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Photos: M. Periasamy

Wonders in wood All for your home

“It is made of jackfruit wood, the intricate handle is teak, and is probably from Kerala,” says K. Shanmugasundaram.

And, then he shows you plenty of other stuff. Centre tables, mirror frames, pillars, low-level two-seaters, divans, swings, sofa sets, cradles, cots, dressing tables, chest of drawers, cupboards, key holders, stands and book shelves – all in wood (rose, teak, neem, vengai etc.). Some of them come in intricate patterns, while a few others are just wonderfully plain.

Now, the interesting part. Most of these are creates with pieces of old furniture or door panels. For instance, the frame of an ‘easy’ chair transforms into frames for two huge mirrors; old ornate door panels form the border for divans and cots, palagais become slabs for book shelves, and small pieces of no great value transform into stands on which you can mount tiny showpieces.

This is what Shanmugasundaram does. He is an antique dealer – of a different kind. From dealers in Coimbatore, Pollachi, Karaikudi and Dindigul, he picks up anything that catches his fancy. The wood is inspected for damage, and the bad portion discarded.

The rest is treated chemically to remove dirt, and finally put together with wooden slabs. Sealing and polishing follow, and voila! They are ready to adorn your home.

When an old art gallery in Coimbatore closed down, he bought plenty of paintings, terracotta showpieces and other knick-knacks from there. However, these are not for sale. He gifts them to customers, who ‘appreciate art’.

His impressive clientele includes violinist L. Subramaniam and lyricist Vairamuthu. The dealer not just sells you his products, he visits your home and ensures it is aesthetically placed.

Shanmugasundaram’s is an interesting story. He took up hardware business. It sunk. He went in for textiles. That let him down too. But, for his own good. During one of his business trips to Bangalore, he chanced upon an antique shop, and discovered a passion that was to change his life forever.

A skeleton of an old chest of drawer sits carelessly in a corner. Little does it know it will soon get a new lease of life! Who knows, it could even decorate your living room. To refurbish your nest, call Shanmugasundaram at 98422-47496.

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