Press
BILLIONAIRE: How I Travel: Rolly and Rajeeta Gupta
January 21, 2020
BILLIONAIRE: A Billionaire’s Christmas Stocking Fillers
November 28, 2019
The Design Edit: Raro London
October 21, 2019
Country & Town House – July 2019
July 9, 2019
RUTÁGE – Russian London Lifestyle Magazine
April 1, 2019
Luxuria Lifestyle – March 2019
March 28, 2019
Independent: What Does the Modern Collector Look for?
March 15, 2019
Luxury Briefing: Interior and Design February 2019
February 28, 2019
Bentley Magazine: Sister Act
August 3, 2016
Craftsmanship
What makes Raro designs stand out is the superb craftsmanship in evidence. From the beginning, the sisters conceived a brand that would not only be designed by them, but which would be made to the same rigorous standards seen in antique furniture in the great country houses of England or the palaces of France. To this end, they put together a team of Muslim artisans with skills and techniques handed down over generations traceable to the Mughal rule of sixteenth century India who could achieve the meticulous finishing they required, and set up their own dedicated workshop in their home city of Delhi.
The fact that every piece is made under one roof means that quality control is high at every stage of the making process. From the first, Rajeeta and Rolly envisioned Raro London as a luxury brand that would be synonymous with quality and craftsmanship of a truly superb level, aiming not only to create furniture editions of note, but ones that would withstand the test of time and become legacy pieces to be handed down through future generations.
So intense is the making process that some designs may require ten-twelve different craft skills to take them from conception to completion.
These include intricate wood carving; metalwork in brass, silver or gold; nacre or horn marquetry; gilding, and precious stones set into jewelled detailing. Indeed, one master craftsperson may be responsible for a limited-edition piece in its entirety over the five or six months it takes to make, because the individual sense of artistry required to produce such complex patterns with precision cannot be replicated by another, no matter how skilled. This engenders a very intense and human connection to the furniture pieces, which imbues Raro designs with a sense of soul.
Welcome to Raro London
Art into design
The detail, quality and refinement are matched by the rarest materials – jade, coral, turquoise – as well as rich hardwoods and exotic skins, precious metals and fine veneers.
Who we are
Who we are
Sisters Rajeeta and Rolly Gupta founded the House of Raro twenty years ago having
studied interior design and couture fashion respectively. Taking inspiration from
luminaries such as Carl Fabergé, Louis-François Cartier and Joel Arthur Rosenthal, the
two sisters were determined to create legacy furniture pieces without compromising
quality, creativity or the time needed to produce each piece.
Everything produced is driven by their passion for exemplary craftsmanship, precious materials, exquisite detailing and luxurious finishes, combined with a desire to put India on the map for limited-edition, collectable furniture. To this end, they travelled the globe looking for the finest materials available including farmed python and alligator skins from the Americas, bison horn and ebony from Africa, jade from the Panjshir mines of Afghanistan, rock crystal from Brazil, couture textiles from Paris and sustainable coral from Sardinia. Their creative palette also features materials for which India is rightly famous, including tropical hardwoods, silver, gold and both precious and semi-precious stones.
Rajeeta and Rolly take inspiration from around the world, including Japan, South
America, Europe and Africa, producing pieces that are classic with an undercurrent of
exoticism and bravado. This is a new aesthetic in the arena of international, collectible
design, with every edition made to outstanding standards of craftsmanship.
The Atelier
Two years ago, Rajeeta and Rolly decided to take their brand to London, launching Raro London from an elegant salon in St James’s (by appointment only). The choice of St James’s was a conscious decision to align the atelier with the world famous art galleries and historic auction houses of the area. The Raro London collection is displayed in a handsome neo-Palladian building, the former residence of Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace and daughter of Lord Byron, against a backdrop of grand architectural features and ornate plasterwork. Here, Raro’s discerning and international clients can see the collections under one roof, within a setting that is both unique and appropriate.