Maharaja Chair in Carved Teak with Gold Leaf and Ivory Brocade

The shield-shaped back on this chair looks freehand. It is not. A carver drawing both halves by eye will always get one shoulder fuller than the other, and on a symmetrical form the eye finds that error instantly.

So the outline is drawn once, on one side only, and cut as a half template in thin ply. The template is laid against the centre line, traced, then flipped and traced again. Both halves come from the same edge, so they cannot disagree. The same half template governs the crest above it, which is why the pierced foliage at the top mirrors cleanly across the little cabochon at its centre.

Once the shape is cut, the template is kept and used again during carving. Every few hours the carver lays it back on the work to check that neither side has crept as the depth increased. Carving removes material unevenly, and a form that started symmetrical can drift by the time the undercuts are in.

It is a slow way to build a chair back, and it is invisible in the finished piece. That is the point. You are not meant to notice the symmetry. You are only meant to notice that nothing looks wrong.

Frame: solid teak throughout, hand-carved by master Indian artisans. Traditional joinery at every meeting point, with carved sections worked from solid stock rather than applied.

Back: shield cartouche with a pierced foliate crest and carved scroll ears.

Arms: outward sweeping carved scrolls on carved supports.

Seat rail: pierced with a row of ovals, carved centre cartouche.

Legs: cabriole front legs with carved knees, raked and carved rear legs.

Upholstery: ivory brocade with a woven floral medallion, as photographed. Any fabric from our library, or your own material, can be used instead.

Finish: gold leaf on the raised carving over a warm rosewood-toned hand polish. The balance between gilded and polished areas is set by you.

Size: custom sizes made to order - final measurements confirmed in writing before production.

Photography: images on this page are of the actual product, not renders.

A gilded chair needs different protection from a plain one, because gold leaf sits proud on the carving and any pressure lands on it first. The pierced crest and the scroll arms are wrapped individually before the chair is wrapped as a whole.

The first layer is a soft non-abrasive wrap laid directly on the finish so nothing firmer ever touches the gold. Foam collars go around the crest, the arm scrolls, the seat rail piercing and each leg - every point that stands out from the body of the chair. Corrugated sheets then form a box around the chair, and the outer carton is edge-reinforced so stacked weight in transit is carried by the packaging rather than the frame.

The upholstered back and seat get a breathable cover that keeps dust off the ivory brocade without trapping moisture against it. Everything is designed to come off cleanly by hand, so unpacking needs no blades near the finish.

Delivery is free anywhere in India. There is no zone pricing, no fuel surcharge and no separate charge for distance - the price you see is the price you pay whether the chair travels to a flat in Mumbai or a farmhouse outside Guwahati.

We guarantee dent-free arrival. The chair leaves the workshop in multi-layer protective packaging, moves with handlers briefed on carved and gilded furniture, and is checked at each transfer. If anything is wrong when you open it, tell us and we make it right - the guarantee sits with us, not with the transporter.

Because every chair is made to order, production begins after your specification and measurements are confirmed in writing. We share a timeline with that confirmation and keep you updated as the chair moves through carving, gilding and upholstery. You will know when it dispatches and roughly when to expect it, so you can plan the day rather than wait for a call.

The solid teak frame and its joinery carry a 20-year warranty. That covers the structure of the chair - the seat rails, the back frame, the arm supports, the legs and the joints that tie them together. If a joint opens or a frame member fails within those twenty years, we repair or replace it.

Alongside it runs a lifetime warranty against termite damage, with no end date. Teak carries its own natural oils that termites avoid, and our seasoning and finishing routine builds on that. We are confident enough in it to stand behind the timber for as long as you own the chair.

Because the chair is made to order in our own workshop by the same master Indian artisans who build every piece, we know exactly how it was made and what went into it. That is what allows a warranty this long. Registration is automatic with your order - there is no card to post and no form to remember. If you ever need us, your order number is enough to open a claim.