It is like a virtual collector’s warehouse: artefacts from Thailand, rosewood furniture from Pakistan, a 75-year-old, Chinese silk wall hanging, antique Persian carpets, a 100-year-old Royal Dalton eight-piece dinner set, Romanian icons in gold, Swarovski chandeliers, a gold clock from the Black Forest, glass from Europe... The list is endless, giving the visitor a glimpse of practically every nook and corner of the world.
Before you think that I am talking about a warehouse or a showroom of interior accessories, hold it! This is the NOIDA-based home of noted fashion designer, Madhu Jain.
A glimpse of the magnificence within can be witnessed at the entrance — the front door has heavily carved figures of Ganesha and Krishna engraved on it. Steps lead into the lobby which has been done up in a traditional Indian manner. There is an antique jhoola from Saharanpur, two chairs and an old table with a marble top. Two elephants in silver and a big Ganesha in green marble flank the stairs. While to one side are artefacts on a wooden corner, on the other is a Tanjore which graces the wall. A huge metal bird below completes the picture.
To the left of the lobby is the formal living room connecting to a dining area. The living room is a collector’s paradise — it showcases items collected by the Jain’s on their various trips abroad as well as those that have been handed over by the designer’s father, who was a great antique collector in his time. There are two major seating areas in the room — the first has a long sofa in brown, two chairs and two pouffe’s in the same colour, a glass centre table and two side tables. Also in the picture is a Chinese cupboard in black with mother-of-pearl inlay work. Gracing the cupboard is a Ganesha and elephant tusk replicas.
{{/usCountry}}To the left of the lobby is the formal living room connecting to a dining area. The living room is a collector’s paradise — it showcases items collected by the Jain’s on their various trips abroad as well as those that have been handed over by the designer’s father, who was a great antique collector in his time. There are two major seating areas in the room — the first has a long sofa in brown, two chairs and two pouffe’s in the same colour, a glass centre table and two side tables. Also in the picture is a Chinese cupboard in black with mother-of-pearl inlay work. Gracing the cupboard is a Ganesha and elephant tusk replicas.
{{/usCountry}}An alcove behind the brown sofa displays a wooden reclining Buddha and two standing ones, all sporting gold lacquer and studded with coloured mirrors. A clock from the Black Forest, Germany and framed figures of birds and flowers from China complete the picture. The second seating area includes two three-seaters upholstered in a beige print with mother-of-pearl inlay work on their black frames. While the glass top of the centre table rests on two mermaids, a cabinet full of porcelain and crystal forms a backdrop for the seating area. To one side are two chairs against a dark, mother-of-pearl inlaid, wooden backdrop by Aimee Bajaj.
A carved arch — whose walls are covered in mother-of-pearl motifs — leads into the dining room. The area includes a 10-seater table with a glass top, a cabinet full of porcelain, two big vases in jade, two Chinese pedestals with a pot and a bird placed atop them respectively.
White marble stairs and a railing in the same stone lead up to the first floor that houses the living quarters of the Jains. The landing has a chic six-seater breakfast table and Egyptian paintings lending an artistic aura to the whole area. A door opens into a small lobby that overlooks the ground floor. The seating in the lobby includes a one-seater and a two-seater in black leather, a rosewood chair from Pakistan and a wood and glass centre table. The other items in the lobby include Tanjore paintings, a working table displaying lots of artefacts, a south Indian wall bracket, an old Chinese silk wall hanging and an antique carpet which graces the wall above the table.
The Jain’s bedroom includes a Pakistani armchair, Romanian icons in gold, a cabinet with RajasthaniSSS figures, a Vietnamese artefact and a framed autograph of Clinton. A Swarovski chandelier and a Persian carpet complete the picture.
An amalgamation of cultures!