Old is Gold

I realised recently that many of the things in my home are well over forty or even fifty years old. I love old things. I value more than anything that most of these items have been passed on to me or rather inherited. I have not parted with them because of their old world charm, and the fact that they have become a part of us.

I am not a materialistic person, nor a sentimental one, and have always managed to get rid of old stuff time and again after using it to the maximum.

Somehow I have held on to some objects I now own for years, in fact decades, despite there being cracks or pieces re-stuck together. They have travelled a great deal earlier when IS moved house (country to country on his father’s postings) and then later to our various homes post-marriage. And are now with me in Dubai ...... where in fact there is plenty to choose from for home decoration.

We must be a rare family that carried furniture and household belongings from Chennai to Dubai, when most everyone else would be looking to carry them in the opposite direction!

The scheme of things in my home has always been the same. I have never indulged in extravagant interiors, except for getting new curtains / blinds or some new piece of furniture as needed for the places we moved to. But the furniture and the rest of the stuff we had from earlier always found the right slot or niche, regardless of whether the house was big or small.

Things that are old but not necessarily antiques, 50 odd years (like practically my lifetime) are definitely collectible.  Not antiques but I cannot imagine our home without these as they are part of our family story … Here are some photos of my favourite things.

Kashmiri prayer mat on which is a three-piece sofa gifted by my mother was made to order while I was in class eight. The tapestry was changed 10 years back.

Dutch delftware  pottery: an original piece, hand-painted in blue

Gustaberg Argenta swedish pottery, emerald green in colour with motifs of silver overlay

Chinese scroll painting done by IS’s mother. Many of her other paintings have taken turns on my walls but this one is a favourite.

Old ceramic tile side table on which sit light green onyx lamp and candle holders.

Chinese Camphor chest: A set of three in decreasing size, each fitting into the next, like Russian dolls! Ebony with carved teak wood. With brass sliding locks.

Alabaster Buddha sits among my greenery, at the entrance lobby.

The constant presence of these familiar things is just very reassuring and makes me feel at home.