Sit Back and Explore India's Epic History Through Stunning Chairs

In Mumbai, an exhibition called 'A History of India through Chairs' recently took place, showcasing over 200 unique chairs from different parts of India. The event was organized by House of Mahendra Doshi, a restoration company, and curated by Anand Gandhi and Chiki Doshi. These two spent decades collecting chairs from estate sales, old furniture shops, and private collections. The chairs were displayed in order, showing how seating styles in India changed from ancient times to today. The exhibition also highlighted how global art movements and colonial invasions influenced Indian furniture design.

When European powers like the Dutch, Portuguese, French, and British came to India between the 16th and 19th centuries, they brought their own furniture styles. They also hired Indian craftsmen to make chairs that looked like the ones they were used to back home. This led to a mix of British, European, and Indian designs. Many of these chairs ended up in Indian homes, and over time, some were forgotten or damaged. Anand and his father, with the help of skilled artisans, restored these chairs, sometimes spending months on a single piece. For example, a chair covered in ceramic beads from Gujarat took eight months to restore.

The exhibition featured many interesting chairs, such as a rare lounge chair designed by Le Corbusier, who was invited to India in the 1950s. There were also 19th-century Anglo-Portuguese chairs from Goa, which showed the influence of Portuguese rule. The collection included a 17th-century Carolean-style chair with gold thread embroidery, a regal Anglo-Indian throne chair with Zardozi work, and a durbar hall chair from Gujarat with ivory inlay and a plaque naming the carpenter. Other highlights were an 18th-century Indo-Portuguese bishop's chair, a Dutch burgomaster chair with a cane seat and curved backrest, and an art deco chair with hidden compartments. The exhibition also celebrated India's tradition of using high-quality hardwoods and intricate handcrafting, showing how chairs can tell the story of India's rich and diverse history.