Cool facts about Goa’s Indo-Portuguese furniture

STYLE FILE

A distinct style of furniture can be seen in, both, Goa’s quaint houses as well as palatial mansions.

A STYLE IS BORN

This Indo-Portuguese style blends two cultures, wherein the basic shape of a piece of furniture has a European origin, while the motifs and decoration is typically Indian.

TWO IN ONE

Dark-coloured wood and intricate inlay work characterised colonial furniture. And, elaborate carvings of foliage, flowers, animals and fruit exhibited the Indian influence.

EXOTIC TOUCHES

Local craftsmen replicated imported European chairs using indigenous exotic hardwoods such as rosewood.

LOCAL WEAVES

Rattan, another material native to India, was used on the back and seat, and replaced leather/fabric which was common in Europe. Such chairs are locally called roteção.

WOODY TALES

Traditional Goan furniture is generally made using bendy (Thespesia populnea), jackfruit, rosewood and occasionally teak.

TRENDY DESIGNS

Other unique designs were folding chairs, triple or quadruple individual chair backs, open back chairs, reclining chair (volter) cupboards with panels, all elaborately carved in the Indo-Portuguese style.

TRADING INFLUENCES

Interestingly, local colonial furniture was even influenced by trading partners such as China, and this can be seen in some corner chairs.

NEXT: Hot comfort food to soothe the cold Goan monsoons