Ladakh silver earrings, India

Old earrings worn by Balti women around Drass (Ladakh), made of high-grade silver and blue glass beads.

The Baltis belong to an old Indo-Aryan tribe that was converted to Shiite Islam from Buddhism in the 16th century. They live in Western Ladakh. The large circular earrings have adopted characteristics of the Kana-vaji of Kashmir. Ganguly also reports them being worn in the Spiti region.

From the beginning of the 20th century or earlier.

Dimensions: 8 cm diameter

Weight 100 gr.

Literature:

“Crafts of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh”, Jaitly, Jaya, Abbeville Press Publishers, 1990
“Earrings. Ornamental identity and beauty in India”, Ganguly, Waltraud, B.R. Publishing Corporation, 2007
“A world of earrings. Africa, Asia America”, van Cutsem, Anne, Skira, 2001

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