The Asia House Fair had a range of individually-sourced, antique furnishings from across Asia. Here’s our selection of luxurious furnishings and beautiful homewares which will bring a corner of Asia into your home in time for Spring.
Camilla Costello (camillacostello.co.uk)
Block printed tablecloths – Blue Carnations
Block printed tablecloths – Blue Carnations
A hand block printed rectangular tablecloth, adding a touch of Spring to your dining room. It is made of cotton so can be machine washed and is available in a medium and large size.
From £45
Antique Suzani Cushion Covers
Antique Suzani Cushion Covers
Look out for Camilla Costello’s beautiful antique suzani cushion covers. Suzani is embroidery from Uzbekistan. Traditionally, Central Asian women hand-sewed embroidered textiles for their daughters’ dowries. The women in the household would start the sewing work as soon as a baby girl was born. Every surface in an Uzbek home is covered in textiles and the embroidery is presented to the groom upon marriage.
Navy Kantha Throw
Navy Kantha Throw
Kantha Throws are made from recycled saris that are joined together by a running stitch called Kantha. Each piece is unique. They are also very practical, as they are made of cotton, machine washable, reversible and feature different designs and colours on each side.
148 cm x 216 cm
£125
Ganesh Arts (ganesh-arts.com)
Lotus Pond Painting By Sridar K.
‘Lotus Pond’ Painting By Sridar K.
65 x 60cm
An exceptionally gifted artist, Sridar K. captures everyday rural life ‘en plein air’ in a charming Gauguinesque style.
£950
Zafran (facebook.com/zafran)
Here’s a selection of Crewel embroidered soft furnishings from Zafran. Crewel embroidery is made using a special hook needle on pure linen or silk fabric.
Zafran Crewel hand-embroidered Spring linen table runners
Zafran Crewel hand-embroidered Spring linen table runners
This runner is hand-made with a wonderfully embroidered pattern of trailing flowers and comes with a centre mat. Perfect for Spring dining.
£59
Crewel chain stitch hand-embroidered cushion covers
Crewel chain stitch hand embroidered cushion covers
Classic example of chain stitch embroidery made with wool on pure cotton creating a bold, colourful design.
£12 – £15
Hand-carved wooden jewellery safe
Hand carved wooden jewellery safe
A traditional safe hand-crafted from walnut wood features four drawers and each drawer has various compartments.
£289
Gallery 196 (gallery196.com)
Reverse Glass Painting
Reverse Glass Painting
This painting is probably around 20 to 30 years old. What’s unusual about it is that it has been painted on the back of glass. Sue Richardson, Director of Gallery 196, is an avid collector of glass paintings both new and old. This princely figure is bound to brighten up homes.
£145
Saami wedding quilt
Saami wedding quilt
This is a very special quilt. It was made in Pakistan and finished with hand embroidery. The quilt is around 10 years old and would have been made in celebration of a wedding. Look out for Gallery 196’s other textiles and vintage cushions from Gujarat.
£650
Chinalife (chinalifeweb.com)
Black Porcelain Tea Ceremony Set
Black Porcelain Tea Ceremony Set
Tea ceremonies aren’t just for special occasions – take the time to correctly brew teas to bring out the flavour of loose leaf teas. This sleek porcelain tea ceremony set will look stylish in most kitchens.
£29.95
Tea ceremonies are not complicated. You can watch this introduction to tea ceremonies by chinalife expert Don Mei, ahead of his talk at the Fair on this Sunday, Mother’s Day at 14.45. More details can be found here.
Su-Lin.Allen@asiahouse.co.uk
The Asia House Fair took place at 63 New Cavendish Street, London from
Friday 28 March to Sunday 30 March.
For more information and the full list of stallholders that exhibited, click here.