Collector in transit

“When I started out I just wanted to answer one question that I came across the most,” informs Ebraheem Jetha, the affable owner of Manav’s Marvel at Walkeshwar.

“Finding everything that art aficionados would want under one roof.” Two years later, he finds himself having travelled quite the distance, having established a clientele that includes the likes of Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, the Essar family and several politicians too.

As the road winds itself up on Walkeshwar towards Teen Batti, the store comes up on the right just as you pass the special gates leading to the Raj Bhavan. The gallery is a compilation of Ebraheem’s passion for travel and keeping an eye on the finer things in life, one learns. “I find travelling is an almost compelling feeling,” he laughs. “Every now and then I like to take off to Italy and the Far East. You can learn so much from the places there. I guess you can say that I’m a collector in transit.”

 In one corner of the store, a wall space is dedicated to the multi-hued Murano glass works by artists Simone Cenedese and Studio Rosin, something that he fell in love with on his trip to Murano. Marble sculptures from Carrara by artists like Crosianini, Aino Felici and Studio Gaoltieri along with Oriental porcelain vases, animals, abstracts, antique clocks and marble and granite fountains find a place here too.

Art, he maintains, had to be included in his purview. “The time is ripe for new as well as well-established Indian artists,” he insists. So, among the 1,000 plus canvases here, you’ll find works by Ajay De, Samir Mondal, Charan Sharma, Naren Panchal and Gopal Adivrekar.

What’s more, each of the paintings carries a certificate of authenticity from the painter in keeping with the store’s philosophy of trust and faith in all dealings. “It has taken me time to build precious relations, I am very particular about maintaining that reputation,” states Ebraheem. 

There are albums containing pictures of a wide variety of cast iron garden furniture and you can place an order if you want something designed and it will be done as per your taste. Ebraheem is also associated with NGOs, where he gives them his paintings to be auctioned for charity. Looks like the cliché ‘art with a heart’ might have another candidate.

t_ismat@dnaindia.com