As India grows and prospers, many of the older homes and palaces are being replaced with more modern structures. Luckily, a number of the architectural elements and fragments are preserved and resurrected. Many of these older buildings had interior courtyards bordered with weight-bearing columns with stone bases and matching capitals. These pillars and pilasters range from solid mahogany, satinwood or teak with reeded or fluted sides; or they might be carved with unusual designs complete with the original paint. Cast-iron balustrades would grace the front of a balcony with a carved gate or shutter in front of the window for privacy. Carved panels and fragments are also recovered with unique carving detail or colorful paint. Carved stone pieces can also be found.
Architectural artifacts are a creative and unusual way to decorate a home. Columns can frame a room or entry way, panels can be used as borders, head boards or wall pieces, and many of the iron and stone pieces can be used in the garden for fencing or as garden ornaments. Doors and gates can be used as originally intended or transformed as window treatments, room dividers or screens. The possibilities are endless.
|
