LuxeBook February 2022

furniture made about twenty years ago was responsibly produced. Better quality Vintage furniture is often presumed to be worn-out pieces that nobody wants. However, there is very little truth in this. In fact, vintage furniture is hardly comparable to pieces manufactured today. Putting it in clearer words, Abhishek Kathuria says, “Vintage furniture is synonymous with timelessness. It has an excellent quality of craftsmanship that won’t ever go out of style.” And a lot of it is true. Antique pieces unlike today’s mass-produced furniture were made with some of the most exquisite materials including oak, teak and mahogany wood, brass, and natural pigments. And despite the age, these materials only get better. But how do you find out if a piece of furniture is a quality piece? Knowing and trusting the source or company you’re buying from is step one, according to Abhishek Kathuria. “It is important to buy your furniture from a reliable vintage furniture design house, since you are aware of the materials used and can trust the quality and craftsmanship.” The source you buy from is the main factor, as Sachin Gupta puts it,“Buying your vintage pieces from authentic sources can guarantee the quality and age of the product.” The next step for more dedicated buyers is taking a few minutes to examine the structure and condition of the furniture. A keen eye can always detect surface flaws, if looked at closely. “The hallmark of vintage furniture is its structure: how sturdy it is, its functionality, craftsmanship and most importantly the quality of materials used — wood and otherwise,” says Neha Gupta, “it is important you understand both the surface and the structural flaws of the product.” BY SCHENELLE DSOUZA Vintage furniture finds its way back into modern day homes fuelled by renewed interest Out with the new, in with the old D o you think vintage is just another term for something used, a hand-me-down? Or are you among those who values something antique? While some people may perceive anything vintage as old and used, others look at it as something unique, something of sentimental value, with history attached to it. Just as it is with anything vintage, period furniture too, stirs up mixed feelings. While some wonder about the condition and quality, as well as its dated look, others might find that its appeal lies in its period appearance. So, the big question, is it worth it? LuxeBook spoke to experts from the design industry, Priyanka Khanna and Rudraksh Charan — Founders and Architects of 42MM Architecture, Sachin Gupta and Neha Gupta — Founders and Interior Designers of Beyond Designs, and Abhishek Kathuria, Founder and Creative Director of Rosabagh, to understand why vintage furniture has found renewed appeal, and not just as an inheritance. Why vintage In the age of social media, it seldom takes long for anything to become a reigning trend. With so many upcycling stories, vintage furniture was bound to make a headway soon. From buying vintage pieces, to upcycling old ones, people have taken a conscious step towards sustainability. And furniture is a great place to start one’s sustainability journey. According to research, roughly 15 billion trees are cut down each year worldwide, of which almost one billion is used to create new furniture. With a daunting figure like that, switching to vintage pieces would seem like the most sustainable choice going forward. Vintage furniture is also one of themost environment- friendly options because it reduces wastage. Besides, The Antique Story Maram HEIRLOOM P IECE 24| L U X E B O O K | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 2 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 2 | L U X E B O O K | 25