KRK Home: Remnants of an affluent era

Khadija Rabbani Khar talks discovering antiques and her aesthetic influences.

LAHORE:

Artwork and antiques are always well-appreciated among the affluent. No matter which century the pieces are from, people tend to value items from an era bygone. Khadija Rabbani Khar of KRK Home talked to The Express Tribune about her exhibition of antique French furniture.

“I generally like modern furniture and that is the kind of work I like doing for my label,” said Khar, as she talked about Ralph Lauren being her main inspiration. “However, I think there is a niche market for antiques collection in Lahore and people are always looking for something different for their houses.”



Most furniture design houses have a signature look that permeates through their collection, so one can almost tell who has done the interiors at a first glance. In order to break the pattern, it is always aesthetically pleasing to have a statement piece that brings character to the room. KRK Home brings 20th century French craftsmanship into Lahore’s modern drawing rooms. This limited collection has pieces from the early 1900s, including period chairs, settees, consoles and mirrors, all incorporating opulent baroque trimmings and embellishments that are quintessentially French Victorian and bring to mind Louis XV’s antique furniture.



“One of my sisters is based in London, and, upon her visit to Paris, she discovered this niche,” said Khar. “It took multiple trips to Paris to collect everything I wanted to exhibit and then have it shipped off to Lahore.” She stresses that none of the pieces has been lacquered, polished or fixed, in order to maintain their authenticity. “I want to keep them in their original condition so feel people can enjoy the uniqueness of them.” Khar advised that it is only wood that needs to be waxed. “The trick with antiques is the way one preserves them. You shouldn’t take it backwards or forwards.”



During her visit to Paris, Khar stumbled upon an Italian Villa, where she picked up carved chairs and small side tables. “The history of these carved chairs is fascinating,” continues Khar. “The faces you see carved onto the chairs actually belong to the owners of the villa, it was customary back then that each person sat on a chair with their face carved in it.”

The pieces overall are opulent and exude a bygone affluence. Priced between Rs70,000 and Rs450,000, this two-day exhibit took place on November 23 and 24 2013 in Lahore Cantt.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2013.

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