hen the BRITISH travelled to exotic lands in the nineteenth century, they adapted to new climates and cultures with sola topees, verandahs, and caned furniture but still preserved their precious Victorian customs.  The variety of furniture used and left behind still dominate their reminiscence, making the native owner proud of their possessions. Initially, the visitors found it strange to see the native Indians sit under banyan trees and shaped rocks and conduct business. The lack of understanding of this culture forced them to take back to their own. One of the first elements that were to be imported were chairs. Very soon, England was made portable and as customary, the English took it wherever they went. The rest is history. All what came in, was for use in the East India Company, later the royal ones got into the Fort St. George as colonial furniture. The household ones got into English settlements. The campaign furniture moved territory to territory, not to forget the missionary furniture that occupied the steeples.

The immigration contained furniture starting from the pilgrim style of the 17th century, The William and Mary style, Queen Anne style, The Chippendale style, Windsor Chairs and the Revival and Gothic style.Needless to say, it was the Victorian, Cast Iron and the Wicker that dominated the period.

The STEVE BORGIA INDIAN HERITAGE MUSEUM has been carefully sourcing, collecting and restoring some of the rare furniture of the East India Company and selectively, the rare ones are today exhibited at INDeco Hotels Mahabalipuram.