This and That: Bastar

This and That, the Ahmedabad-based design house headed by Ariane Thakore Ginwala, has recently unveiled a collection of furniture — Bastar — which sees a beautiful merger of tradition and contemporary design. Bastar is created with beautifully carved doors and architectural elements from the tribal heartland of India. Once a part of temples and community centres built in the 18th century, the doors tell a story of a living culture. With the gradual mainstreaming of tribal communities and the effect of natural forces, in many villages, all that is left of their historical architecture is columns and doors that hold together mud walls.

Carved by the men of the Muriya tribe from Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, the doors welcomed folk into temples and ghotuls (community centres). Crafted from locally abundant Sal wood, some doors are as old as 200 years. The tribe’s deep relationship with the forest they call home manifests in the nature-inspired motifs carved with simple hand tools. Restoration is informed by the original techniques and materials used, intending to use each panel in its entirety. The collection includes: bar units, chest of drawers, beds (single and double), benches, library cabinets, consoles, coffee tables, and wardrobe units.

Curated by: Deepa Nair
Photographs: Courtesy This and That