In photos: Tracing India's history through its chairs

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 4 min read 100% complete March 14, 2026 at 01:13 AM

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long article 4 min

An exhibition in Mumbai, "A History of India through Chairs," showcased over 200 chairs to map India's cultural history through their designs and woodwork. Organized by House of Mahendra Doshi, the exhibition displayed chairs sourced from across India by Anand Gandhi and Chiki Doshi, arranged chronologically from pre-colonial times to the present. The chairs reflected global art movements and the influence of colonial invasions by the Dutch, Portuguese, French, and British between the 16th and 19th centuries. Curators sourced chairs from homes, estate sales, and private collections, restoring them with skilled craftsmen, sometimes taking months per chair. Highlights included a bead-covered chair from Gujarat and a lounge chair designed by Le Corbusier, who helped design Chandigarh city in the 1950s.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Cherylann Mollan 40% Hashim Badani 40% Germany 40% Austria 40% Gujarat 40% Michael Thonet 50% Chiki Doshi 60% House of Mahendra Doshi 60% Mumbai ×270% Vivek Gandhi ×270% Anand Gandhi ×270% India ×7100%

Keywords

indian chairs 100% cultural history 80% furniture design 70% colonial invasions 60% restoration 60% european designs 50% exhibition 50% woodwork 50% seating traditions 40%

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Positive

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BBC News - World

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Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

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90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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indian chairs cultural history furniture design colonial invasions restoration european designs exhibition woodwork seating traditions

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