Mookuthi | Artisanal nose ornaments from Madras

Moo-ku-thi

Rooted in the combination of two Tamil words - Mooku (nose) and kuththi (piercing), Mookuthi is an artisanal nose ornament brand based in Madras.

We celebrate South India on the modest canvas of nose ornaments.

Oviyam

A collection of nose ornaments inspired from Raja Ravi Varma's paintings.

Explore Oviyam

The Painter and the Portraitures

Born in 1848, Kilimanoor, Ravi Varma - the aristocratic artist was best known for his portraits of mortal and immortal in hues of crimson and blue, marrying the European realism and colour with Indian sensibilities.

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The Beautiful Chaos on Canvas

With influences from Victorian salon painting, Kathakali, neoclassical Malayalam poetry and the Travancore culture - Varma was a cultural gestalt.

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The Moods and Hues

Credited with over 7000 paintings in his lifetime, Varma's genius lies in his play of light through his colours, his usage of oil paints that promised artwork that was not only easy on the eyes but all your senses.

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Oviyam

With handpicked Rubies, Pearls, and Sapphires that mimic the play of light inculcating the richness of Varma's oil paintings - Oviyam is our ode to the moods and hues envisaged by Raja Ravi Varma, translating his genius onto our mookuthis.

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Vanakkam

At Mookuthi, we celebrate South India by distilling stories - of fascination, of magnitude and mundane, of history and culture - onto humble inconspicuous canvases of a nose ornament.

Explore a few of our collections here, at our online store. If you
happen to be in Madras, schedule an appointment & drop by our studio to
experience our work first hand or to even get your nose pierced.

Explore Collections

Nila, a journey to the moon

Handcrafted 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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Ninaivu, a time gone by

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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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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Kolam, celebrating everyday artists

Handcrafted in fine gold, and with designs that are most reminiscent of home, Kolam is an homage to our lyrical mornings, vet vaasal and rice flour
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Moo-ku-thi

Oviyam

The Painter and the Portraitures

The Beautiful Chaos on Canvas

The Moods and Hues

Oviyam

Vanakkam

Nila, a journey to the moon

Sthapathi, an ode to the masters

Ninaivu, a time gone by

Vadiviyal, simple pleasures

Kolam, celebrating everyday artists