Rosewood rush

Discover the regal beauty and durability of rosewood furniture at AstaGuru's 'Heirloom Treasures' auction on March 27-28.

If you’ve lived in or around the Indian subcontinent, you would have seen this tree: tall, often with a sharp fork in the trunk and a series of twists and turns, culminating in dense, disperse foliage that spreads like the wings of a peacock.

This is the mighty rosewood tree, of the genus Dalbergia, which has a variety of uses, ranging from being an ingredient in medicines, to its utility as timber in construction. But one of its most hallowed applications has been for furniture, prized for its regal aesthetics and durability.

‘Heirloom Treasures’, the latest auction at Mumbai-based AstaGuru, showcases a range of rosewood furniture sourced from private collections across the country, including sofas, a daybed, writing tables, and even a vintage swing in the Art Deco style.

The craftsmanship comes from mostly the 19th and early 20th centuries, and features popular styles of the time such as elaborate mother of pearl inlay, Art Deco, vintage Chinese design, and intricate Anglo-Indian woodworks.

“Rosewood furniture has always been popular in India,” says Rushaad Dastur, auction specialist at AstaGuru. “One of the most popular styles is Anglo-Indian, emerging from a unique fusion of British and Indian craftsmanship. Utilising Indian wood, British artisans created functional yet intricately carved furniture, showcasing a perfect union of the East and West.”

Many such pieces will be on display at the upcoming auction. This includes a finely carved Anglo-Indian rosewood sofa that rests on four scroll shaped feet and features armrests decorated with lion heads. There’s also an Anglo-Indian rosewood console table from 1880, whose elaborately pierced apron and trellis feature arabesque designs.

It’s important to note that most antique furniture features older rosewood sourced from across the world, rather than from North India. While the former is darker and sports smoother textures, the latter, known as sheesham, has a light-brown hue and is considerably cheaper.