PROFILE

When her hot-shot lawyer husband was neck-deep at work, she immersed herself in her hobby to fight boredom. Today, it’s this hobby that has made Meenakshi Salve, the better half of Harish Salve, former solicitor general of India, a sought-after name in the world of stained glass. This February she unveiled her boutique for stained glass called Ame De Verre (meaning soul of the glass) at the high-end DLF Emporio Mall in Delhi.

Salve’s love for glass and colours drew her away from textile designing (she did a course from the South Delhi Polytechnic For Women in the early ’90s). “I realised that fabric painting was fun but somehow I enjoyed painting on glass even more,” says Salve.

But before she embarked on this venture she figured that she needed a spot of training. In ’97, she went to New York to learn the ropes of the business under a senior artist. “I learnt how to cut glass and to deal with different glass textures. In a way, this stint helped me to go about the business in a more organised manner,” she says.

Once back home, she got deeply involved in helping her husband build their home. She made the lamps and door panels for the house. “When my husband realised that I was serious about designing in glass and that it was much more than a hobby, he encouraged me to take it further,” she says.

Inspired by the iconic Tiffany lamps, she began hand-crafting stained glass lamps and panels — her work improving with each successive piece.

Today, Salve is five exhibitions old, four of which have been held in Delhi (in 2000, 2002 and 2004) with the latest one having just concluding at her new store. In 2007, her solo exhibition of stained glass at the Royal Academy of Art in London was a huge hit with most products selling out.

Today Salve’s repertoire includes much more than just stained glass panels. Part of her home has been converted into a studio where her four craftsmen implement the designs.

Trends

“Do not clutter your home with too many props,” is the advice from Salve who has customised many homes. She feels that you can add depth and character to your home quite easily. She says: “A single elegant piece (perhaps a work in glass) is enough to make a dramatic impact.”

Salve feels that Eastern artifacts give a heavy look to a house. On the other hand, Salve says that Tiffany lamps continue to be all the rage. “Tiffany lamps are evergreen and add character to a house,” she says. As for stained glass doors and windows, Salve says they add colour and will never go out of style. “The glass panels play on light and always brighten up interiors,” says Salve.

Salve feels that custom-built products are today’s mantra. “When people spend a lot of money they want exclusivity,” says Salve.

Products

Salve has big plans ahead. The globetrotting designer is diversifying her work. The designer store is also offering exclusive pieces in ceramic, glass, porcelain and crystal that she and her husband handpicked from different parts of Europe.

There’s a line of home accessories — costing anywhere between Rs 2,000 and Rs 25,000 apiece — that includes candle holders, tissue holders, vases, photo frames and more. Tiffany lamps, door and window panels cost between Rs 15,000 and Rs 5 lakh depending on the size and intricacy of the work.

At her recently-concluded exhibition in Delhi she introduced luxury Italian lifestyle brand, Baldi, in India. The collection consists of a range of decorative art and home accessories. Handmade in lead crystal, the pieces are embellished with semi-precious stones like malachite, lapis lazuli and more.

But even as she globe trots, culling exclusive works and brands for her store, she intends to continue customising stained glass products for her clients. And she promises that her annual exhibitions at Ame De Verre will introduce a new design element each year.