The next time you go on a self-discovery trip to India, don’t come back empty-handed. Find time to buy a few knickknacks you can place in your home. Saris and Hindi paperweights are overdone. Of course, Bone Inlay cabinets or a Mother of Pearl cupboard will be too cumbersome, but if you don’t mind the fare, you can charter a freight service. One ideal choice for the light traveller is an artfully decorated, scallop hand mirror. A small wall mirror can work too- provided it is carefully wrapped.
Where to buy lovely antiques in India
The beauty of India furniture is in the design details. Hand crafted and artfully decorated, you will love the variety of choice you are presented with. Antique lovers will find in Delhi, a place rich in art and culture with antique figurines and decorations that make awesome souvenirs. The city is strewn with vintage sellers and restorers.
If you are looking for much older furniture- think vintage, Jodhpur is arguably the best place to go. It contains several markets that sell Indian interiors from all over the country, including old trade ports such as Cochin, traditional places like Nagaland and historically important cities like Jaisalmer.
Indian furniture for the living and dining rooms
If you are looking for something to fit into your living or dining room, try some bone inlay framed pictures. What is bone-inlay, you may ask? Simply put, it is furniture made from camel or buffalo bones. The design is so pretty, it has the ability to stand out anywhere you place it in a room. The art of bone inlay handcrafting is a delicate skill passed down from generations in the Udaipur region of India.
You will also find other bone-inlay materials fitting for your interiors. For example, a framed wall-clock or a medium-sized mantelpiece figurine can add liveliness to your bookshelf. Another Indian furniture is a thick centre rug that appears to swallow your feet when you step on it. Some dealers and sellers specialise in different types of antiques. Nothing is too eccentric. While some people stock regular types of furniture, you can find stores that deal in ancient padlocks!
The cost of Indian furniture
Many people usually ask me why Indian furniture is often so expensive. I tell them to consider the artefact in question. For instance, a fine piece of intricately carved bone-inlay dresser requires not only skill, but time and patience. Most of the furniture is hand crafted; a single side alone could take days or weeks to complete. Another reason is that, lately, fewer people are involved in the art of precision crafting, thus making it more sought after. If you ask me, I’ll always say, it is worth it.
Buying Indian furniture in the UK
However, you don’t have to travel all the way to India to get the finest pieces of Indian furniture. You can buy anything for large Turquoise Mother of Pearl Dressers to hardwood coffee tables in Brighton. Even bone-inlay cupboards are available. What’s more, delivery is no longer a problem as you can have them at your doorstep in a few days. A touch of far east beauty can make all the difference to your interiors.
