At Zaveri Antiques, the past is not only preserved, but also in constant conversation with the present. Their collection has been carefully curated by three generations of the Jhaveri family, which led to it becoming one of the most respected antique stores in Gujarat. The first generation of the Jhaveri family started the store with a discerning eye for items that were full of charm, culture, and character. The second generation of the Jhaveri family recognised the impact of the art deco movement in India, and expanded their collection to include art deco items and architectural elements along with their existing series of rare Indian Antiques. One of the core tenants of the store is to restore pieces with integrity, so that the essence and markers of the time period they come from is not tarnished. The third generation of the Jhaveri family has successfully brought the store into the digital age, while still upholding the store’s ethos of bringing the past to the present. Their physical store in Surat is a wunderkammer of Indian antiques and collectibles sprawled across three storeys. The store also has an exclusive showroom that showcases the store and the Jhaveri family’s journey with art and history. As Prem Jhaveri—current custodian of the store— puts it, “The showroom is a living archive of pieces that have captured our hearts.”
Mahendra Doshi
The story of Mahendra Doshi began in 1937 in Rajkot, Gujarat. Born in his grandfather’s colonial bungalow amidst exquisite 19th century antiques and objets d’art, this was Mahendra Doshi’s subliminal orientation. In the 1960s, the family migrated to Bombay and a young Mahendra reluctantly joined his father’s construction business as an apprentice. On a site once, he saw a beautiful French-style Lady Petit bungalow in Breach Candy being demolished. He rushed in and was devastated to see beautiful Baccarat chandeliers, a large billiard table with ivory balls, and a mini theatre with fabulous Chinese embroidery work curtains being ripped apart and sold to junk dealers.
One thing led to another and soon he began seeking out old dealers in Chor Bazaar, Bombay’s “thieves market” famous for old scrap, to source rejected furniture for his new flat. He then hired a small team, led by Karsanbhai, a carpenter, who later became his righthand man, to repair and polish the sourced pieces. Once his flat was ready, Mahendra realised, much to his chagrin, that it was way too small to house all his painstakingly restored treasures. He placed a small advertisement in the papers for a sale of antique restored furniture. To his surprise, the crème de la crème flocked to his first sale, and the rest as they say is history. From small projects for friends to opening a warehouse-like attic space in the heart of Bombay, he became perhaps the most important dealer in India in period furniture across colonial, American, Chinese, art deco, midcentury and traditional Indian treasures.
Original text by Gaurav Bhatia, edited for context.
Viya
Courtesy of Viya
Courtesy of Viya
Vikram Goyal is the driving creative force behind Viya. His steadfast commitment to Indian craftsmanship and its preservation and proliferation shines through in the offerings of Viya . The store’s collections and items draw inspiration from the rich narratives of India, whether it be from our myths, fables, or collective imagination. Goyal’s keen interest in collective imagination also manifests into an interest in global culture, which leads perfectly to a tryst with art deco— a style that is global yet native to India. The Deco Dreams collection by Viya cements its place on this list of art deco brands. The series takes a significant amount of inspiration from the sharp lines and materiality of art deco. Some standout pieces from the collection include lamps that feature a terrazzo-like pattern and asymmetrical shapes protruding from the body of the lamp, along with a set of coasters made with brass and semi-precious inserts.
Camelot
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