Jewellery and Jewelled Objects of Odisha

Odisha is famous for its silver jewellery, specialising in the making of anklets. The painris —or rua painris as these anklets are locally known — are simple and elegant, tubular and oval in shape and curved slightly to the side to face the inner side of the ankle. It consists of various striped bands with circular lines and clusters of overlaid beads in conical shapes, with at least four on each painri. Two pairs of flower buds around a heap of small beads arranged in a circle are placed between bands. Paijam, another kind of anklet, is flexible with the interlacing of various chains joined together. The first row consists of small circular metal pieces is linked to another flower shaped piece below by two wires. These are, in turn, joined to the bigger flower shaped pieces set below on a thin plate, the latter forming the third row. Semi-circular wires link one flower piece to the other. From these wires hang small hollow balls, giving the look of a band of lace. On one end lies a coin-like metal piece with a swan, peacock or flower motif on it.