This is a vintage high grade silver choker or adjustable length necklace from Himachal Pradesh, northern India and is quite heavy at 169 Grams (5.960 oz.).
This necklace from early to mid 20th century was used to attach rupees along the bottom of the spacer beads and worn as a wealth necklace. The rupee coins could easily be removed when the wearer needed extra cash.
Each spacer bead has been intricately cast by a Himachal silversmith. The front section is made up of 54 silver beads, that are strung together on a black Indian traditional adjustable cotton thread cord with a cotton bead slider. There is silver thread work at each end of the spacer beads.
The black cotton cord lengths are 41 cm (16") each side and the silver spacer beads section is 9 cm (7 1/2"). The total length of the adjustable necklace is 101 cm (40").
The width of the individual silver beads is 2.7 cm (1 1/16").
The space beads have been silver tested for high grade silver 92.5% approx. I have not cleaned the necklace - but will polish up beautifully.

Weight: HEAVY, 169 Grams (5.960oz.)

"The jewellers of Kangra in Himachal Pradesh, Chamba, Mandi and Kullu were famous for their silver jewellery skills. Kangra was the kingdom of Rajput in earlier days. They mainly worked with silver enamelling skills. Deep blue and green colours were used frequently in their enamelings. Many ornamental designs found in an Indian origin are mingled with Tibet designs, and various jewellery motifs are inhaled by the nature such as a lotus flower, pipal tree leaves."

PRICE:  USD $825.00
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