Something to marvel about

A VISIT to Kipling and Co. Arts is like travelling back in time to an era when precision and grace embodied the quintessence of craftsmanship. Hand-picked antiques, old furniture and curios form a delightful clutter in the bungalow-turned-heritage centre at 50/37 MGR Road, Kalakshetra Colony, Besant Nagar, phone 4465068/69/72.

For about two years now, Kipling has been bringing to Chennai, an eclectic collection of arts and crafts reflective of the famed traditions from all over the country. Having capsuled Indian crafts heritage in brief, informal shows, Kipling has turned to significant crafts outside the country.

In an ongoing exhibition, the heritage centre showcases some furniture and crafts from Indonesia. And indeed, the creations are something to marvel about.

Going by the collection, it is evident that two parallel threads run through the art of furniture making in Indonesia.

On the one hand, the designs are clean and elegant, while on the other, they are highly ornamental. So we have the elaborately carved massive bed with cute cupboards to keep spectacles or jewellery and the marble-topped (single piece) tables and chairs that come in clean, classic lines.

Exquisitely chiselled multi-purpose chest-of-drawers, ethnic dowry chests, side boards, bar cabinets and chairs, mostly in teak, form part of the collection. Mirrors embellished with cut glass or wooden frames are some of the other attractions from Indonesia.

A vibrant expression of the island-nation's crafts heritage came in the form of eye-catching Pandanus (a sturdy variety of grass) bins, boxes, trays and bags. Individual pieces and co-ordinated sets are also available in the Pandanus range.

That's not all... for arts and crafts aficionados, Kipling has its regular repertoire of antiques picked up from all over the country, besides beautiful knick knacks like the quaint coconut scraper which could now double up as an artefact or the conventional pulanguli tray which beckons attention with its simplistic form. Glass, Tanjore, Mysore, veg-dyed Chettinad works, Ravi Varma prints and a sprinkling of Chettinad saris, dupattas etc. mirror some of the country's rich indigenous cultures.

According to S.Gomathi of Kipling, most of the merchandise is sold out in the first few days of the show itself, as she is "sure of the customer's taste and has a fair idea of their interiors." Pointing to a majestic chair, Gomathi says she had a specific client in mind when she picked it up from Indonesia... and, the latter readily purchased it.

Quite naturally, one thought, particularly at a time when the resurgence of pride in ethnic crafts has reached its crescendo!

T. KRITHIKA REDDY

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