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Captivating craft
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From coasters to quilts, every artefact at Contemporary Arts and Crafts has an impressive character
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A CLASS APART These great designs don't burn a hole in your pocket
If you are looking for that exclusive piece or unique design that reflects great taste but doesn't burn a hole in your pocket, this art shop is a great stopover. The recently opened Contemporary Arts and Crafts promises an exclusive but affordable package. The pieces here are simple and stunning, made with incredible skill and dexterity.
Wide range
You can pick up just about anything from curios for your living room to tableware and accessories for your dining space to quilts and linen for your bedroom. . There is also a range of light accessories such as magazine racks, wine racks and small tea tables to perfectly complement the setting. Anjana Thomas, Proprietor, Contemporary Arts and Crafts points out: "We change the theme every three months to infuse variety and reflect the season or the festive mood that prevails during that time." The theme now is black-and-white to suit the cold winter season.
The products echo this theme, with a lot of accent on black and white. While there are some truly unique products, the innovative spirit also extends to everyday products such as tea coasters, trays, penholders and tissue holders, which carry distinctive character in design and work. So a very ordinary tea tray is transformed into a stunning piece by Warli work. An unassuming MDF-based tissue holder is made with intrepid carvings and colours.
Other products vying for your attention are bowls and trays made from buffalo bone and horn. Anjana is quick to allay fears about any cruelty to animals. Hand-painted ceramic bowls, copper and brass enamelled pieces in captivating designs, exclusive brass collection reflecting the "hammered look" are others that capture the eye.
The outlet also stocks charger plates in both brass and silver finish. Says Anjana: "These charger plates accentuate the table placements adding a rich look to the setting."
Anjana's tableware is more contemporary with shapes not confining to traditional. "The contemporary look makes it interesting and the customer is encouraged to mix and match the pieces." She says most of the pieces, artefacts or other articles, are evolved as a result of experimentation with designs.
Some of the pieces are also laboured ones as in the Kashmiri dhurrie on display. "This work is referred to as `Kashmiri cruel work' as every piece is hand-woven and laboured over for a considerable number of days. Typically, it takes 15 days to make one dhurrie."
The range on display is confined not just to artefacts and soft furnishing but also extends to play. You can pick a unique checkerboard made of fabric and sequence work or some attractive wooden tops typifying a bygone era.
Not to be left out are some very attractive glassware that range from flowers and napkin holders to bookmarks, paper clips or even tempting candies. Snuggling amidst all these is a rock salt lamp. "It looks stunning when switched on at night, but involves high maintenance as it has to be kept on 24 hours to prevent melting," says Anjana.
Innovative pieces such as dry leaves pasted into recycled paper to make trays, bowls, tea coasters and the like add to the collection, imparting originality to the creations. Complementing these is a lone wooden bench retaining its coarse log structure to lend the aura of woods.
Contemporary Arts and Crafts is located on Victoria Road and can be contacted on 51225511.
NANDHINI SUNDAR
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