| Stone Type | Pearl |
| Weight (g) | 0.00 |
| Colour | Shadow |
| Occasion | Wedding |
A curling paisley form set throughout with pale kundan hangs from a stone-set chain, finished with a dense fringe of small pearls and faceted drops. Darkened antique gold finish.
Called ambi, mango or boteh depending where you are, the paisley is the most persistent motif in Indian ornament — and it is unusual among shapes in being asymmetric. That gives a tikka a direction: the curling tip leads the eye to one side rather than sitting squarely, which stops a large forehead ornament from looking like a badge.
The face is crowded with openwork and stones. In bright gold all of it would merge into a single glitter; darkening the recesses separates each pierced opening and each setting, so the paisley outline stays readable through the detail inside it. The finish is doing the work of making the shape legible.
Small pearls alternate with faceted drops along the full lower edge. On a rigid ornament the fringe is the only part that moves, and it gives the bottom of the piece a soft boundary rather than a hard cut edge against the forehead.
A centre parting and hair pinned firmly. Because the paisley is asymmetric, take a moment to set it so the curl points the way you want rather than letting it settle at random.
Weddings, bridal wear, receptions and sangeets.
Type: Bridal maang tikka. Metal: Brass base. Finish: Antique gold tone. Work: Paisley openwork face set with kundan, with a pearl and crystal fringe.
This is brass with a gold-tone plating rather than solid gold, which keeps the price where it is and the weight low enough to wear comfortably. Plating is a surface rather than a bulk property, so how long it lasts depends almost entirely on what it meets — perfume, hairspray and sweat all shorten it, while a dry cloth after wearing and a closed pouch between wearings extend it considerably.
Put this on after perfume, hairspray and hand cream, and take it off before washing, swimming or sleeping. Wipe with a dry soft cloth and use a dry soft brush around the stone settings and between any pearls, where a cloth cannot reach. Store it in a zip-lock pouch — which is what the supplier themselves advise, and the single most effective thing for a plated piece, because it keeps humid air off the metal. Never use silver polish, dip cleaners or an ultrasonic cleaner.
The hook needs something to grip. On fine or freshly washed hair a maang tikka will slide, so pin it to a small twist of hair rather than to loose strands, and secure the chain with a second pin a few inches back if the piece is heavy.
A piece at this price is bought to be worn rather than kept. The sensible way to judge it is by how often it will leave the box, not by what it would fetch if it never did.
| Stone Type | Pearl |
| Weight (grams) | 0.00 |
| Colour/Finish | Shadow |
| Occasion | Wedding |
| Gender | women |
| SKU/Product Code | KEYU-NAA1896 |
