Pair of Fine, South Indian Silver Bracelets

This delightful and quite rare pair of silver bracelets is from India’s Lakshadweep Islands in the Laccadive Sea, 200-400 kilometres off the coast of South-west India.

They have superb, wear, colour and patina from age and having been worn. The obvious use they have received adds to their charm and yet they are still very wearable.

The sides are of hammered sheet silver, that have been curved. The edges have been finished with fine, applied silver plaited wire.

Each of the bands has been decorated with four diamond-shaped areas of applied silver granulation and wire work around a central silver bud-like finial.

There are no losses but plenty of wear and light denting which add to the texture and presence of the pair.

A related pair is illustrated in van Cutsem (2002, p. 209).