Just for fun

Piero Fornasetti (1913-1980) was a Milanese painter who decorated mundane objects — plates, umbrellas, hats, chairs, ashtrays, wallpapers, blinds — by painting bold, whimsical motifs on them — the face of a woman, the facade of a building, playing cards, the sun, and so on. He is an acknowledged master today, his playful designs, working on perspective and creating optical illusions, much valued by purveyors of luxury as “collectibles”.

His son Barnaba now continues his atelier, making editions of his designs and creating new prototypes. Fornasetti products are available at stores all over the world; and now in India too as a result of a retailing arrangement with the Assomull Group. The brand was unveiled in Mumbai late last month and now comes to Delhi with an exhibition at the DLF Emporio mall, showcasing some of the more iconic of the Italian designer’s products.

Where: At various luxury lifestyle boutiques in Delhi (011-46106735) and Mumbai (022-61417000). For more information, www.marigoldfineart.com
Prices: Rs 9,500 onwards

Blown away

Klove Studio’s Prateek Jain and Gautam Seth are perhaps India’s best known glass designers. Ever since their 2005 debut, they’ve added a touch of grace and elegance to homes round the country with their products made of blown glass — vases, bottles and other knick-knacks about the house — fused with metal and wood. The two have now tied up with Goodearth, the lifestyle products chain of stores, to retail an exclusive line called “Voyages”. Drawing inspiration from sea voyages, Voyages is a collection of 15 lights and chandeliers. Take the Meteorite light (picture), a design that contrasts the sharp form of the cylinder with that of a drop, reminiscent of the meteors.

Where: Goodearth stores in Delhi (011-24647175/ 29565600/24100108) and Mumbai (022-24951954/ 22021030/26112481) from February 10, 2010 onwards
Prices: upwards of Rs 25,000

Indian Hippy

The hand-painted poster and billboard was once the only way to experience the beauty and magic of the world of cinema. And then, about a decade or so ago, came along the instantaneous technology of digital printing and hand-painted posters disappeared, depriving thousands of artists of their livelihoods. But there’s hope for them now with Indian Hippy set up by Mumbai-based entrepreneur Hinesh Jethwani who’s offering a range of exquisitely hand-painted limited-edition foldable chairs, wallets, belts, etc. You can get yourself a chair depicting Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in her Paro finery in the film Devdas, or a stylised Dilip Kumar-Madhubala still from Mughal-e-Azam.

Where: www.hippy.in
Prices: Rs 6,000 for the chair