The Maker
Thakur Ji & his Team
SURFACE & Finish · Uttar Pradesh
The signature red stain of MRID was developed and refined in our workshop, together with Thakur Ji, through months of testing to achieve the right colour, depth and durability.
Thakur Ji has led the painting work at our family business for over forty years. His understanding of materials, surfaces and finishes comes from decades of working directly with furniture, and an instinct for how each material responds to treatment.
For MRID, his role extended beyond applying a finish. From surface preparation and sanding to base coats, pigments and protective layers, he helped us understand what each material needed to retain its character while becoming suitable for everyday use.
My constant argument with him was simple: I wanted the material to remain itself. The natural texture of cane, the grain of wood and the earthiness of terracotta had to remain visible, without compromising on durability or practicality.
Mahesh ji shaping the teak base for Saksh, in his Sikar workshop.
Over seven to eight months, we worked through different finishes, water-based formulations, pigments and protective treatments. The saffron finish for Akr and Saksh had to protect the cane without concealing its texture. The red stain needed to retain its richness without transferring colour, while the geru finish for terracotta brought an entirely different set of challenges.
Each finish required a balance between preserving the material and protecting it for everyday use. It took repeated trials, discussions and disagreements to arrive at a solution that felt right.
"Forty years of experience, brought together with a willingness to keep experimenting until every finish felt just right."