Scope & HS coverage

• Genuine antiques (>100 years): HS 9706. In India, export of “antiquities” is prohibited unless specially authorised by the Government/ASI under the Antiquities & Art Treasures Act, 1972. In practice, commercial export is barred. So overseas orders must not be genuine antiques (age-dated >100).
• Exportable look-alike categories:
  
  • Reclaimed/vintage (<100 yrs) & reproduction furniture → HS 9403 (Other furniture and parts; wood sub-line 940360).
    
  • New brass décor/artware (statues, bells, frames, mirrors) → HS 8306 (statuettes & other ornaments, bells, picture frames & mirrors of base metal).
    

India export snapshot

• Furniture (HS 9403): India exported US$1.13 bn of HS 9403 in 2023 (all materials), with wooden furniture HS 940360 at US$654.4 mn; top buyer is the United States.
  
• Brass artifacts (HS 8306): India exported US$239 mn in 2023; top markets USA (~US$117 mn), Germany, Netherlands. Within that, bells HS 830610 ≈ US$12.7 mn.
  

Compliance red-flag: If an item is truly >100 years old (HS 9706), do not export from India (unless ASI-authorised). Use age affidavits, provenance and product labelling (“reproduction”, “vintage <100 years”) to avoid mis-declaration.

Regional strengths & why India

Brass (artifacts & décor)

• Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh (Peetal-Nagri/“Brass City”) — centuries-old cluster; GI-tagged “Moradabad Metal Craft”; exports to US/EU/ME; deep capabilities in sand casting, electroplating, lacquering & powder-coating.
  
• Jalesar, Etah (U.P.) — GI “Jalesar Dhatu Shilp” (2023) — specialised in bells/ghunghroo/temple hardware; >1,000 MSME units with traditional embossing/engraving. Ideal for premium bells & ritual décor.
  
• Dhokra (Dokra) craft clusters — lost-wax brass/bronze across Bastar (Chhattisgarh), Bankura (West Bengal) and Adilabad (Telangana) — several GI registrations (e.g., Bastar Dhokra, Bengal Dokra). Suits artisanal collections with strong storytelling
  

Wood (furniture & carved pieces)

• Jodhpur, Rajasthan — India’s biggest export hub for solid-wood furniture (acacia/sheesham/mango), reclaimed timbers; dense manufacturing ecosystem and containerised flows.
  
• Saharanpur, U.P. — GI “Saharanpur Wood Craft” — fine hand-carving & inlay for cabinets, mirrors and panels (often paired with brass).
  
• Sankheda, Gujarat — GI “Sankheda Furniture” — turned wood with lacquer work for accent chairs, swings, daybeds
  

Quality & specification cues

Brass artifacts (HS 8306)

• Alloy & heavy metals: Specify low-lead brass and compliance to EU REACH Annex XVII restrictions (lead & nickel where applicable). Nickel release limits apply to parts in prolonged skin contact (test to EN 1811:2023); lead limits apply to articles mouthed by children and to specific matrices (PVC, etc.). For home-décor not in skin contact these typically don’t trigger, but request test reports to be safe.
  
• Finishes: Clear lacquer or powder-coat to prevent tarnish; plating thickness (e.g., ≥5 µm nickel + ≥0.1 µm lacquer) for premium lines. (Best practice; buyer spec.)
  
• Workmanship: Uniform wall thickness on cast pieces; clean parting lines; stable bases; felted pads; RoHS-compliant solders where used. (Best practice.)
  

Wood furniture (HS 9403/940360)

• Timbers: Mango (Mangifera indica), acacia (Acacia nilotica/auriculiformis), sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo). For sheesham, CITES controls were eased for finished products in Nov 2022 (no CITES permit for many finished items), but confirm destination-country rules and any weight/annotation specifics.
  
• Moisture & stability: Kiln-dried lumber 8–12% MC, anti-warp construction, floating panels in doors/tops; corrosion-resistant hardware. (Best practice.)
  
• Emissions & coatings: Ask for low-VOC finishes and (if panels are used) E1/E0 formaldehyde claims with third-party reports. (Best practice.)
  

Market-access & compliance

• India’s antiquity law: Don’t export items actually >100 years old unless ASI permits—this is the governing regime. Label as reproduction/vintage <100 where appropriate; keep provenance.
  
• US market (wood): Lacey Act declarations are required for most wood furniture—include botanical species and country of harvest in paperwork; maintain supply-chain legality files
  
• EU market (wood): The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR, Reg. 2023/1115) covers wood & wood-containing products including furniture—requires geolocation-based due diligence for the wood. Recycled/second-hand material is out of scope, but new-build furniture is in scope
  
• Chemicals in finished goods (EU): Ensure applicable REACH Annex XVII restrictions (e.g., nickel release, lead in certain articles) are respected; keep test reports.
  
• Wood packaging for export (all destinations): Use ISPM-15 heat-treated/stamped pallets & crates (Indian DGFT/Customs enforce this and many countries reject non-compliant WPM).
  

What to source from where

• Cast & hand-finished brass décor, bells, temple objects: Moradabad, Jalesar (GI-backed craft ecosystems, finishing and plating capacity).
  
• Hand-carved wood mirrors, panels paired with brass: Saharanpur.
  
• Solid-wood casegoods (reclaimed/mango/acacia) & “antique-look” furniture: Jodhpur; Sankheda for lacquered accent pieces.
  

Data references

• Antiquities export law: Antiquities & Art Treasures Act, 1972 (Ministry of Culture/ASI).
  
• HS definitions: 9706 “antiques >100 years” (India customs reference).
  
• Exports – Furniture: HS 9403 total (2023) & HS 940360 detail (WITS/TrendEconomy).
  
• Exports – Brass artifacts: HS 8306 total (OEC, 2023); HS 830610 bells (WITS).
  
• GI/Clusters: Moradabad Metal Craft (GI), Jalesar Dhatu Shilp (GI 2023), Saharanpur Wood Craft (GI), Sankheda Furniture (GI).
  
• Wood legality & species: CITES update for Dalbergia sissoo finished products (PIB); US Lacey Act (CBP/APHIS).
  
• EU market access: EUDR regulation scope; REACH Annex XVII restrictions (ECHA).
  
• ISPM-15 wood packaging: India export conditions referencing ISPM-15 (DGFT/Customs schedule notice)
  

Quick “spec sheet”

• Brass décor (HS 8306): Low-lead brass; lacquering or powder-coat; nickel-free/low-release finishes for items with any skin contact; felted bases; EN 1811 where applicable; GI-cluster make (Moradabad/Jalesar) acceptable.
• Wood furniture (HS 9403/940360): KD 8–12% MC; joinery (mortise/tenon or dowelled), floating panels; FSC/legality docs; Lacey Act data pack (species/country); EUDR geolocation pack for wood inputs; ISPM-15 packaging.
• Legal statement: Goods are reproductions/vintage <100 years; not antiques under Indian law.