Sheba and the Sheila

Her expressive eyes are deep and dark, a certain painful poignancy to them as she stares, so serious, straight into the camera, leaning slightly, with full lips slightly open. Rings adorn slender fingers on both hands and long “jhumka” earrings with their characteristic fringed bell shapes reach the top of covered shoulders.

Several chains in graduated sizes ranging from the simple necklet with a sacred single “rudraksha” protective bead, to a pair of solid silver torques in the tribal style decorate her dress of draped sari pleats, slung into a loose “orhini” or head covering.

Since the old image is in black and white, we cannot tell if the elaborate beaded “tikka” ornament arranged across her forehead and parted hair, may be a “mathapatti” or South Indian wedding band with the characteristic gold, red and green that could have been echoed in the fine, braid-embellished coloured velvet “choli” or blouse.