A Legacy Shaped in Stone Since 1820

STOWNZ is built upon a legacy of enterprise, craftsmanship, and cultural stewardship that traces back over two centuries. The Chandra family’s engagement with trade and industry dates as early as 1820, spanning fields that included agriculture, international commerce, banking, and manufacturing—activities that played a formative role in the economic fabric of pre‑independence India.

In recognition of their influence and leadership, members of the family were conferred the prestigious title of Rai Bahadur by the British Empire—an honour reserved for a select few and emblematic of authority, trust, and distinction. Rai Bahadur Seth Tara Chand later served as the Treasurer and Mayor of the city of Agra, a position he held until the era of Indian independence. The family also presided over the Calcutta Stock Exchange, then the foremost financial institution in the country.

In 1926, this legacy found its most enduring expression with the establishment of a marble works enterprise founded on principles of social responsibility and artistic patronage. Its mission extended beyond commerce: to support local artisans whose ancestors had shaped one of the world’s most revered monuments in marble—the Taj Mahal. At its height, the workshop engaged over four hundred master stone masons, producing exceptional marble works for prominent patrons, including the Viceroy of India.

Among its most celebrated creations was The Mughal Suite, commissioned for Doris Duke and James Cromwell—designed by Bloomfield Architects on the recommendation of the Viceroy of India—and now preserved as part of the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design in Hawaii.

Originally founded with philanthropic intent, the marble enterprise evolved into the family’s principal vocation and was restructured in 1980 under the leadership of Naveen Chandra. In the decades that followed, the company delivered some of India’s most prestigious architectural and bespoke stone projects, distinguished by exceptional material selection and craftsmanship.

The next generation, led by Barun Chandra, expanded this legacy onto a global stage. Today, STOWNZ serves an international clientele across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia, executing projects and supplying stone of the highest calibre to architects, designers, institutions, and private patrons worldwide.

STOWNZ today stands at the intersection of heritage and contemporary architecture—a house where stone is not treated as a commodity, but as culture, structure, and legacy. Every project is guided by restraint, precision, and a deep respect for material—values shaped over generations and carried forward into the present.