Pervin Malhotra
Q. I am told there’s a good market for antique furniture. What does it take to be a furniture restorer? Would it be a good idea? — Rohini Khanna
A. Sure, why not! furniture restorers/conservators preserve and restore pieces of modern and antique furniture. Those specialising in historic or antique furniture may opt for conservation work to ensure that items retain their original characteristics. Restorers may use new materials to protect and update existing features. Restorers/conservators combine their specialist knowledge with a variety of practical techniques, such as veneering, marquetry, upholstery and polishing.
Ornamental or even functional furniture reflects the taste of a society, the style, culture and history of the period and above all, timelessness of design, which is why unique pieces sometimes gain an abstract or concrete value. It is due to this ‘value’ that furniture conservators/ restorers are in demand.
After carefully examining the condition of a particular piece you’ll take a call on the best way to restore or conserve it. To prolong and protect the life of a piece of furniture and artfully restore it to its original glory calls for creativity and careful planning before undertaking any ambitious conservation work. Even a minor mistake can damage a priceless piece.
Your work will also include sourcing materials, maintaining photographic and written records of projects, liaising with clients and colleagues, and providing specialist information.
Besides a genuine interest in the history of furniture, you need a patient and methodical yet creative approach and close attention to detail and a scientific temper to excel in this field.
Stay up to date with new preservation techniques and equipment, such as developments in digital imaging.
Furniture restorers are also hired by museums, auction houses, historical or heritage sites or antique dealers. Apart from possessing good communication skills to explain complex issues to clients, be prepared to travel extensively for sourcing and procuring the pieces.
Prospects in home science
Q. I have taken home science in BSc. I quite enjoy my subjects and would like to really explore prospects of jobs in this line. Could you please help? — Tarini Kumjar
A. First of all, you’ll need a good postgraduate qualification in this field.
Employment avenues for those specialising in Food & Nutrition or Food Services Management are truly vast and varied. There are essentially three sub-specialties in nutrition: therapeutic nutrition deals with disease and health. These specialists work in hospitals, spas, health clubs, hotels, airlines, NGOs and international organisations.
Food scientists focus on the chemical and physical properties of various edible ingredients. They essentially work in the food manufacturing industry, and with companies involved in manufacturing dietary and nutritional supplements. Food administration involves handling and managing food in an institutional setting i.e. hospitals, hotels and restaurants, airlines, railways, etc.
The jobs can be further classified as follows:
Production jobs: food preservation and specialized work in production units in the food processing industry.
Technical jobs: Food processing companies, food research labs and hotels require research assistants, food analysts, demonstrators, food scientists, etc. The work mainly involves testing products and recipes prepared according to the directions enlisted on product labels. They also conduct various experiments to help improve the nutritive value, flavour and general acceptability of the product.
Teaching jobs: in high school, polytechnics, catering and home science colleges.
Sales & marketing: Sales promotion and live demonstration of nutritive ready-to-cook foods and beverages, health snacks. You could even conduct your own theme-based cookery classes (e.g. gluten-free cooking, deserts for diabetics, fussy kids etc
Service & supervisory jobs: in hotels, tourist resorts, hostels, large factories, hospitals and nursing homes, catering establishments, fast food joints, large canteens, etc.
Writing jobs: With the explosion of food and health sites on the Internet (as well as in traditional media (i.e. newspapers and lifestyle magazines), there’s a great need for people who can create content: blogs, articles and write knowledgeably for websites and even present recipes listing the relevant food values in an attractive readable format.
Extension work: This involves educating specific segments of the population e.g. young mothers or villagers in the special food and dietary value of healthy eating, and including certain food stuffs in their diet.
Moreover, India’s rapidly developing food processing industry, spurred by the popularity of healthy pre-packaged foods, export potential and the entry of international giants and electronic media, offers ample job opportunities for those specialising in food and nutrition.
Email your queries to [email protected]
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