Very Heavy Indian Hansuli Silver Torque

Solid (thos) chiselled torc necklace, called a hansuli. Gujarat, north west India. High silver content, solid construction. Early 20th century.

After casting, the piece has been chiselled, incised and stamped on four sides with a complex pattern of geometric lines, incisions and circles that extends far up the arms of the torc. The ends are rolled.

Torcs such as these are worn in rural Gujarat and Rajasthan. Similar ornaments may be found in Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. They are often worn by boys and young men as well as women, along with other forms of ornamentation. This is particularly typical of women of the fishing villages of the north west of India.

Hansuli derives from the word for collarbone, where this type of rigid neck ring typically sits.

This is the heaviest hansuli we have ever come across.

This piece shows some wear commensurate with its age. It was once tied to the wearer's neck by a cord and there is evidence of wearing on the terminal ring on one side of the torc.

Measurements:Internal widest point 16.4 cm, width of opening 7.9 cm. Weight 305 g.

References

• Leurquin, A., A World of Necklaces: Africa, Asia, Oceania, America from the Ghysels Collection, Skira, 2003.
• Hoek, C.et al, Ethnic Jewellery: From Africa, Asia and Pacific Islands, Pepin Press, 2004.
• Untracht, O. Traditional Jewelry of India, Thames & Hudson, 1997.