Chhaya Wooden Earrings – Hand-Painted Boxwood Bud Danglers

Chhaya Wooden Earrings – Hand-Painted Boxwood Bud & Ebony Disc Dangle Earrings

A round disc of black Ebony sits flat at the lobe. Below it, on a small ring, hangs a bud of pale Boxwood — carved in the round, tapering to a point, with fine dark lines drawn by hand down its length.

Chhaya means shadow. It is an apt name for a piece where the dark disc above and the painted lines below both do their work by contrast: black against skin at the ear, black against cream on the drop.

The pair weighs 10 g.

What Chhaya is made from

• Upper element: Ebony, cut as a plain round disc
• Lower element: Boxwood, carved in the round as a bud
• Finish: hand-painted line work over the carved surface
• Findings: metal alloy hooks with a metal ring
• Weight: 10 g per pair
• Sold as: one pair
• Made in: India, from responsibly repurposed exotic hardwoods, handcrafted and hand-painted by skilled artisans

Carved in the round, not cut from a panel

Most wooden earrings are flat: a face, a back, and an edge between them. Chhaya's bud has no flat side. It is shaped on every surface, which means it turns gently as it hangs and never shows quite the same view twice.

That is slower work than cutting a panel. A three-dimensional form has to be approached from every angle, and the grain runs a different way at each one — what cuts cleanly at the crown will want to tear at the tip. There is no back to hide a mistake on, because there is no back.

Boxwood is the traditional wood for this. Its grain is so fine and even that it holds crisp detail at small scale, which is why it was used for centuries in engraving blocks and fine carving long before it reached jewellery.

Painting along a curve

The line work goes on last. Drawing a clean, even line down a curved surface is considerably harder than on a flat one — the brush is always turning and the wood falls away from the hand as it goes. Each bud is painted individually, so the lines land a little differently on every pair.

How to style Chhaya

• Everyday and work: small in scale and quiet in palette — easy with shirts, kurtas and linen
• Sarees: lovely with cotton, khadi and handloom in cream, black, indigo, plum and olive
• Festive daywear: Poila Boishakh, Ugadi, Navratri daytime functions, mehendi and haldi
• Western wear: plain necklines, denim, white shirts, black dresses
• Gifting: a small carved-and-painted piece reads as considered rather than expensive

Because it is dimensional, Chhaya shows best where it can move — hair back or up, and no scarf or heavy collar to still it. Both gold and silver accents sit comfortably against black and cream.

Caring for carved and painted wood

• Put your earrings on last, after perfume, hairspray, makeup and skincare
• Keep them away from sanitiser, nail-polish remover and alcohol-based products — solvents lift paint
• Remove before bathing, swimming or exercising
• Wipe only with a soft, dry cloth, and never rub at the painted lines
• Store on their own in the box or pouch provided, so the carved tip is not pressed against anything
• Handle by the Ebony disc or the metal findings rather than the bud

Related designs

• Malini — the closest pair to this one: the same carved, hand-painted Boxwood bud, hung from a square Ebony element instead of a round disc
• Aarushi — hand-painted work on a flat Boxwood and Ebony body, in red and black
• Kalika — an Ebony disc again, above a hand-engraved Boxwood round

Shipping

Dispatched within 2–3 working days. Free shipping on prepaid orders within India; delivery is typically 2–3 days to metro cities and 5–7 days elsewhere in India. Cash on Delivery is available at selected locations with a ₹50 cash-handling charge. Chhaya ships worldwide, arriving within 5–10 days of your order — import duties and local taxes are payable by the recipient.

Frequently asked questions

What does Chhaya mean?
Shadow. The name suits a design built on contrast — a black Ebony disc at the ear, and dark painted lines across a pale carved bud below.

Is the bud flat or carved in three dimensions?
Carved in the round. It is shaped on every surface with no flat back, which is unusual in wooden jewellery and considerably slower to make than a cut panel.

Are the dark lines painted, engraved or inlaid?
Hand-painted. They are drawn on with a brush, one bud at a time, over the carved Boxwood surface. Painting along a curve is harder than on a flat face, and the lines fall slightly differently on every pair.

How is Chhaya different from Malini?
The element at the lobe. Both share the same carved, hand-painted Boxwood bud; Chhaya hangs it from a round Ebony disc, while Malini uses a square. The round reads softer against the ear, the square more graphic.

What woods are used?
Ebony for the disc and Boxwood for the carved bud. Both are exotic hardwoods, responsibly repurposed from offcuts of fine wood craftsmanship.

Why Boxwood for carving?
Its grain is exceptionally fine and even, so it holds crisp detail at small scale without crumbling at the edges. It has been the wood of choice for fine carving and engraving blocks for centuries.

Will the painted lines wear off?
Not with ordinary wear. Solvents are what damage painted wood — perfume sprayed directly on, sanitiser, nail-polish remover — along with rubbing. Keep those away and wipe only with a dry cloth.

How heavy are they?
10 g the pair.

Can Chhaya get wet?
Please avoid it. Water is harder on painted wood than on bare wood. Remove them before bathing, swimming or exercising, and if they get damp, dry immediately with a soft cloth and let them air fully.

What are the hooks made of?
Metal alloy, with a metal ring joining the two elements. If your ears react easily to metal, please write to us before ordering and we will help you decide.

Will my pair look exactly like the photographs?
The carved shape will match. The painted lines and the Boxwood grain will differ slightly, because both the carving and the painting are done by hand in natural material.

Is this suitable for everyday wear?
Yes. It is small in scale and quiet in palette, which makes it one of the easier pieces to wear to work or on an ordinary day. The painted surface simply asks for a little more care than bare wood.

What if my order arrives damaged?
Write to us within 48 hours with photographs and your unboxing video. The video is required for damage, missing and wrong-item claims, so please film yourself opening the parcel.

Do you ship internationally?
Yes, worldwide, generally arriving within 5–10 days. Import duties, customs and local taxes are payable by the recipient.