Category: Art & Culture

Artisera ; an online marketplace that is redefining boundaries..!!

Artisera is an online destination for ‘artistic luxury’ where one can discover and buy unique pieces of fine art, collectibles, home décor, and furniture from India and around the world
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People often associate the word ‘art’ with paintings, but we’re redefining those boundaries. To us, art means to fill up a space in a beautiful way. Our emphasis is to promote ‘fine art’ as a whole, including contemporary and modern art as well as traditional art forms, sculpture, and photography. And we believe art should extend to other elements of our home and personal spaces as well, such as furniture, tableware, rugs, décor and more” Says the co-founder of Artisera, Lisa Jain. She and her husband Varun Bakliwal launched www.artisera.com in October 2015. Since then, through their ‘invite-only’ market place model, they have managed to partner with over thirty of the most trusted and reputed stores, galleries, designers and artists across the country to house a mix of contemporary and traditional pieces for the discerning client.

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Every piece on the website is either one of a kind or limited edition. The fine art ranges from traditional tanjores to photography and sculptures. There are rare vintage collatables and curios along with porcelean pieces, tableware and lighting. Accent chairs and tables, consoles and cabinets with their unique flair are also part of the collcection.

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Artisera works closely with its partners to curate the pieces you see on the website. If a client likes something listed on the platform, they can buy from it directly, and the order then gets fulfilled by the partners. They also cater to custom inquiries by clients; for e.g. if you’re looking for a specific style or piece, they will work with their partner network to try and source it. The partners include The Great Eastern Home, Balaji Antiques, Cocoon Fine Rugs, Jaipur Rugs, Sarita Handa, Essajees, PortsideCafé Furniture Studio, Vadehra Art Gallery, Kynkyny Art Gallery, Tasveer, Anemos and Navrathan Antique Arts to name a few.

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Although there are many interesting online ventures in the aspirational or luxury fashion space, there isn’t any single platform that helps individuals discover exquisite, non-mass manufactured, unique art pieces in all its different forms, from the best brands in the business. And that’s what Artisera is doing. They are very clear in their focus, and are catering to a niche, defined audience. Their clients could be young or old, experienced or novice, living in a big city or a smaller town, but they are all looking for high quality pieces, with a story and a history.

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The curation is what really sets them apart. They want the experience on the website to be similar to when you walk into a store or gallery filled with beautiful pieces, admiring every creation, enjoying the sheer process of discovery. At Artesera they understand that the buying experience is critical in the luxury space. And that’s why, even though they are an online store, there is a significant offline element to the Artisera experience. They speak to each client personally, offer advisory services, host gatherings and events to offer a ‘touch and feel’ experience, and help clients with art appreciation. The range of Collectibles is unique and hard to find. Working with some of the most well-respected dealers/stores in this space, they’ve managed to curated some exceptional curios, rare porcelain pieces, and vintage collectibles, which appeal to seasoned collectors as well as those who are just starting out.

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Knowledge and information about different art forms is still limited. And it’s very important for someone to feel comfortable and informed before making a high value purchase. And this is why at Artisera they look beyond selling. Through relevant, high quality, interesting content, they help people develop an appreciation for artistic luxury.

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“We also believe, that a luxury art and lifestyle business cannot be completely online. While many people will discover new ideas and sellers, buy products, and gain access to what is outside their city digitally, the touch and feel aspect will continue to be critical to some. And that’s why, we want to help our Partners not just with sales on Artisera, but also by driving more people to their physical stores, after being discovered online” Says Varun.

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About the founders and their journey

Artisera has been founded by the husband-wife duo Varun Backliwal and Lisa Jain with a vision to create an international art-focused luxury brand.

Varun is the fourth generation of a family that is associated with the fine arts and handicrafts trade since 70+ years. After spending close to a decade in the family business, he completed his MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona. He then began working in the startup investment ecosystem and mentored retail-focused tech startups. That’s when the idea to marry his two areas of expertise struck him.

Lisa comes with extensive experience across investment banking in London and marketing and strategy in the education sector in India. Alongside Artisera, she also owns a successful education venture. She completed her undergrad at University of Warwick, UK and MBA at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. As an outsider to the art trade, Lisa brings a unique and fresh perspective to the business.

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They had understood that the digital landscape is evolving rapidly and the need to have meaningful online visibility cannot be ignored by traditional brick-and-mortar businesses. Although there were many interesting online ventures in the fashion space, there wasn’t any single platform that helped individuals discover exquisite, handcrafted, non-mass manufactured art pieces in all its different forms, such as furniture, fine art, collectibles etc. Here is where the opportunity was percieved.


“We have different personalities, backgrounds, and skillsets, but there is one common factor – both of us come from families with a strong entrepreneurial bent of mind. In fact, we were the first in our respective families to get a job. So after having spent some time successfully in the corporate world, we decided to come together, launch a business, and create jobs instead”


They are passionate about not just helping individuals buy (especially those new to this world), but also help them learn about, and develop an appreciation for different art forms. And that’s why they have a strong emphasis on educating and knowledge sharing at Artisera.


Lastly, having a deep understanding of this trade gives Varun and Lisa an advantage. The art and collectibles trade still operates in a very traditional way. Because of Varun’s background in his family business, they are able to solve very real problems for their partner brands, without asking them to shift their focus from what they know and do best.


So if you are planning to buy exclusive, unique and luxury gifts this festive season, think no more, just log on to www.artisera.com and see your wish come true.. happy shopping..!!

Wine Hampers for Festive Season

On the onset of the festive season, people, thankfully, are shifting from conventional gifting options like from sweet and getting on to more interesting gift items with each passing festive season like Diwali, X-Mas and so on, but the Wine is a wonderful host gift.


The Happy High’s Wine Concierge

The Happy High one of India’s wine and spirit experience co has launched the Wine concierge, a wine selection and gifting service. The Happy High advises clients on wines; based on budgets, preferences and the end recipient. The service can be availed throughout the year, be it advice on a personal collection or for gifting purposes.

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Festivities call for gifts, give and take is the norm, a goodwill exercise, it symbolizes togetherness and gifting companies are waiting to ride on the back of ‘Diwali gifting’ and offer to source everything under the sun. The Happy High is a specialist in wines and spirits, run by Ajit Balgi a certified wine educator and an S P Jain alumnus they know what it takes to create an impression and also let your loved ones drink good wine!

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“People in India are taking up to wines and want to gift wines. They however get blinded by the fancy packaging, nuts, chia bars, chocolates et al and wine takes a back seat, ‘House wines’ the sellers call them, usually wines not moving, old or on deals.”

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“We at The Happy High provide options for the discerning wine lovers who are looking to gift good wine and not just for the sake of it. We help corporate houses to pick wines based on their budgets and taste profiles to ensure that the message of quality and wine finesse is communicated to the recipient.” says Ajit Balgi the Founder and Beverage Consultant.

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To know more about their services you can log onto www.thehappyhigh.com.

What are you gifting this festive season…??

With the festive and wedding season approaching, we always are thinking on how to make our gifting experience more unique. We all want to move away from the usual gifts, and make our loved one feels special with something that is different, unique yet inexpensive. So here is our hand picked list of all beautiful gifting options that you can consider for this festive season.


Chocolates and Desserts never really go out of fashion, so how about gifting your loved ones a box of handmade chocolates, or donuts or beautiful dessert jars or cupcakes and many more delightful sweets. Ikreate has been into the business since 10 years and have been gifting partners to brands like Colgate, Marico, Sarda Plywood etc apart from private elite clients. Their chocolates and desserts have not just got rave reviews from the clients, but also repeat orders for years together. The best part about Ikreate is the love and passion that the put into everything they make, maintaining the quality over the years and yet being very very reasonable.

Donuts


Price Rs 400/dozen


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Cupcakes


Price Rs 400/6pcs


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Chocolates


Price Rs 650/kg onwards


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For more, check out their Zomato page


Handikart.co.in, an online handicraft’s store that offers assorted range of genuine and original handicraft products across India, has announced its exquisite range of products across categories to celebrate its first Diwali. These exclusive products are designed by the untouched & rural artisans from various parts of India and showcase the undying spirit of the artisans’ and their creativity.

The mesmerizing range of gifting options from handikart.co.in has you covered this festive season with idols of lord Ganesha, goddess Lakshmi, eye catching puja accessories like diyas, t-light holders and amazingly genuine brass ware products, terracotta, pattachitra, leather lamps, marble products and more.

With array of lamps, lanterns and decorative accessories, Handikart’s latest collection is about dreamy luminescence and shimmering brilliance.

The collection is priced between Rs. 100 and Rs. 5000 and will be up for grab from 5th Oct till 30th Oct with home delivery across India.

Over 1000 handcrafted products across 27 categories are available from traditional local artisans across the country. From Gorara Stone’s fine carvings to intricate Zardozi boxes of Old Agra; from Sambhal’s hand-made camel bone jewellery boxes to north east’s eco-friendly bamboo and cane products; from Orissa’s Palm leaf art and Pattachitra art to Bhadohi’s Shikauli baskets, Handikart is truly a place where Indian essence comes alive.

Price – Rs. 770

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Price – Rs. 1,800

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Price – Rs. 1,009

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Price – Rs. 198

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Check more on their website


Surprise Someone.in is another wonderful online portal where you can get beautiful boxes, photo frames, handmade bags and a lot of other gift items, which will help create an element of surprise for your loved ones. The price range is very affordable and a lot of times you will double check the price, because the moment you will look at an item you will assume a higher price, but when you will see the rates surprise someone is charging, you will be amazed. They are so pocket friendly. I have personally used this portal a lot of times to gift my loved ones, on father’s day (check post here), to surprise my son (check post here), on rakhi (check post here) and other occasions (check post here).


Hut Shaped Box


Price- Rs. 499

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Folding Rack Box


Price Rs. 399


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House Warming Green Goodie Box


Price Rs. 100


Get more options on their website


So make the most of this festive season by gifting your loved ones these beautiful gifts, have a great season ahead!

Indian Artisans Amplify Diwali Shopping

On the onset of the festive season, Hast Karigar Society rendered a lasting impressions on the shopaholics culture of Mumbai. The Delhi based NGO has been organizing the 6 day event for years now and this time too they hosted the annual property “Impressions” from Oct 12th-17th. Hosted at Coomaraswamy Hall, Prince of Wales Museum of Western India, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Fort, Mumbai, the exhibition had artifacts and handicrafts made by traditional painters, jewelers, weavers, craftspeople and hand block printers across India and sported their skill and creativity.

“Impressions” presents


Rhymes & Rhythms of Life


Reflecting the Harmony of Tradition, Colour and Creativity of our Weavers and Artisans


What: Impressions – an exhibition-cum-sale – Reflecting the Harmony of Tradition, Colour and Creativity of our Weavers and Artisans


Date: October 12 to 17, 2016, from 10.30 am to 7 pm daily


Venue: Coomaraswamy Hall, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (formerly Prince of Wales Museum of Western India), M.G.Road, Fort, Mumbai – 400023 (Near Colaba).


Summary:


Hast Karigar Society, a Delhi based NGO founded by a group of artisans, designers from Tribal areas of India present Impressions – an exhibition-cum-sale – Reflecting the Harmony of Tradition, Colour and Creativity of our Weavers and Artisans. This is the eight year running where Hast Karigar Society is bringing together 35 National & State awardee artisan members in Mumbai for its annual exhibition.

Hast Karigar exhibitions emphasize on reviving and redefining the traditional skills of traditional artisans to recreate a market that showcases Indian tradition and heritage while being sensitive to the present day requirements of the connoisseurs. Traditional artists, jewellery makers, handloom weavers, craftspeople and hand block printers from all over India participate in this exhibition expressing their skills weaved in motifs and symbols.

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This year’s exhibition showcased a collection of hand woven organic cotton (Popala, Karnataka) tussar and silk and khadi sarees, dupatta, stoles and fabrics from Benaras, Bhagalpur, Chanderi, Maheswar, Phulia, Sambalpur (Ikkat), Phalodi, Machilipatnam, and Kutch. Laheria, Batik, Shibori, Kalamkari, Indigo and Tie and Dye using vegetable and natural colours were the added attractions this year.

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Sanghaner, Bagru, Dabu, Ajrak, and Machilipatnam hand block prints on sarees, dupattas, stoles, fabric and home furnishings combined traditional shades of colours with a fusion of intricately cut traditional and contemporary designs and patterns.

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Colourful Durries from Uttar Pradesh and intricately woven Mats from West Bengal will also be on sale.Presence of Pattachitra, Miniature art, and Madhubani painting added style and colour to the exhibition.

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Lambani, Kantha, Rabari, Ari, Desert embroidery, Chikan and Applique reflected the skill of deft hands of our women artisans.

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Colourful dupattas, stoles and wrap-arounds adorned with hand crafted traditional motifs; woven by the tribal women residing in the forests of North Bengal were stunning to look at.

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Unique collection of hand crafted Lambani jewellery, Rajasthan stone and silver jewellery, leather bags and candles from Pondicherry, Dhokra from Chhatisgarh, pottery & ceramics from Maharashtra leather puppets and lamp shades and block printed stationery was colourful and a joy to look at and buy.