charms of the past

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The small den of Archana Kumari Singh, president of the Frazer and Haws in Greater Kailash, is a true reflection of history.

From the walls of the rooms in colours like dusty rose, burgundy and coffee, to the furniture hand-carved in rosewood and Burma teak, everything is imbued with character.
Among all the rooms in the house, Archana’s favourite is her living room. “The bay windows overlook a big park with tall trees that conceal the high-rises of the colony. There’s plenty of sunlight and the green panorama is extremely soothing to the senses. There’s a sense of quiet and serenity when you look out, a wonderful way to begin the day,” she says.
Terming her house a reflection of her personality, Archana says, “The interiors showcase my traditional sensibilities where innumerable vintage memorabilia, paintings and photographs are all a blast from the past. The living room, dining room and foyer are decorated with silver, distinctively Victorian and Edwardian in style.”
Sharing about her favourite art piece, she says, “My living room has an elephant table that was made at Frazer and Haws. The elephants are in resin and inspired from a stunning bookend. The elephant bookends are in solid cast silver and really quite grand. An old jhoola plank in rose wood rests on the back of the elephants while the brass chains of the jhoola are entwined around the legs of the elephants. It’s truly a masterpiece.”
A hardcore art lover, Archana’s house is full of beautiful paintings. “I enjoy art in any form and material. It need not just be a canvas, it can be an object or a special piece of furniture or jewellery. My recent purchase is a black Krishna, called ‘Ghanshyam’ because of the dark tone. It’s a stunning rendition of form and expression. Apart from this, a large painting of a Kolkata street in the dining room is also my favourite,” she adds.
On things she keeps in mind while decorating her house, Archana says, “My house is filled with nostalgia, vintage memorabilia, photographs of ancestors and family members line the columns of the rooms. Miniature paintings from our ancestral place Badnore adorn our walls. Our house was a sub-school of Mewar school of art with distinctive characteristics. The paintings portray court scenes depicting life in totality back then. They are a great reminder of our rich heritage,” she sums up.