From here to antiquity

History finds itself at home in 201, Giriraj. So does the occasional peafowl.

This 12,000 sq. ft. basement-turned-showroom in Mumbai's tony Walkeshwar reverberates with the distinct mating calls of peacocks dropping in from nearby Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the Maharashtra Governor. If not for the sight welcoming you when you enter the premises, you'd be forgiven for thinking the place is an aviary.

This is the House of Mahendra Doshi (HoMD), the label synonymous with antique restoration in India. Established by the late Mahendra Doshi in 1974, HoMD is now spearheaded by his cousin Anand Gandhi and nephews Anand 'Chiki' Doshi and Asim Doshi. From Dutch Ceylon-style cupboards to intricately-carved chests from the havelis of Gujarat, the trio has recovered thousands of damaged and neglected antique pieces. To them, these objects are more than collectors' items or status symbols. They are stories begging to be told.

"I don't even call this a business. We've always treated it as a hobby," says Chiki Doshi. The Regency-style jackwood office table we're seated at, he informs me, is from Goa – a treasure trove of Portuguese colonial furniture. There's space for everything here. The patio, for instance, has lush greenery, tribal statuettes and objets d'art in equal measure.

The main showroom is a cornucopia of delights. Asim Doshi's personal favourite, a blue display cabinet, is just one of the standouts here. So is Anand Gandhi's pick, a majestic satin wood cupboard with ebony wood inlay. Art Deco dressers, cigarette cases, South Indian figurines, and adjoining rooms with paraphernalia like Ming porcelain, vintage doll houses and a turn of the century homeopathic doctor's kit leave one flabbergasted. But it's the sculpture of the Roman God Neptune that sets the ball rolling on the story of Mahendra Doshi.

"There was a bungalow being demolished in Breach Candy. My uncle, who was in the construction business then, saw things like Baccarat chandeliers being given to bhangarwalas (scrap dealers). As someone who grew up in a house with antique furniture, he knew he had to intervene right then," Chiki says. The Neptune sculpture, he continues, was salvaged from that bungalow.

Mahendra Doshi also had a role to play in the burgeoning of the furniture and antique markets in Chor Bazaar, Asim tells me. His uncle would approach dealers and ask them to 'go out into the country' or find others who could recover period pieces for him. Today, HoMD's network of antique dealers spans from West Bengal to Gujarat and Goa to Kerala.

"Good wood is not the only criterion when buying antique furniture. You need to see the craftsmanship and potential of the piece," says Chiki. A discerning eye is a must, but so is the foresight to know what will work in the future. "People were disposing their Art Deco and Chippendale furniture as far back as the '70s, but Mahendrabhai knew both would be back with a bang at some point. And sure enough, they are," he smiles.

HoMD's two warehouses – one in Walkeshwar and another in Wadala – are chock-full of dilapidated antiques. And the men giving them a new lease of life are the 80-odd employees who've been around for 25-30 years. All of them have been trained by a certain Karsanbhai, a carpenter, who "was the only one who'd curse Mahendrabhai and get away with it", laughs Anand Gandhi. Two separate sections for carpentry, upholstery and polishing make up the warehouse.

Resourcefulness is the go-to word here. Ebony and satin wood, Anand says, is extinct in India. So how do they restore period furniture that utilised these woods? "We have a bank of old South Indian mortar and pestles made from ebony. That's where we source the wood from for inlays and other replacements," he chuckles.

Restoring antiques, as one would imagine, is painstaking. Time taken depends on factors like extent of damage and size of the piece, but Asim says it takes roughly 4-5 weeks to restore a cabinet. Anand chips in and bemoans that many restorationists take shortcuts. Like hiding substandard work with dark polish and using whatever screws and hinges they can find instead of prioritising quality over all else. "They aren't emotionally invested in antiques. Many people want to save money and don't take such things into account, so it doesn't bother them," he says.
Although passionate about antiques, the trio isn't averse to other furniture styles. Chiki and Asim love all things Bauhaus. Anand thinks Ikea marries both aesthetics and functionality well, but he doesn't care much for stainless steel furniture. "There's no warmth. It's too clinical," he feels.

HoMD's exhibitions, held once every two years, are the talk of the town – so much so that people ask them for private previews before the expo kicks off. Their reputation is why Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya sometimes seeks their inputs on artefact restoration. The trio has just registered a website for HoMD, but online retail, Anand says, is out of the question. "We want people to come here and experience everything for themselves," he says. Their next exhibition is slated for January 2015.

Murari, a carpenter who's worked with them for 20 years, shows me around the workshop before ending the tour at the patio. In the corner is a massive seven-foot urn and an ancient handcart. "They don't make them like this anymore," he says, knocking on the solid wood base of the cart.

And as if on cue, a peahen nearby shrieks approval.

HoMD's exhibitions over the years

2007:
'Boxes of Riches': Featuring antique chests, boxes and trunks

2010:
'Tribute': An exhibition of Mahendra Doshi's handpicked and personal favourite antique items

2011:
'Back to Goa': A showcase of colonial Portuguese furniture

2013:
'Art Deco': Period pieces featuring the highly popular design style characterised by modernist and bold geometry

2015:
'Post Art Deco and Retro': The tentative theme for HoMD's upcoming exhibition