Silver and Gold, two precious metals, both significant in the subcontinent and yet have very different stories in South Asia. Gold usually occupies the place of an heirloom and passes down generations, relatively unharmed or unchanged. Silver on the other hand is usually melted down, changing its form to fit its wearer and the times they inhabit. The result of this, is that our history isn't usually held in silver; especially in nomadic communities, who’s silver artisanship is something of a marvel.
In the late 1970s, two friends Rajeev Arora and Rajesh Ajmera drove around India buying silver artifacts and ornaments with the hope of preserving the stories held within our silver. In 1978 they founded Amrapali, who’s legacy not only includes preservation but innovation. The Amrapali museum in Jaipur is one such place where one can experience not just the rich heritage of south asian silver but also of a thriving house furthering the material’s artistry.
I visited the space with another artist friend of mine, sometime in early 2024. Both of us were itching to be inspired, we were questioning why we do what we do and if it wouldn’t just be easier to choose a road more travelled. We spent three hours admiring the most beautifully curated collection of artefacts. I was struck by how the most mundane aspects of one’s life were made beautiful through the use of thoughtfully made objects. Combs and Paan Dabbas were made in silver, carved, inlaid with enamel and stones. Araipattas (Img 2) were filigreed, die stamped and crafted with such care. I walked out wondering about our journey as a society. We once surrounded ourselves with objects that exuded the joy of human ingenuity and lasted many lifetimes; to now choosing to surround ourselves with mass produced, machine made objects that can only dream of lasting our own lifetime.
In some ways I think that finding joy in the small things in the thesis of my work, it's about wanting to design every miniscule detail so even the most mundane of days can feel like a thing of beauty. Visiting the Amrapali Museum reminded me of that; it reminded me that human beings deserve to be surrounded by beauty; that we as a species, whatever path we’re on right now, have historically celebrated artistry and the time it takes; we’ve built civilizations whose cultures were enveloped in art and beauty. My hope for us as a society, in the years to come, is that we rediscover the work of the hand and the true joy that is human connection through the objects we choose to surround ourselves with.
Kettle and a Creamer from a Tea Set, ca.1870
Kutch, Gujarat
Silver & Gold ( Castine, moulding, engraving and plating)
Araipatta (Waist Band), ca 1960
Calicut, Kerala
Silver, Gold, Glass (soldering, filigree, die stamping, hammering, granulation, stone setting)
