Anything that makes something exquisite, enhances its beauty or helps in augmenting its worthiness is called an ornament. In this sense, the meaning of ornament or jewellery is very extensive and deep.
Since the beginning of civilisation, the desire to look beautiful made mankind turn colourful feathers, flowers, wood, clay, metal, and every other gift of nature into exotic ornaments. Even our gods and goddesses since ancient times are shown laden with ornaments. In the Vedas, ornaments are called objects of beautification, prosperity, and they fulfil the desires of the wearer.
Use of gold in ancient India can be seen in the statues found in the excavation sites of prehistoric civilisations including the Harappan and Mohenjodaro sites. Ornaments made from gold, silver, ivory, china clay, and beads were quite popular. The bronze statuette of the “Dancing Girl” found in the excavation of Mohenjo-Daro is an exquisite example of the ancient art of jewellery making. This 5000 year old statue is wearing a necklace around her neck and her arms are covered in bangles.
There has been many more discoveries from these excavations, however, it is so extensive that it is impossible to write it in a single blog. We now know that the art of jewellery making is at least 5000 years old. I will keep writing more information regarding this in my coming posts. Stay tuned.