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New, but old

Photos: T. Singaravelou

ethnic look Replicas of antique furniture give a feel of the good old days

We all know what antique furniture does to a house. It lends it a character and timelessness that swish modern-day furniture can never do. But, antiques being antiques, are expensive. And, catering to those who want something that looks old but does not cost as much, are replicas.

Be it chairs or tables, Victorian or French, several antique furniture dealers and art galleries in Puducherry offer a wide variety of look-alikes, exact to the finish. Antique furniture is known for its intricate designs, and replicas provide the same, at a lesser price. These are tailor-made according to customer requirements, but maintain the aesthetics of the original.

With a good number of takers, dealers feel that these models are here to stay. “These pieces are similar to the expensive and so people do not mind going in for replicas. These are exactly like the originals but are sold at half the price or lesser. Sometimes, even those who can afford an original ask for a replica because they require a different size,” says Sandeep Jain of Ramana’s Art Gallery.

Local dealers and galleries have always been selling these replicas to people in Chennai, Bengaluru and Mumbai. But, it is only now that the trend is catching up in Puducherry. Mostly, people prefer utility furniture such as beds, chairs and sofas in antique designs, while the demand for decorative pieces is less. “Replicas can be made using teak wood and jack wood. We source the materials from old buildings that are being demolished. Depending on the type of furniture, we take five or more days to create a piece,” adds Sandeep.

Jagat Kandoi, proprietor of Art Antiqua, says that earlier, only foreigners used to ask for replicas. “Now, many people are aware of this type of furniture. Everybody knows that even a good copy is a good investment,” he adds.

People moving into new houses also look for wardrobes, centre tables and sideboards to hold crockery. “We do a lot of innovative work, too, mixing and matching materials,” he says.

In some cases, the replicas end up being more expensive than an original because of the labour involved, he notes.

But, V.M.P. Raja of V.M.P. Kandiya Classics Exports says that it is possible to make a replica at about half the cost of the original. “If an antique table costs Rs. one lakh, the same model can be made for Rs. 50,000 using the same wood. Such replicas are in good demand as they come with the same antique finish.”

The cost of chairs ranges from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 6,000, while beds are priced Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 35,000. Cupboards cost Rs. 30,000.

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