknow, the former seat of the Nawabs of Avadh produces an extensive range of gold and silver plated articles in a multitude of patterns. The designs resemble those found in Kashmir. Owing to the strong Islamic influence, still prevailing, most of the articles are highly ornamented, with repousse work depicting hunting and jungle sences and floral motifs.