Warring sisters-in-law (wife vs husband’s brother’s wife) we’ve seen aplenty in popular Indian cinema, and the usual pyrotechnics resulting from their inevitable confrontation has been a source of ...

Warring sisters-in-law (wife vs husband’s brother’s wife) we’ve seen aplenty in popular Indian cinema, and the usual pyrotechnics resulting from their inevitable confrontation has been a source of great entertainment for many. Not so here. The Bengali ‘Ja’ against ‘Ja’ jhagda is not even remotely evident among the Senguptas of Guwahati, Assam, but as a matter of fact their conviviality very much is.

They’re first-time customers, both. Having come to know of us from Brinda’s and our Instagram page, they chose us to make for them a 'Guinea' (newly stamped coins, actually) necklace each, and in diametrically opposite styles. The designs were drawn and sent on WhatsApp and their approval came in reply. The jewels were delivered : this one in Calcutta and the other by courier (reaches in a day), because we got late completing it, to Guwahati.

As a fitting riposte to those who might deem the shelly passé comes this classic necklace with five framed faux half-guineas sweetly tied to each other with three chains — a pair of loosely strung brushed-bichhas bracketing a ring-pirich har — forming a perfect festoon.

The open-work frames follow a similar style for the quartet of coins to the sides — a barely convex 'jhanjri'. In the centre, a delicate wire ‘Lakshmi’r Pa’ motif creates a lacy and larger surround for the ‘guinea’ and is further elaborated by wire swirls at the top and bottom, the latter embellished with a chhela-frosted drop while a ‘crown’ is nudged into place by the former. The drops, smaller, are repeated in the sidepieces, but the terminal frames don’t have any because they’re too steep for drops to fall properly from. The shelly form is versatile too, and the necklace can be worn flat around the neck or raised a bit and fitted like a high-collar. Of course, the neckline you’re wearing will determine the ornament’s placement on you but you’ll have to ensure the festoon is laid out generously and doesn't gather together — that would look dreadful.

This jewel was created for Mrs.Ajanta Sengupta, the younger of the two ‘Jas’, who counts writing poetry, reading, taking care of her plants, and loving her dog Jojo among her favourite hobbies. She says : “We chose A.Sirkar for your stunning and quintessentially Bengali designs. The design, and final product, is exactly how you promised, and for that we are grateful.”

Oh, no, no no! — the gratitude must entirely be ours. From Assam – debut purchase – an order without design confirmation – final design approval remote and on phone – a delay – this jewel delivered in-person, in Calcutta, but the other sent to Guwahati : How can we not be grateful for your patience and graciousness. We are, and deeply so. Thank you for vesting your trust in us.

As tradition decrees, this classic yet fresh and novel ‘guinea’ shelly, handcrafted with much care and consideration, has been christened Ajanta after its owner-wearer who will, in time, turn out more its custodian, for the jewel’s future is that of an heirloom, and a very elegant, very rare one at that. Needless to say, Mrs. Ajanta Sengupta shall live on in it forever.