995 Old Heirloom Jewelry Ladakh Turquoise Perak Headdress

Ancestral Headdress from the Leh area of Ladakh (India)

Has large old turquoise stones, lambskin ears, silver embellishments, a central ghau meant for the protection of the wearer and one side panels adorned with the most highly valued gem locally i.e. coral.

Peraks are passed down from mother to daughter and it is only in the rare circumstance of there being no daughter to inherit the Perak, that the Perak leaves the ancestral family. It is then donated to a monastery after pujas and ceremonies. The monastery subsequently auctions the Perak. The turquoise stones in new and young peraks do not have the color character seen in old Peraks such as this one.

This ancestral heirloom piece is heavy

Peraks from the Leh area have a single choti on one side of the Perak.

Old pieces were rare and in the past 2-3 years with the advent of prosperity of India, families no longer need to part with old pieces.

Estimated to be from the 1950s-1960s

Length of the main Perak body (without the tassel attachment) = 90cm

Width (ear to ear) 47 cm

 PRICE ON REQUEST

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This item has spent a lifetime being used for the purpose of its creation with the original artist/user. Signs of this life lived heartily may be present on the piece in the form of stains, thread loss, loose threads, holes, tears, color run and other imperfections. Therefore the condition must be assumed to be “not” perfect. More photos of such imperfections will be provided on request.

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