OUR STORY
Gyan Museum orbits around the assortments of the naturalist, collector, and gemologist Late Mr. Gyan Chand Ji Dhaddha (1940-2004). It is a tribute to the legend who in the world that he foresaw, formulated his media. He was born in a traditional Jain family and was surrounded by philosophy, visuals, and belief systems that instilled in him a love for arts, crafts, poetry, and literature. At the age of sixteen, his father presented him two objects which began his childhood fascination for antiques and led him to become an avid collector. He believed that the most beautiful relationship one can have with objects is to own them, so he travelled his passion and kept collecting the cultural genre.
Gyan Museum is constructed to depict a reciprocal recognition of about 3000 years of cultural heritage. Today the museum has in possession over 2500 works of exceptional art both of Indian and foreign origin.
THE LEGEND
Mr. Gyan Chand Ji Dhaddha was a man of zeal, a man who wanted to do different from the league, a man of literary and historical interest, a man who lived his passion all his life and this was evident from the smile his eyes had every time he added to his collection!
Apart from this, his passion for gems and jewellery knew no boundaries; he had a peculiar way of surveying his surroundings and picking out the extraordinary. After having realized his passion he decided to turn it into his profession and hence he started up Gem plaza: a jewellery house, which has been one of the pioneers of handcrafted jewellery and a synonym for exquisite craftsmanship.
When Mr. Gyan passed away in 2004, his sons- Suresh & Arun decided to create the Gyan Museum as a tribute to him. The museum showcases the tapestries, paintings, and antiques collected by Mr. Gyan during his life span. Further, a section of the museum showcases his personal belongings too. It was not the objects that brought life into him, it was he who brought life to the objects.
THE SPACE
Gyan Museum is a
Paul Mathieu signature
original design.
It is the perfect backdrop for the Gyan Collections. From the mantra-like circular architectural layout to the display cases, marble front desk, hand-knotted rug, bronze daybed, and Murano glass chandelier, the environment echoes the uniqueness and diversity of the objets d’art displayed.
Tall minimalist pillars and hand-chiselled stone steps were created for the entrance facade; a fragrant plantation of local Champa trees framed by layers of bamboo for the front lawn
After pushing the door’s exquisite rock crystal handle and stepping into a high-ceilinged, all-white, calm, fresh space, one is greeted and blessed by a monolithic jade statue of Lord Ganesh.
This space is the perfect transition from the busyness of the outside world into the world of the Gyan Collections. A stark white marble staircase that refers to the architecture of Rajasthani forts, ascends to two massive curved doors. The first leads into Gyan’s collection of antiquities and objets d’art; the second into Gyan’s salon of contemporary creations.
Gyan reflects Mathieu’s long relationship with and passion for India, his understanding of historical references, and his respect for high-quality materials and master craftsmanship.