Ravi Shankar joined him around 18 years back carrying the family business and creating a name for his goods and services. Ravi explained that he stocked old items as and when he got them for sale and then when customers wanted particular pieces, he did the necessary repair work and presented it in the shape the customers desired. He toured Kerala, Andhra and the rest of Tamil Nadu to get different and unique pieces. He exclaimed that his business was doing very well as collecting antique pieces have evoked interest in a lot of people now.

                  

His business has spread only through customer good will and now he plans to replicate olden style furniture with the old wood that is available. He explained “I have customers who live abroad and also foreigners who come to our city for work. They like to visit my place and see all the old stuff that I have collected from all over South India and pick and choose their pieces of interest.”

Furniture made from old wood lasted for more than 100 years because the trees were cut only after lasting for several decades and hence the wood was of very good quality.  He added that very skilled carpenters were needed to make furniture in the old style because it demanded a lot of experience and expertise.

Ravi Shankar’s antique shop is at
12, Sivaraman Street, Mandaveli, Chennai – 28
Phone +91 44 2461 6197, 94440 40344
Email lkexports@yahoo.com

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