My first riveting experience

Being totally new to silversmithing, have always thought that soldering was the easiest method for connecting two pieces. Today I thought I will try riveting and the first attempt was a disaster. Basically I wanted to connect two pieces of flower. I almost gave up and thought will do soldering in the middle. Then I thought sometime in my silversmithing career I need to do this, so why not now? Tried again and succeeded. I actually want to block the bottom one too, but the stem looked nice so just soldered from behind. But with the top rivet itself the pieces were secure. Believe me, I checked.

I know that the piece is not very neat. But I was so impatient to try the rivet, that I just went on did that.

Kaluthooru- Wedding Jewellery

Indians love jewellery.Each state has its own set of traditional jewellery associated with each function. Since I come from TamilNadu; the southern state in India, thought I will write about it.

Giving and receiving jewellery for almost all important functions and festivals is even a common practice today. Even though the gold prices have soared, still people flock the jewellery shops to buy jewellery either in silver or gold. Gold here is 22 kt and people dont value the jewellery even if it is 18kt gold. But nowadays people have started to accept that diamonds are best when set in 18kt gold. So they have compromised to that extent.

All communities in TamilNadu wear lots of jewellery during functions and festivals. Weddings especially are very expensive because the biggest expenditure is buying gold for the bride and the groom. Infact there is a practice that when a girl child is born, the parents start accumulating gold for her.

The Chettiar community has a lot of stories relating to gold. It is said that in earlier days they used to measure pearls and corals in a container that roughly holds around 1 and half kgs!

The jewellery worn by Chettiars have always fascinated me, because their workmanship is very beautiful. They have ornate work on their jewellery. One such jewellery given to the bride on her wedding day is called 'Kaluthooru'. This is a single necklace which comprises  of   800 gms of 22kt gold! But that was earlier when the gold prices were very nominal. Even now they make it with 400 gms or lesser that. Again this depends on how affluent the brides' parents are.

This kaluthooru comprises of 34 gold pieces which are strung on two twists of 21 strings. 15 pieces

are strung on the top twist and 14 on the lower twist with two links to join the two twists. Three more pieces are added the day after the wedding. The pendant in the middle is in the shape of the shrine which has MahaLakshmi who is the goddess of wealth. On either side there are paws of tiger which is supposed to protect. All the other beads signify fame, strength, education, success, children, wealth, food, prosperity, courage, health and beauty.

This heavy chain is worn by the girl on her wedding day, her son's wedding day, her 60 and 80 wedding anniversary.

Repousse on silver

 Hi,

I wanted to write about the repousse work done in India, especially TamilNadu; the state from which I come. This vessel is called a 'Sembu' and it is made from different metals usually the common ones are copper and brass. Here this is made of silver. These silver Sembus are used for festivals and to celebrate important functions. This is given to the brides for their weddings.

The more affluent you are the more bigger the silver sembu gets.

You can find the images of Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess we believe that bestows prosperity and wealth.
Eight images are carved around the vessel to depict different Lakshmis.

Repousse is done even at the bottom of the vessel. This sembu is used in Poojas on special occassions where we invoke the Goddess and seek her blessings.Repousse on silver