Indian Cuff

Mostly plain gold, with all the small talk saved for the edges.

This cuff is hand-worked gold from India, 20th century. Indian goldsmiths have long favored granulation, the fixing of tiny grains of gold to a surface, and beads and fine wirework of that spirit edge this piece. The band tapers, wider at one end than the other, and its broad middle is smooth and softly hammered. Pierced discs and rows of tiny beads run around both rims. At the opening, two lines of small round holes follow the edges. Two and a quarter inches long and 2.75 in diameter.

Gold seldom needs much help. Here it got exactly enough.