Former finance guru Varun Panjwani wants to revive the lost art of crafting decorative silver objects. He shows Rebecca Lo how one-of-a-kind treasures can be solid investments.

Varun Panjwani first came across silver when he was working at Apple.

The technology giant uses it in its speakers and many other products, as the metal's superb electrical conductivity makes it ideal for gadgets.

Panjwani, a Hong Kong resident with an information technology and finance background, was initially looking at silver from an investment angle.

The Royal Maharaja Collection contains statues and home decor derived from the best specimens found in ancient Raj palaces. Photos provided to China Daily

"Silver moves in an exaggerated manner mimicking gold," he explains.

"But while gold is just decorative, silver is used in technology. And there is the craft aspect to silver. It has decorative appeal. If the pieces don't move, they still have intrinsic value."

Panjwani came up with the idea to marry the material aspects of silver with the virtually extinct art of crafting the metal according to the royal palace traditions of northern India.

"The crafting of silver is a dying art," he believes. "It used to be passed from generation to generation. Northern India is rich in history.

"The kings decorated the palaces in the region with textiles and accessories made from silver. As recent generations moved away from crafts and into commercial industries, the art of working silver was lost."

Panjwani set up Silver by Temptations as an extension of his wife's family business, Temptations, in the summer of 2012.

"I spent the first six months sourcing artisans in India," he recalls.

"I go back now on a quarterly basis."

About 70 percent of his artisans are based in India.

For the launch of Silver by Temptations, Panjwani introduced three collections that range from Indian to Chinese in design inspiration.

The Imperial Dragon Collection is a series of intricately embellished teapots that celebrate the strength and grace of the Chinese dragon.

The Royal Maharaja Collection contains statues and home decor items derived from the best specimens found in ancient Raj palaces.

And The Luxury Silverware Collection is a range of solid silver products with modern classic aesthetics.

"All are handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces. Some are decorated generously with semiprecious stones such as rubies, emeralds and jade," Panjwani says.

"Our gems come from my wife's company, Temptations."

He explains that to obtain jewelry-grade gems, a large rock needs to be worked to get that perfect nugget. But the rest of the rock is still a semiprecious stone, and its pieces are used for decorative purposes.

"Our pieces take four to six months to produce, all by hand," Panjwani says.

"Some can be made more quickly, while others may take up to a year. We usually use one artisan per piece, or various pieces may be compiled."

Artisans would sketch out possible designs, and Panjwani approves them, sometimes tweaking or adapting them to better suit the Chinese market.

The products come in three finishes: polished, oxidized and coated.

Coated finishes protect the silver but mean the piece can't be used for serving food or drinks.

Oxidization gives the item a dark appearance that adds to its antique look and doesn't require much maintenance. Polished items can be wiped down with cloth or silver polish to get them to shine again.

As silver is a soft metal, there is the danger of inadvertently warping a product by handling it.

Panjwani reassures customers that it is part of silver's appeal. He demonstrates by twisting the spout of a teapot: "It won't break. You should be able to press it back to shape. The value is the same, although you may lose a bit of the labor involved in crafting it."

He also isn't concerned about forgeries.

"Our products are not machine made," he says.

"I feel that the detailed work will appeal to the Chinese market. I hope to bring the craft to the same sphere as crystal or porcelain."

Contact the writer at sundayed@chinadaily.com.cn.

Silver by Temptations displays three collections that range from Indian to Chinese in design inspiration.

(China Daily 09/15/2013 page15)