Jagdish Mittal (99) has had a long journey of spotting magic in what others presume to be ‘junk’.

His house in Hyderabad doubles as a museum for priceless and countless Indian artefacts.

What’s most interesting is that the ‘museum’ provides each guest with a personalised experience.

Every piece is in storage, carefully protected, until it needs to be brought out for viewing. Mittal’s grandson and CEO of the museum, Naveen Beesa says that, unlike other museums, nothing is in cabinets or on the walls. “You can touch the object, feel it and see it up close.”

Viewing is only available on an appointment basis. And while you gaze at each work of art, Mittal’s commentary is bound to accompany it. After all, as he emphasises, “Each piece has a story.”

Born in Mussoorie in 1925, Mittal’s family moved to Gorakhpur because of his father’s engineering job. It was here that Mittal had his first tryst with the arts.

“I observed the craftsmen working near my house. I remember going to watch the potters and weavers at the age of seven. As I watched them work, my interest deepened,” he recalls. As early as Class 6, he had a knack for discerning which pieces of art were associated with a legacy.

With these early instances serving as his springboard, Mittal’s formal foray into the arts began when he was 17 years old.

Later, he was joined by his wife and fellow artist Kamla who he met at Kala Bhavana, the progressive visual arts institution founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1919.

Today, the Jagdish and Kamla Mittal Museum of Indian Art set up in March 1976 boasts over 2,500 of India’s finest artefacts dating from 1200 AD to 1900 AD. As Naveen shares, “My grandfather does not buy anything in any of the auction houses. Everything that is in the museum is something he has seen during his travels and bought.”

The 1990 Padma Shri awardee has always had one intent — for art to be accessible.

Kantha: Embroidered and quilted with the design of birds and animals, Cotton, West Bengal, Late 19th century, Acc. No. 76.1552

Usha receives a boon from Parvati, Attributed to the Guler artist Nikka working at Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, c. 1780-90, Acc. No. 76.284

A Rani on a terrace is presented with falcons, Guler style, c. 1746 -48, Acc. No. 76.266

Kakubha Ragini of Shri Raga from a Ragamala series, Kota style, c. 1660, Acc. No. 76.127

Globular hookah base, bidri alloy inlaid with silver and brass, Deccan, Bidar, 1634 AD, Acc. No. 76.1222

Circular salver (thali) with animals and birds amid animated floral arabesques copper, with chased and engraved work, Deccan, Golkonda, c.1600, Acc. No 76.1442

Plump begum, marbleizing with touches of colour, gold, and silver, Bijapur, c. 1625-30, Acc. No 76.408

A parrot perched on a mango tree; a ram tethered below, Deccan, Golconda School, c.1670, Acc. No. 76.438

Bhavana Rishi, mounted on the tiger provided by Bhadravati, proceeds to meet Shiva, and on the way kills the demon Kalavasura with the help of the Kunapulis, Detail of a painted scroll. Pigments on cotton, Telangana, c.1625 Acc. No. 76.469