The Vault
Ace designer Shamaeel Ansari shares stories of her treasured jewellery pieces
Ace designer Shamaeel Ansari shares stories of her treasured jewellery pieces
How and when did you get interested in jewellery?
My mother is a collector and I think my aesthetic sense is closely linked with my heritage, which is from South India. I am a descendant of Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of the South. Being a creative person, vintage things inspire me. Shamaeel, the brand, is also very bold and makes a statement. I think my passion for jewellery is a very natural outcome of it. In style circles I am known for wearing antique pieces in a very out-of-the-box, unconventional manner. I’m very happy to wear vintage necklaces with modern clothes. My personal ensemble is always a vintage shawl paired with an antique piece of jewellery. I have a passion for collecting old pieces and I enjoy their provenance.
What are your favourite pieces of jewellery (precious or costume)?
I tend to go for vintage and classic pieces. I am not one for knick-knacks. If I buy something, it has to be bold, antique and regal.
Where did you get them from?
A lot of them, or at least the ones that I have collected, are from antique dealers in India. However, I also have some pieces that I have inherited and are special to me.
Is there any piece you are emotionally attached to and why?
Yes, I am emotionally attached to a gold choti (braid), which was made by Tipu Sultan himself for one of his wives, who happens to be my great-great-grandmother. This piece is a sort of braid covering, with a maatha pati attached to it.
Share a story with us about how you acquired one of your favourite pieces?
The most interesting story would have to be of the gold choti. It is a South Indian piece, originally from Mangalore and from Tipu Sultan’s era. It was passed on to the daughters of the family, never to a son, and through the years I’ve inherited it as the first daughter of my mother. It has engraving in gold and is set with emeralds. It is a genuine antique piece, which has stayed in the family for generations.
Is there anything on your radar that you want to get in the future?
Well, I have bought a lot of pieces, some of which include Golkanda diamonds, which are very raw as they are uncut. There are three solitaires that I’ve strung together in a very fine chain, which gives the stones a very classic and modern look at the same time. This piece also has history behind it. I like collecting pieces of polki, kundan, and meena kari. I have a passion for going on holidays and visiting places of historic importance. While travelling, I collect a few authentic, beautiful pieces and things for the house with a similar vintage feel.
How and when did you get interested in jewellery?
My mother is a collector and I think my aesthetic sense is closely linked with my heritage, which is from South India. I am a descendant of Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of the South. Being a creative person, vintage things inspire me. Shamaeel, the brand, is also very bold and makes a statement. I think my passion for jewellery is a very natural outcome of it. In style circles I am known for wearing antique pieces in a very out-of-the-box, unconventional manner. I’m very happy to wear vintage necklaces with modern clothes. My personal ensemble is always a vintage shawl paired with an antique piece of jewellery. I have a passion for collecting old pieces and I enjoy their provenance.
What are your favourite pieces of jewellery (precious or costume)?
I tend to go for vintage and classic pieces. I am not one for knick-knacks. If I buy something, it has to be bold, antique and regal.
Where did you get them from?
A lot of them, or at least the ones that I have collected, are from antique dealers in India. However, I also have some pieces that I have inherited and are special to me.
Is there any piece you are emotionally attached to and why?
Yes, I am emotionally attached to a gold choti (braid), which was made by Tipu Sultan himself for one of his wives, who happens to be my great-great-grandmother. This piece is a sort of braid covering, with a maatha pati attached to it.
Share a story with us about how you acquired one of your favourite pieces?
The most interesting story would have to be of the gold choti. It is a South Indian piece, originally from Mangalore and from Tipu Sultan’s era. It was passed on to the daughters of the family, never to a son, and through the years I’ve inherited it as the first daughter of my mother. It has engraving in gold and is set with emeralds. It is a genuine antique piece, which has stayed in the family for generations.
Is there anything on your radar that you want to get in the future?
Well, I have bought a lot of pieces, some of which include Golkanda diamonds, which are very raw as they are uncut. There are three solitaires that I’ve strung together in a very fine chain, which gives the stones a very classic and modern look at the same time. This piece also has history behind it. I like collecting pieces of polki, kundan, and meena kari. I have a passion for going on holidays and visiting places of historic importance. While travelling, I collect a few authentic, beautiful pieces and things for the house with a similar vintage feel.