Muscat: Richwood Antiques, a European company with over 25 years of experience in sourcing and restoring 19th century antique furniture has come out with exquisite and rare items at its showroom in Muscat.
Richwood Antiques has on display elaborate mirrors gilded in 24 carat gold leaf, hand polished mahogany dining room tables and chairs to seat four to 14 people, leather top desks, bookcases, sideboards and cabinets, all made in exotic timbers.
Since its launch in Oman almost four years ago, Richwood Antiques has become the go-to furniture emporium in the country for magnificent original European antique furniture and decorative pieces.
Speaking to the Times of Oman, Rosemary Whelan, owner of Richwood Antiques, who has experience of over two decades in the trade, said there has been an overwhelming response to the new collection. “I am delighted with this current collection. I think it’s magnificent and my customers love it, too. I have a wonderful selection of original gilt-framed mirrors from Paris and beautiful polished mahogany furniture from London and Dublin, stamped by the original makers,” said Rosemary, who is also an affiliated member of CINOA, an international association for art and antique experts from around the world.
She is also a valued member of the Irish Antique Dealers Association and served as a council member for several years. Rosemary is possibly the only member of both these associations trading in Oman and possibly the entire region at this time. “When I came here, I was surprised that nobody is selling these things in Oman, so I thought to show these valuable items to people here. I organised a few exhibitions here and it gave me a lot of exposure because so many people saw what we were doing. Since then, we have been doing really well,” she said.
Mahogany wood
According to Rosemary, Omani’s have a “special interest” in polished mahogany wood, that is becoming scant. “The demand is more for the polished mahogany among the Omani’s but it is becoming a very rare wood and you cannot make furniture in mahogany anymore. The original pieces that are made in mahogany are unique and hence we sell a lot of these here,” she said. Apart from that, Rosemary also sells beautiful furniture constructed in exotic timbers of mahogany, rosewood, satinwood and walnut, finely carved and decorated with intricate inlays and fine brass-work, all skill-fully executed by craftsmen of the period.
“The pieces that I have are sourced and brought to Oman. I chose them very carefully and for various reasons. Any item is either unique, rare, has history, or has simply been chosen for its outstanding quality and beauty,” she noted.
One of the rarest items in stock is a pair of magnificent English cast and polished brass standard lamps, made around 1850. “Standard lamps of such high quality are usually only found as single lamps today. Over generations, items pass through a family and are split between family members. To source an original pair is extremely difficult. This particular pair is heavy quality and telescopic so you can adjust the height to suit your lighting mood. They are solid brass which you soon discover when you try to carry them,” she explained.
Speaking about her interest in antique trade, Rosemary, who single-handedly manages the business, recalled the good-old days. “I am from Dublin in Ireland and I entered this business at a very young age of 18. I wanted to become a nurse and during my college days, I was offered a summer-job in an antique shop to pass the time. I was fortunate enough to have my first sale in the first week itself and was hooked ever since then,” she said. Her first sale was a beautiful Victorian rosewood armchair. “That changed the course of my life. The antique business has only done well for me and I am enjoying every bit of it.