.
Design Resource
Art Clay Jewelry - Dum Dum, Kolkata
Handmade Ornaments
by
Prof. Bibhudutta Baraland Srikanth B.
Introduction
In India, jewelry enjoys a special place in every women’s heart, and thus varieties of this craft took shape with time, keeping the traditional style intact. The jewelry that adds glamour to every occasion is innovated with natural materials like terracotta, ceramic, limestone beads, jute, wood, bamboo, etc. Nowadays, epoxy compounds like M seal and polyamide hardeners are also used to make beautiful pieces. The main advantage of epoxy compounds is that they harden easily and don’t require heat drying, hence time efficient. Clay jewelry has always been favorite among the population with fashion sense, as they are good substitutes against precious metals and beads. With modern modifications and improved designs, designers are now switching to antique styles with vivid colors using the latest raw materials, making the jewelry go well with ethnic as well as western attires. This variety of jewelry sets are often inspired by nature, mythology, ancient motifs, and geometrical patterns, hand-painted with earthy hues. Though the making process of clay jewelry is labor-intensive, it is completely molded with hands and painted with dramatic colors. This exotic form of ornamentation is taken up by Ms. Debanti Sen, a Kolkata-based crafts person cum blogger who has been working in the field for eight years. She and her husband run a venture named “My Decor8 Craft” where high fashioned earthy handmade pieces of jewelry are created and sold. Her collections include pendants, earrings, necklaces, key chains, etc.
