The hunt stops here

IF ONLY beautiful clocks, chandeliers and porcelain plates could speak, or sepia figures waltz out of curling daguerreotypes to the tune of 78 RPM records, "Jamals Corner Shop", Chennai's oldest antique store, would be filled with the magic, music and rhythms of a thousand forgotten years. As it is, the delicious smells and sounds of history hang heavily in the air at Jamal's, with its priceless array of Victorian, Edwardian and art deco hanging lamps and candle globes, exquisite Ostler, Belgian and Bohemian chandelier, old Venetian glass and a stunning collection of old clocks with pendulums ranging from miniscule eyelash to medium sized banana tree!

Stacked carefully in corners, dusty and festooned with cobwebs, the antiques hang in glorious profusion from the ceiling or just stand stiffly in neat military lines.

Hanging crookedly on the wall is the cuckoo clock of your dreams topped by a brass stag head! Or the priceless dust smothered art deco Judge's lamp one would definitely kill for....

"We specialise in Edwardian and art deco lamps," says proprietor Bubli Jamal," and as also in clocks of every vintage and description, old porcelain and colonial - Raj furniture. Our forte is restoring old period furniture and clock repairs". What began as his collector-father's hobby has metamorphosed over time into the city's landmark antique shop and Bubli Jamal's passion. As he puts it: "Feeling dusty old pieces, learning their history, bringing something dead back to life - I just love this business".

Among his dazzling collection of hanging lamps, table and wall lamps are tiny, magical candle globes in red, blue and green glass, big sized etched, enamelled, cut and crystal globes, art deco chandeliers, some dating back to early 19th Century, and early 20th Century apart from the classic Belgian and Ostler chandeliers.

Also on display is a mindboggling variety of antique clocks ranging from grandfather clocks to tiny pocket watches. And a priceless James McBabe clock as well...

Walking, ducking or literally squinting through the shop can pay rich, rare dividends. An early 19th Century lamp with a lovely wide reflector shade could stand cheek by jowl with a gem of the British Raj what not.

Antique brass knockers, bits and pieces of chandelier 'spare parts' or a set of very rare Chinese hot water plates could be precious finds amidst dancing dust motes. Or one might chance upon a beautifully crafted ship instrument lying in a heap of old brass bric-a-brac...

Chennai, they say, is changing, but thankfully, some of it just won't go away. The original legendary 'Jamals' Corner Shop at Parry's corner which quaintly fronted both sides of a street corner - hence the name - and enticed antique lovers through its enormous glass doors continues to cast its spell at No. 2 Langs Garden Road, Pudupet.

And here people still come to treasure hunt for the old, the priceless and the timeless.

PUSHPA CHARI

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Section  : Features
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