Desk Hunting at Oshiwara Antiques Market

It has been ages since I have had to go in search of a new piece of furniture!

But as I've been spending so long at my desk (Nobel Peace Prize work, that type of thing), I decided that I could no longer make do with the tiny, laminate-encrusted-crime-against-style that sits in our study (otherwise known as 'that bloody awful desk').  Not that I usually really need much of an excuse to go antiques shopping - but this was a genuine need on my part.

I had already been all over the place looking for something suitable, at a reasonable price.  I've kind of wised up to prices (and the 'white man's tax') and will walk out of a place if I think I'm being ripped off. I've been to Moorthy's - where I was offered a huge desk for over 1 lakh (about £1,200/$1,800); I've been to Camelot - which always seems to be so low on stock these days (gosh, hopefully not due to my blog on that shop!); and I've searched all the way along Mutton Street in Chor Bazaar.  I didn't find a good supply of writing tables in Chor Bazaar and what was available, was generally pretty crusty.

The antiques street at Oshiwara - if you're looking for Mr Khan...you're in trouble!

As a last ditch attempt (although I was never going to stop trying!), I took myself off to Oshiwara Antiques Market in Jogeshwari yesterday to see if I could do better.  I have been to Oshiwara a few times before (although I have not specifically blogged about it) and have usually found the shop keepers to be grumpy and unresponsive to bartering. But this time I got lucky.  At only the second stall I entered, I found exactly what I was looking for!  Out of a selection of around six desks on offer, I decided upon an Art Deco 5 x 3 ft solid teak partner desk (mirrored on both sides) with drawers and a cupboard. And the vendor offered me such a good price to begin with that I did not need to haggle (well I tried, but I didn't get very far).  

So I am pleased to report that I am now typing from the top of said new desk, it having been delivered absolutely on the dot of 5pm today (as promised by the shopkeeper), and all nicely polished up for me.  I would therefore like to highly recommend Abdul Kadir Khan (further details at the bottom).  At today's rather good exchange rate (i.e. in favour of the UK), my desk came in at £165/$260 (16,000 Rs).  Most quotes I have received before have been at the 25,000 Rs mark upwards.  Woohoo!

All I need to do now, is to find some nice Art Deco accessories to go on my lovely new piece of furniture...perhaps one of those 1930s model aeroplanes and a sophisticated chrome lamp? And surely, I need one of those padded leather antique swivel chairs and a globe drinks cabinet? (shhh, don't tell Mr Jules!).

Some pictures from my outing for all you antique lovers:

I was quite tempted by this writing table to begin with as it has beautiful turned legs in rosewood.  But I knew it might be deemed a bit too 'feminine' by Mr Jules.  After all, I might let him use the desk some day.
(Taj Furniture, Shop No 10, Opposite Oshiwara Petrol Pump)

Lots of miscellaneous bits and bobs to be had at Oshiwara.

The place where I bought my desk (actually in the bottom left hand corner of this picture.  The one pictured here is not a partner desk so is slightly cheaper at 14,000 Rs.  The one to the upper left is smaller and he quoted only 10,000 Rs

All this antiques shopping is exhausting!

Muslim shopkeepers lined up waiting for business

Surely the oldest furniture seller in the land?

Lots of wooden plaques, jali work and friezes 

At the backs of lots of the shops, you will find workers restoring and repairing furniture

You could trawl through this lot for days.  Great treasure hunting to be had!

I saw plenty of housewives antique hunting at Oshiwara

You will always find some slightly bizarre objets outside in the street

He wanted his photo taken...so I obliged.

My (sorry, 'our') rather chunky, colonial desk as it looked just after its prompt delivery...
...watch this space to see my study all tarted up at a later date!

Desk bought from:

Abdul Kadir Khan
Haji Abdul Sattar & Sons
Ramjanak Singh Compound
SV Road
Oshiwara
Jogeshwari.

I have just noticed that Abdul Kadir Khan has not put a shop number on his card or receipt - and as virtually all the dealers are called Khan - you might have a problem finding him.  So try his phone number : 9820201578 (his English isn't very good either!)


Read here for my (almost) complete guide to antique furniture shopping Mumbai.

Return to Chor Bazaar

Following the little excursion to the Moorthy's antique emporium, MaximumCityMadam and I headed over to Chor Bazaar.  Since mentioning it in a post all the way back in June 2012 (read here), I have been back to Mutton Street quite a few times, picking up the odd small piece of furniture or knick-knack.  I just love it down there, browsing through the priceless antiques junk and going up and down the dusty narrow shops - occasionally trying to strike a deal with a Muslim shopkeeper.  Usually unsuccessfully!

Yesterday, I saw a few bits I would like - such as a colonial style desk (on which to pose my new Apple wonder-machine and do all my surfing the net humanitarian work from), and a very nice solid teak bookcase. These things will require further coercion of discussion with Mr Jules of course.  First of all I have to get my own way negotiate for that coffee table....

So the only thing I bought was a reconditioned Art Deco fan  - for a mere 2,200 Rs! (GBP 26).  It's so cool (and cooling) that even our cleaner remarked on it this morning.

Our new, reconditioned chrome Art Deco fan with GEC detailing for 2,200 Rs (GBP 26)!
- Definitely would not advise small children to go near this - health and safety not a priority! -
Purchased at JK Arts, 146 Mutton Street (virtually the very last shop on the second half of Mutton Street). I have been quoted 8,000 Rs for exactly the same fan at other dealers - so it pays to shop around!

Apart from that it was just nice to wander in the relatively ambient heat of Mutton Street whilst MCM tried to track down a standing lamp she'd seen in a picture, and a few drawer handles.  Successful on both fronts, a relatively small amount of money was exchanged for a solid brass floor lamp and we managed to knock down a shopkeeper to half of his ridiculous starting price for a very nice set of brass and glass drawer handles - actually by waiting for the shopkeeper to go out for lunch and negotiating with a shop assistant whilst his back was turned.  What goes around comes around!

Beautiful, colourful glass lanterns line the ceiling at Taherally's, 28 Mutton Street

Rosewood cabinet topped with vintage glass jars at Taherally's , 28 Mutton Street

Loving your blue window frame/curtain combo lady!

You will find lots of carved wooden animals including this Chinese Dragon mask.

Loads of craftsmen at work on Mutton Street - they tart up your finds after you have agreed a price.

A rummager's paradise

Love these colourful lanterns hanging outside one of the shops

Need a trumpet or a French horn?  Well this is the place to come!

There is one stall selling vintage trims

Plenty of eye-catching Bollywood posters to be found in Chor Bazaar

This is the shop where I bought mine...(good provenance)

Thanks for visiting....please stay tuned for my guide to shopping for colonial antiques in Mumbai later on in the month.

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Another Colonial Antique Shop Find - Moorthy's

Needing a break from writing the various things we spend all day writing, MaximumCityMadam and I took ourselves off on an antique hunt today.  Anyone who is a regular reader will know that  I have a particular passion for colonial antiques - and I have steadily been trying to fill up our rather bland apartment with as many 'finds' as possible.

MCM, who shares my interest, had recently told me about a place in Tardeo which I'd never heard of - Moorthy's. So that's where we went off to today.  I thought I knew everything about shopping in this city but clearly I still have a lot to learn about the secret antique hidey-holes of Mumbai.

After walking up a typically unkempt, narrow street off the main road (Tardeo Road) - we entered through the corrugated door of Moorthy's warehouse. I immediately found the place rather awe inspiring although slightly oppressive - with its tiny aisles and carefully stacked furniture looming over you from above.  It is literally packed to the rafters with the most amazing finds but you feel that everything could come crashing down on your head at any moment.

The pieces are all excellent quality and carefully sourced, even though some of the furniture and artefacts are in an unrestored state. But judging from the men sat all around cross-legged on the floor - polishing, buffing and adjusting - the restoration needs of Moorthy's clients are all taken care of on site.

It's not cheap - you're not going to get Chor Bazaar prices here and neither should you bearing in mind the provenance of some of the items.  Mr Moorthy quoted us 'non-negotiable' prices.  35,000 Rs (GBP 410) for a Shiva print (albeit a top quality one).  125,000 Rs (GBP 1,450) for a leather trunk from China!  Over 100,000 (GBP 1,175) for a rosewood mirror inlaid with mother of pearl! But the prices are probably still a lot more competitive than back home (do I need to be reminded of just how expensive everything 'back home' is?).  Anyway, a lot of the stuff was out of my league to be honest.  Especially as I do just love a bargain.

Nevertheless, I have got my eye on beautiful old, carved cradle which they will convert into a coffee table for me (it's been nine months and I still haven't got rid of the black laminate crime against interior design that sits in our apartment)....but I need to convince Mr Jules that he really wants it too (surely this historic piece - of such fine and intricate workmanship - is the one thing missing from his life?!). Hmmmm watch this space!

MCM and I went to Chor Bazaar after our trip to Moorthy's.  It's been a while since I blogged about Chor Bazaar so that's coming up next.

Here are the hastily snatched photos...see anything you like?

When I mean 'stuffed to the rafters', I mean 'stuffed to the rafters'!

Hundreds of these wooden chests stacked everywhere.

You need to look up high, or you might miss something.

Anyone for a spiral staircase?

PS When I have persuaded Mr Jules to purchase the coffee table - I will put a picture of it up here - I don't want anyone nicking it!

Moorthy's
5/1, Suryodaya Mills Compound,
136, Tardeo Road,
Mumbai - 400 036.

www.moorthys.com

Camelot - Colonial Antique Furniture

I am actually loathe to give details of this fabulous retail find....but it would be selfish not to.

I have spent weeks hunting high and low for a teak coffee table. Sick of the black laminate and glass atrocity provided by our landlord, I have looked everywhere. I've been to Oshiwara antiques market in Jogeshwari and I've been to Chor Bazaar in search of a bargain. We have been to Phillips Antiques, The Raj Company, and I have also tried Anemone in Raghuvanshi Mills, Colonial Collections in Fort and The Great Eastern Home (a veritable behemoth of antique furniture).  The latter are all the well known places to find antiques and reproduction colonial furniture in Mumbai but all, in my mind, charge ridiculously high prices.  So alas, we have had no luck finding exactly what we wanted.  Then I thought about doing what most Mumbaikars probably do in this situation - have something made. Carpentry is so cheap and lots of people get bespoke stuff done all the time.  However I was lacking a good recommendation and I knew that trying to communicate exactly what I wanted (and to my exacting standards!) to an Indian tradesman would end up being a farce.  So I gave up on that idea too.

Following a notice in my favourite online magazine Mumbai Boss that "Camelot is hosting a sale with up to 30 per cent off on colonial and Art Deco furniture in teak, rosewood and mahogany", I thought that my shallow life was about to be changed .  I literally started salivating at the mouth. What is this shop Camelot? Would I find that elusive coffee table?  Would it be a bargain? Oh how delighted Mr Jules would be!

Unable to go on the first day of the sale (due to my very important humanitarian work/day job), we popped down the following Saturday morning to the Camelot shop in Kemps Corner.  127 Kemps corner (to be exact) is a colonial house down a longish drive off the heaving main road.  Immediately I was taken - colonial antiques in a colonial setting!  (Amy, I hope you are reading this, you would have been beside yourself!).

The beautiful entrance to Camelot

Getting there a day after the sale had begun was a BIG mistake.  Virtually everything was sold out!  Even my dream coffee table (if there is such a thing as a dream coffee table) had been sold and I was devastated!  Oh well I thought to myself.... it just meant that I would have to look around and pick something else out to 'tide me over'.



Perhaps not to your taste, but this was the coffee table I coveted

The Camelot showroom consists of two large rooms and a terrace area displaying conservatory furniture.  There is a good range of high quality art-deco and colonial chair sets, campaign chests, dining sets, sofas, side tables, wardrobes, chests, desks, mirrors and art.  And much more.  It all looks hand-picked - I couldn't see anything poor quality and I don't think much was reproduction (which is the problem when you go antiques hunting in Chor Bazaar or Oshiwara).  Even better, the owners do not seek to rip you off like most other antique places.  The prices were very reasonable and even more reasonable during the sale. 



Indo-Portuguese rosewood dining set.  I would have bought this had it not been 'sold'

I told the lady that I was very upset that the coffee table had been sold but she told me not to worry as she would let me know as soon as a similar one came in.  Watch this space!!

In the meantime, and because I can't resist a sale, Mr Jules bought a teak art deco side table to go next to the sofa and for himself, a lovely teak medicine chest.  Well he thinks it's for him, but it so happens that it perfectly houses my lovely new collection of Chimanlal stationery....

UPDATE 15.03.13
Please see my latest blog on Moorthy's - a paradise for colonial antique furniture.  Find the blog here.

New teak medicine chest on top of new art deco side table.  The teak chest was 3,000 rupees in the sale (£35/$52)

Perfect for my new collection of beautiful Chimanlals stationery!

Side table.  Lamp from Pure Living, Phoenix Market City (Bandra Kurla).
"Bombay Art Deco" book by Navin Ramani from Crossword, Kemps Corner

More images of Camelot (with thanks to the Manager):



Art deco rocking chairs, chests and side tables in a terrace setting

The obligatory Ganesh

Colonial sofa set on the balcony

A good selection of affordable, art deco colonial furniture.  Stuff I love!

Camelot
Colonial & Antique Furniture
127 Kemps Corner
Next to Om Chambers
Mumbai
Tel: 91 (22) 2364 4594
Email Camelot127@gmail.com

Chimanlals
(Beautiful hand crafted stationery)

www.chimanlals.com

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Wallace Street,
Fort, Mumbai 400 001.
Close to New Excelsior Cinema

Update 31/03/13 - Please read my (almost) complete guide to buying colonial antique furniture in Mumbai here: http://bombayjules.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/where-to-buy-colonial-antique-furniture.html 

Update 05/04/2014 - Please read my post about returning to Camelot for its April 2014 sale.