Contemporary Arts & Crafts

Oh, if only money did grow on trees. We'd have a lot more trees planted, and we'd have a lot more stuff. And acquiring stuff will be number one priority on your mind when you visit Contemporary. Almost everything is so wonderful and so wonderfully out of reach, that it makes quite a philosopher of you.

All right, so maybe we exaggerate a little. Not all things here are over-the-top pricey; just all the things you covet. Like the beaten metal vases, the shimmery copper curios, the oh-so-lovely photo frames, the glazed pottery display and the antique garden bench. Yes, all that and a garden bench. Plus, some very handsome chests of drawers, and one or two beautiful dining-table chairs.

Furniture, however, is not the raison d'etre of the store. The real raison d'etre, if you insist on pinning it down, is art. Art that you can actually use, contrary to what Oscar Wilde may have you believe. Sure, you could use any old mirror in your bathroom, but imagine the difference a wrought-iron encased looking glass would make. Contemporary is exactly the place to pick up those one or two things that would instantly transform the look of your home and wardrobe.

In the home arena, you'll find crockery, mirror-embroidered wall-hangings, wooden, mud and glass lamps, kalamkari rugs, hammocks, cane mats, solid brass fixtures and bedroom and kitchen accessories. Candle-stands are available in the most innovative forms here. The overhead lamps, carpets and wall-mountable light fittings are also beautifully practical.

In the wardrobe section, there is a small collection of dress material, kurtas and some real pretty tops for women. There's not too much variety here, but if you enjoy mixing and matching, you'll get your money's worth. Leather shoes and slippers are stocked here, as well as some great bags. The bags in jute, stiff leather and embroidered raw silk are quite attractive.

Contemporary also has an ever-growing collection of glassware, and the shattered-glass vases are particularly fetching. Hyderabad's very own artist-potter-in-residence, Aarti Vir, also supplies her glazed-clay range to the store. And for the eco-friendly woman, there's a small selection of jewelry in wood, terra cotta and the like.

Biotique products retail at the store, as does Karen Anand's line of sauces, creams and pastes, plus some fine teas, imported olive oil and condiments. Contemporary certainly lives up to its name, but the reason it always stays in season is because it promises something unique each time you visit.