Hyderabad: The flood of fakes has adversely affected the sale of antiques that were once the hallmark of Mahboob Chowk near Charminar.
One of the oldest markets in the city, Mahboob Chowk is synonymous with the antique business since the last five to six decades.
Of late, aluminum items coated with copper, which closely resemble original antiques, have come into the market.
They are moulded using patterns similar to that of antiques, noted Md. Abdur Rasheed, who owns one of the popular antique stores in the market.
Most of the antiques sold in this market are original and they belong to the Nizam or British era.
“There’s a gramophone in my shop. There is also an antique telephone which dates back to 1930. It now costs '5,000. There used to be a greater demand for these antique items a decade ago, but not anymore. Another reason for demand declining is the size of homes. Earlier, houses were larger and tastefully decorated. Now, even those who love antiques are not able to find space in their homes to display them. It is also true that a lot of fake antiques are in the market. There’s the fear of being duped, which makes people stay away from all antique shops,” said Mr Abdur Rasheed.
Sagar Sardana, another antique store owner, said, “We always sold original antiques. Antiques are rare. An unusual colour or design is set for only a particular type of antique. The sizes and shapes differ. We bring in antiques from Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Kerala. A genuine antique lover will be able to differentiate between an original and a fake one. It’s important to understand the difference. Else, people can be cheated.”
“If an antique item is not being reproduced or if it is difficult to reproduce, then the demand for it increases. It comes under the rare category. But there are the look-alikes made of aluminum and coated with copper. They are cheap and hence are in huge demand. So, our market is taking a hit. There are only a few genuine lovers of antiques left now who are really willing to spend,” added Mr Sagar.
