History carved on wood

By grafting `Batali,' Bengal's ancient wood carving and chiselling craft on to the rather heavy furniture forms of 18th Century Europe, the British Raj furniture makers staged a coup of sorts. They began to craft furniture out of mahogany &151; again an 18th Century discovery &151; introducing intricate and delicate carvings on the European chaise lounges and sofa sets, Victorian pieces and Edwardian roll top desks, grotesques and gossip seats, cots, dining tables as well as a host of display cabinets, peg tables corner tables and so on.

The Bengal style British furniture, which in the 18th and 19th centuries flooded the homes of both nouveau riche English `nawabs' and Bengali aristocracy, was distinctive in style and appearance not only because of the exquisite Batali carvings but also for the elaborate work, for instance, on the claw and ball feet, the spell spat chair, etc.

All these were possible because of the versatile nature of mahogany, which Thomas Chippendale used to his advantage in designing furniture by blending the French, Chinese and Gothic styles.

Baseera Ahmad of Kolkata brings to Chennai exquisite reproductions of the European period furniture ranging from French regency to Victorian, Edwardian, Chippendale and Chinese styles, as part of her `Antiquity' collection.

Handcrafted by Batali craftspersons with a sharp eye for quality, the collection includes quatre saisson armchairs, pedestals, corner stands, display cabinets, elegant consoles, occasional tables and so on.

Recreating the magic of the past and exposing West Bengal's traditional wood carving skills to the rest of the country, led interior designer Baseera Ahmad into reproducing antique furniture 15 years ago. The latest inclusion in her collection are Philadelphia Chippendable, English French Hepplewhite, gilt consoles, Louis XV tables and the very English Georgian gilt wood chaise lounge.

For Baseera, authenticity reflects in the choice of upholstery, grain of wood, polish etc.

Although representative of a flamboyant period, with some furniture items huge and heavy, Baseera manages to bring an air of delicacy and harmony to her creations. This has as much to do with the `Batali' craftsmen's skill as Ahmad's handling of styles and scale, which makes even a bulky `Gondola' sofa set look elegant.

The Kolkata designer has experimented with marble tops and stained glass to give occasional tables an eclectic look. Her work has led to the revival of several beautiful and forgotten period pieces, such as the Victorian gossip bench, salon sets and Indian peacock chairs.

The `Antiquity Collection' can be seen at Vimonisha Art Gallery, Khader Nawaz Khan Road, off Nungambakkam High Road, till October 5.

PUSHPA CHARI

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