Indian Wedding Necklace with Thali

Tied on once, in front of everyone. Taking it off was not part of the plan.

This wedding necklace with thali comes from India, 19th century, in gold, colorized quartz, Basra pearls and rubies. A thali is the marriage pendant placed around a bride's neck at a Hindu wedding and worn afterward as a sign of her married status. Round gold beads alternate with small repousse pendants along a dark blue cord, each pendant tipped with a tiny pearl. A larger leaf-shaped centerpiece hangs in the middle. Thirteen and a half inches long.

Few contracts have been drawn up so attractively.