Mookuthi | Artisanal nose ornaments from Madras

Moo-ku-thi

A portmanteau of two tamil words, mooku (nose) and kuththi (piercing), Mookuthi is an artisanal nose ornament brand based in Madras, India.

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Nose Ornaments, its origins

Rich in history, nose ornamenting has been a practice for over 6000 years, with its origins in the Middle East, Africa and Australia. The practice is believed to have spread to the rest of the world from there, predominantly the Middle East.

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Nobility & Nose Ornaments

In the 1500s, when the European Renaissance was in bloom, the Mughals arrived in India, bringing these beautiful ornaments with them from the middle east.

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Mookuthi, Phuls, Naths

Like many diverse cultural practices, nose piercing too embedded itself in the syncretic fabric of Hindustan. For centuries now, Indian women have adorned their noses with mookuthis, phuls and naths, and imbibed it into her culture with a variety of reasons.

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Liberalisation & Nose Ornaments

Many journeyed to India in the 1960s, eager to absorb the spiritual lessons. On return, they carried along some Indian style influences. From the American pop scene to the British counter-culture, nose piercings began to achieve a cult value.

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The 21st Century

With reasons ranging from caste divide to insurance, the nose ornaments have come a long way. To the woman today, it is her own personal way of expressing her self, uniquely. This marked the beginning of an era when the nose ornament turned into a small yet significant part of her personal expression.

Vanakkam

At Mookuthi, we bring South Indian narratives on the humble canvas of a nose ornament. Our inspirations range from heritage, history, native crafts, architectural details, art - anything that could have influenced you, if you grew up in South India.

Explore our realm through our collections.

And if you are from Chennai or happen to visit Chennai, do not forget to visit our Store to get a first hand experience of our work.

Explore Collections

Kondai, always a good hair day

A representation of the South Indian hair-bun ornated with native flowers, this is a capsule collection that is only for the bold. One from these 3 statement pieces, is a must have in your collection.
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Oviyam, straight out of Raja Ravi Varma's paintings

This collection of nose ornaments is a tribute to one of the finest artists of South India - we borrowed cues from his paintings to bring in drama & celebration on to a nose ornament.
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Athangudi, a town that tiled Chettinad

Inspired from the different colours and hues of the handmade tiles from Athangudi, this collection is half made in Chennai and finished with Meenakari in Jaipur.
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Kolam, the everyday street art

We took the lines and curves of South Indian Kolams, reimagined the filigree technique, played with the textures of gold and brought to life a subtle yet bold collection.
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Ninaivu, reminiscing nostalgia

Set in yellow gold and the finest of diamonds, this collection is a homage to our Pattis (grandmothers), the elegant ladies and their evergreen style.
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Nila, A journey to the Moon

Crafted in fine gold and adorned with diamonds, Nila is a unique collection of nose jewels influenced by the moon and her subtle glint.
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Sthapathi, An ode to the masters

Fine gold nose jewels embellished with handpicked rubies and meenakari, as the inspiration demands, this collection is an ode to the great masters of temple architecture.
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Vadiviyal, Simple pleasures

Handcrafted in yellow gold, this collection celebrates the most fundamental shapes known to man - circle, square and a triangle. From their ancient origins to their place in modernity, these pieces will never go out of style.
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Choosing the right nose ornament

Picking the right ornament for your nose profile, rather for your persona, could be a daunting task.

You can reach us in the following ways for assistance.

Get in touch - we love being nosey!

Visit our Store

Visit our store and explore the art of adorning yourself with a Mookuthi. Try on different forms and sizes of nose ornaments at your own pace - for this space is all about you and Mookuthis.

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Video Call Appointments

We love helping you find the perfect Mookuthi, no matter the distance. Schedule a video call appointment with us for personalised assistance.

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Nose Piercings

It goes without saying—we love it when you’re ready to get your nose pierced! For those without a nose piercing, we offer personalised assistance in selecting the perfect Mookuthi for your nose profile, and you can have your nose pierced with your chosen piece right here at Mookuthi.

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Nose ornaments that speak volumes.

Moo-ku-thi

Nose Ornaments, its origins

Nobility & Nose Ornaments

Mookuthi, Phuls, Naths

Liberalisation & Nose Ornaments

The 21st Century

Vanakkam

Kondai, always a good hair day

Oviyam, straight out of Raja Ravi Varma's paintings

Athangudi, a town that tiled Chettinad

Kolam, the everyday street art

Ninaivu, reminiscing nostalgia

Nila, A journey to the Moon

Sthapathi, An ode to the masters

Vadiviyal, Simple pleasures

Choosing the right nose ornament

Visit our Store

Video Call Appointments

Nose Piercings