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Enjoy The Phillips Antiques Gallery In India!

A  6 foot tall hardwood lion rests close to cabinets of delicate glass wares; unique lithographs blended with fearsome tribal masks - welcome to the contemporary world of farooq issa; Phillips Antiques a Bombay establishment which is an classic itself. Established in the mumbai's historical district, Colaba, the tall-ceilinged shop has remained quite similar for the past one hundred and fifty yrs.

It's actually a boutique wherein you could very well possibly explore all day. Racks of metallic knick-knacks, art pieces of each and every kind, striking solid wood statues, huge trunks, ornate temple carvings, beads and also baubles, Ancient maps as well as Mughal silver coins help to make for an intriguing jumble. Originally a chemist and also general retailer - founded in eighteen sixty by �Mr Phillips�, a Brit whose 1st name happen to be long forgotten - the property were acquired from Phillips by the current holder Farooq Issa�s great-grandfather - a collector - and developed into an antique boutique. Travelers have included Bill Clinton and Paul Theroux.

Although Phillips could very well look unaltered on the exterior, actually it is changing to the times. Previously known because of its Western sculptures, it now focuses on Indian tribe and also folk arts and crafts. Says the courtly Farook  Issa, �People�s tastes have changed as well as there is a growing interest in Indian folk arts and crafts, both overseas and also locally. Folk sculptures is still very reasonably priced, unlike contemporary works of art. Besides, colonial and additionally Mughal artefacts aren�t which easy to come by any more.� says Farooq Issa.

Among farook issa�s prizes: the acclaimed tribe artist Satya Narayan Lal Karn�s intricate Mithila sculptures pieces of jungle scenes, which range from Rs12,000 (Dh990) to Rs90,000, and also a selection of Tanjore mural sculptures of Hindu mythological scenes finely decorated in gold leaf. But the most vibrant are the folk carving: fierce animal and additionally human figures in blazing scarlet, yellow as well as green - most salvaged from temples or homes in southern India, and additionally some from formal chariots. A vahana or chariot ornament will cost around Rs350,000, but low-cost first time buyers might possibly favor the elaborately carved teak wall brackets with figures of horses or parrots, at Rs10,000. Farook Issa�s own favourite is a shadow puppet, around 1.5 metres tall, made from paper-thin leather. �Smaller puppets are common, however it�s rare to find such a large one,� Farook Issa says.

If you prefer the colonial era, there are reproductions of late 19th-century photographs, many taken by court photographers. They show the lost beauty of colonial Bombay and additionally, at about Rs5000, help to make good gifts, as do the many original lithographs and also posters. Phillips also has a vast collection of classic furniture, both original and repro, ranging from desks and dressing tables to four-poster beds.