The Chitra Collection at The Adria

Since 2024, The Adria has been the proud home to a curated exhibition of historic silver teaware on loan from The Chitra Collection.

Each piece dates back to the original construction period of the hotel, offering a rare material connection to the building’s earliest chapter. Crafted during a time when silver embodied both function and refinement, the collection reflects the artistry, technical skill and social rituals of its era.

Carefully selected and displayed within the hotel’s living spaces, the silverware is presented not as a museum exhibit, but as part of the ongoing life of the house. This approach reinforces The Adria’s philosophy that heritage and craftsmanship gain meaning when they remain present and relevant.

Through its collaboration with The Chitra Collection, The Adria celebrates the continuity of design, material culture and hospitality — linking past and present through objects made to endure.

The Chitra Collection is one of the world’s most significant private collections of historic teawares. Founded in 2011 by Nirmal Sethia, Chairman of Newby Teas, the collection was created to preserve and celebrate the global heritage of tea culture. Named in honour of his late wife, Chitra, it now comprises nearly 2,000 exceptional objects spanning more than a thousand years of history.

Featuring pieces from Europe, Asia and the Americas, the collection reflects the profound cultural, social and economic influence of tea across the world. From its role as a symbol of hospitality and domestic life to its importance in trade, empire and global history, tea has shaped societies for centuries. The remarkable craftsmanship and innovation of the teawares in the Chitra Collection stand as a testament to this enduring legacy.

Owned by the N. Sethia Foundation, a charitable organisation supporting medical research, the arts, youth initiatives and disaster relief, the collection continues to be preserved and digitised for future exhibitions and public engagement.

Learn more about The Chitra Collection at
https://chitracollection.com/