Framed Heirlooms: Custom Art Restoration and Display
I believe that every object carries an intimate history. In this collection, I work with vintage brass Prabhavalis and family treasures, transforming them into framed art that honours their original story while integrating them into your modern home.
A Pichwai painting I framed for a client, seen here in its new home in Singapore. The custom border, made from colorful fabric scraps, was designed to complement the artwork and create a unique, personal piece of decor.
The full view of the custom-framed Pichwai painting. The patchwork border is made from studio offcuts, a sustainable choice that adds a vibrant, modern twist to the traditional Indian art form.
A detail shot of the fabric border on the Pichwai frame. You can see the different textures and colors of the pieced-together scraps, including a bold checkerboard pattern that adds a graphic element.
A set of two magnificent vintage Prabhavalis that a client sent to me for restoration and framing. The larger one features a custom-painted Vishnu, while the smaller one houses a Ganesha, both set against rich, hand-selected silk fabrics.
The oversized Vishnu Prabhavali, beautifully styled in its owner's home. The artwork is a digital painting inspired by the Company School style, framed on a deep blue Banarasi silk with delicate zari butas.
A close-up of the Vishnu artwork within the restored family heirloom Prabhavali. The vibrant orange background and the rich blue of the silk create a stunning contrast, highlighting the divine figure.
The smaller of the two family heirlooms, this vintage Prabhavali now frames a Tanjore-style Ganesha. I chose a warm, marigold-colored textured fabric to complement the artwork and the aged brass of the frame.
The framed Ganesha Prabhavali, styled on a console table. This project was a wonderful opportunity to give a cherished family piece a new life and a new story.
A detail shot of the Ganesha Prabhavali, showing the rich texture of the yellow fabric and the intricate details of the vintage brass halo. It's a perfect blend of old and new.
This video showcases a large vintage Prabhavali that I framed with a Tanjore-style Maha Vishnu painting. The artwork is set against a vibrant teal silk, creating a striking piece of wall decor that honors its vintage roots.
About Framed Heirlooms: Restoring & Showcasing Art
I generally require your Prabhavali or antique piece to be physically couriered to my Worli studio so I can assess the weight, structural integrity, and material needs before beginning. This hands-on process allows me to select the perfect fabric backdrop—be it raw silk or hand-woven cotton—and ensures the frame provides a secure, archival-quality home for your heirloom.
Framing a family heirloom is less about decoration and more about stewardship. When you entrust me with a vintage Prabhavali or a delicate textile piece, the restoration process is entirely collaborative. We begin by discussing the narrative you want to preserve.
The Process of Preservation
- Structural Assessment: Every brass Prabhavali has a unique weight and patina. I restore the frame, chemically treating it to ensure it remains stable, and then design a mounting solution that distributes weight evenly against the backing.
- The Backdrop: I select textiles based on the art's provenance. You will often see me pairing rich Banarasi silk or Mashru fabrics with these pieces. The choice of colour and weave is intended to complement the iconography of the deity or the historical period of the print, whether it is a Tanjore-style painting or a recreated Rajput miniature.
- Art Integration: For missing or damaged centrepieces, I can work with digitally recreated art inspired by the Company School style or traditional miniature techniques. This bridges the gap between a standalone antique object and a functional piece of wall art.
Sustainability and Material Culture
I apply the same zero-waste philosophy to my framing as I do to my apparel. The borders and backing accents often utilize studio offcuts—scraps of Banarasi brocade or vintage embroidery—that would otherwise be discarded. By combining these salvaged textiles with antique brass, I am creating a dialogue between different eras of Indian craftsmanship. Every framed piece is a non-replicable testament to the histories we carry, designed to be lived with rather than tucked away in a box.
Chandan Dubey
I don't just frame art; I house stories. I treat every Prabhavali and vintage textile piece as an intimate historical record, carefully selecting salvaged fabrics and textures that breathe new life into your treasured family objects.
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