This is not an easy one folks. I do hope that you all subscribe to
the tenet that in brevity lies purity of thought. Because today old
chaps. I am going to be pure as the driven snow.
Haath Phul. also spelled Haath Phool. means: (I think) flower-jewel
for hand. It is an ornate and quite attractive piece of jewelry worn
by brides. The two I’m going to be showing you consist of four finger
rings, each ring linked by a chain to an ornament which is in turn
linked by two chains to a bracelet. all of which is made of gold and
set with diamonds.
As regards the ornament: It is the top of an Arsi ring. a ring with a
mirror in its center to better see oneself at whim. a ring of
somewhat feminine conceit. and an item I had written about in a
previous Tidbits. The five rings together form a panchangla, or haath
phul. The ornament bridges the gap between the four rings and the
bracelet. In one of the bracelets the Arsi ring also forms one of the
four finger rings. All these words belonging to a language and
culture with which I am unfamiliar speak to me only of the truly
homogeneousness of us humans… an ancient and complex race and a top
of the line species … except maybe for cats. Nothing beats cats.
But that’s just me.
It is said that the Haath Phul was also worn by courtesans and court
dancers in India. Versions of the Haath Phul are becoming more and
more popular in the west. Methinks there may be a doorway here for
someone. Of course one of the problems with doorways is that one is
never quite sure if they lead to meadowlands or to cliffs. Ahh. To
the daring often go the spoils.
And that’s pretty much it for the Haath Phul. an extraordinarily
beautiful piece with which most of us–I’m assuming–are unfamiliar.
That said. may I suggest you take a peek at the bracelet, ornament,
and four ring combinations. You know where. Home page: tyler-adam.com.
Left hand menu. Click on Tidbits.
And there ya have it. That’s it for this week folks.
Catch you all next week.
Benjamin Mark