The Installed Archive
Walls already living in homes.
Each Chitra Vāsa wall is rendered directly onto the wall itself, never a framed painting, never a hung canvas, the architecture becomes the artwork. These pieces, installed across India, are shared as inspiration for your own commission. None will ever be repeated.
Pietra Dura · Mughal parchin kari
The Sheesh Mahal Dining Room
An eighteen-foot dining wall composed in Mughal parchin kari, flowering vines of carnelian, lapis and mother-of-pearl set into pure white Makrana marble, in the spirit of the Taj's pietra dura panels.
- Art Forms
- Pietra Dura · Mughal parchin kari
- Materials
- White Makrana marble · Carnelian · Lapis lazuli · Malachite · Mother-of-pearl
- Fragrance
- Rose · Oudh · Cardamom
- Lead time
- 8, 14 weeks
Phad scroll · Rajput border
The Phad Baithak
A heroic Phad scroll wall in the tradition of Bhilwara's Bhopa storytellers, kings, horses and royal courts in deep red, indigo, ochre and mustard, framed by a fine Rajput floral border.
- Art Forms
- Phad scroll · Rajput border
- Materials
- Hand-spun cotton · Mineral pigments · Antique gold ink
- Fragrance
- Mitti attar · Saffron · Sandal
- Lead time
- 8, 14 weeks
Kalamkari · Temple frieze
The Kalahasti Pooja Room
A devotional Kalamkari wall hand-drawn with the kalam, three sanctum vignettes of deities under temple gopurams, surrounded by lotus and paisley borders, in pure vegetal dyes.
- Art Forms
- Kalamkari · Temple frieze
- Materials
- Hand-spun cotton · Indigo · Madder root · Turmeric · Iron mordant
- Fragrance
- White champa · Sandalwood · Tulsi
- Lead time
- 8, 14 weeks
Meenakari · Pichwai
The Bagh Mahal Drawing Room
A 14-foot drawing-room wall composed in jewel-tone Meenakari enamel, framed by a Pichwai lotus pond. Pearl rivets and uncut emeralds are set into the gold filigree by hand.
- Art Forms
- Meenakari · Pichwai
- Materials
- 24k gold leaf · Pearls · Uncut emeralds · Silk ground
- Fragrance
- Oudh · Saffron · Rose
- Lead time
- 8, 14 weeks
Pichwai · Mughal Miniature
The Saawan Boudoir
An emerald and silver bedroom panel painted as a monsoon idyll, peacocks, lotus, silver clouds. The hidden brass lid carries the scent of the year's first rain.
- Art Forms
- Pichwai · Mughal Miniature
- Materials
- Oxidised silver · Mulberry silk · Mother-of-pearl
- Fragrance
- Mitti attar · Kewra · Vetiver
- Lead time
- 8, 14 weeks
Tanjore · Zari border
The Tanjore Foyer
A grand foyer with a single Tanjore deity panel in raised gesso and pure gold foil, framed by a Zardozi border in silver thread on deep wine silk.
- Art Forms
- Tanjore · Zari border
- Materials
- Pure gold foil · Semi-precious stones · Zardozi border
- Fragrance
- Sandalwood · White champa
- Lead time
- 8, 14 weeks
Pichwai · Devotional cloth
The Nathdwara Sanctum
A devotional Pichwai wall in the Nathdwara tradition, Shrinathji at the lotus pond with peacocks, cows and gopis, painted on indigo cloth with antique gold filigree borders.
- Art Forms
- Pichwai · Devotional cloth
- Materials
- Indigo cloth ground · Antique gold border · Mineral pigment
- Fragrance
- Tulsi · Sandalwood · Lotus
- Lead time
- 8, 14 weeks
Mughal Miniature · Floral border
The Mughal Study
A walnut study with a wall composed as a Mughal court scene, emperor, courtiers, gardens, painted in single-hair brushwork with gold cloud borders and a margin of jewel-toned blooms.
- Art Forms
- Mughal Miniature · Floral border
- Materials
- Single-hair brushwork · Lapis · Malachite · Antique gold leaf
- Fragrance
- Oudh · Rose · Saffron
- Lead time
- 8, 14 weeks
Mysore Painting · Raised gesso
The Mysore Alcove
A pooja alcove crowned with a Mysore-style Lakshmi panel, burnished 22k gold foil and raised gesso jewels on a soft pastel ground, framed by floral marigold garlands.
- Art Forms
- Mysore Painting · Raised gesso
- Materials
- 22k gold foil · Raised gesso · Pearls · Pastel pigments
- Fragrance
- Sandalwood · Jasmine · Champa
- Lead time
- 8, 14 weeks
Zari · Zardozi · Miniature inlay
The Zardozi Salon
A salon wall constructed entirely in Zardozi embroidery on deep maroon silk, with miniature painted inlays at three vignettes telling a single courtly story.
- Art Forms
- Zari · Zardozi · Miniature inlay
- Materials
- Real gold thread · Silver thread · Pearls · Maroon silk
- Fragrance
- Rose attar · Oudh
- Lead time
- 8, 14 weeks
Meenakari · Tanjore inlay
The Meenakari Vestibule
A jewel-box vestibule rendered directly onto the wall itself, a single restrained lotus medallion in vitreous enamel and gold filigree, with cabochon ruby and emerald set into the petals by hand.
- Art Forms
- Meenakari · Tanjore inlay
- Materials
- Vitreous enamel · Gold filigree · Ruby & emerald cabochons
- Fragrance
- Saffron · Sandal · Rose
- Lead time
- 8, 14 weeks
Or compose your own.
Mix any of the six Indian art forms, choose your materials, author a fragrance. Each bespoke commission begins with a single private letter from you.