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Terracota tantalizes
Scint-seal-ating jewellery
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Have you ever heard of jewellery made out of terracota? A polar opposite to luxury, opulence, and extravagance... but with one difference, no compromising on aesthetic appeal, wearability and verve. While still being considered fashionable terracota jewellery is innovative and extremely desirable and some might argue exudes a certain type of class and humility. Afterall it is the humble earth and clay we're talking about here.
Thus, we turn our focus from metals to concentrate on the sensuous raw earthy appeal of clay...and its synthetic counterpart which is found, literally, in "seals" pliable enough to make adornments and finery.
Mmmmarvelous "M-seal"
Today we centre our focus on "M-seal". What? You may wonder is that.? Hey, isn't that the caulking used to cement tiles? Absolutely right. But in this case it's evolution and vibrancy is catapulted into an artform that chiselled by experts causes a sigh like the first view of a priceless sculpture lifting from the ground.
Art-seal jewellery
Shaaditimes caught up with Artist / Craftsperson, Anjali Thakur, of Mumbai. Thakur who has previously experimented with various forms of textures, materials and metals through her art and design shows us the benefits of "M-seal" in jewellery design. Through trial and error Thakur has fine-tuned her craft into forming workable, wearable works of art as pieces of fashionable accessories. She qualifies at the onset of our interview that she is not a maverick in this particular art-form and that clay/terracotta jewellery has been a folk art craft for many generations in the tribal regions of India.
From clay to caulking
"I've always been interested in creating things from different sources," says Anjali. "One day I happened to discover imported clay, but that was breakable, non-flexible and was only available in pale sepia intonations." She worked with the clay: forming, shaping sculpting it diligently chiselling at the delicate nuances that would separate it from mud to form a work of beauty. Dissatisfied with the initial results and lacklustre finish, resulting in a dull veneer, Anjali steadfastedly continued and didn't give up. "I kept looking around and eventually found 'Resin' which is easily available in the market, under various brand names. The material is utilised to seal cracks and leakage points in tiles and walls etc..." says Anjali
Benefits of bouncing baubles
"Resin was never used earlier to create intricate or traditional jewellery," states Anjali matter-of-factly. "It also has more tenacity and is a stronger and more resilient material to work with. It is easy to mould and is malleable and dries easier and in a shorter time span than clay. Usually in 48 hours."
Traditional terracotta made out of clay usually is available in only two colours- siennas and charcoal. Anjali has developed a method that encompasses more definition thereby allowing more hues in the finish. Anjali has added a rainbow of tones spanning bottle green, blue, burgundy to her portfolio of art wearables. And she has managed to inculcate her craft without having to bake or paint the actual developed shapes of jewellery which is a first.
Its been a couple of years and as her showcase of jewellery continues to expand her clientele has also followed suit. "There has been a great response from both men and women," admits Anjali. Her loyalists include an eclectic potpourri of professionals, youngsters, teachers and NGOs. Her collection includes, pendants, necklaces, bracelets and rings meshed with metals. She has also dabbled into making her artwork with a glass encasement (etching paintings on material) and then solidifying and framing it with the textured M-seal/clay borders. These are attached to black velvet cords, or drips of gold chains. It's affordable, colourful, and original pieces des resistances. Next time you want a one-of-a-kind jewellery you don't have to look far and now you know where to visit.
Advantages of M-seal "Works of Wearable Art"
- It doesn't need baking unlike terracotta
- It's flexibility allows one to create intricate designs
- It's unbreakable
- Easy to handle and dries very fast
- Raw material is easily available
Anybody can create jewellery without formal training
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Rohini Bhatia-Singh
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| | Embroidered Churidar Suit | Crepe Dress Material - Gladrags | Famous - Wacky Slogan T-Shirt | | | Rs.3,400 ($87.18) | Rs.499 ($12.79) | | Rs.3,295 ($84.49) | Rs.2,222 ($56.97) | Rs.299 ($7.67) | |
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