collecting antiques

[rupertstreet]

Am fairly new to the antique scene in Singapore.

Does anyone here have any advice on the places to go and the places to avoid?

I have a preference for buddha images and old chinese furniture.

[PhantomX]

Am fairly new to the antique scene in Singapore.

Does anyone here have any advice on the places to go and the places to avoid?

I have a preference for buddha images and old chinese furniture.

Try Tomlinson Gallery and Lop Buri in Tanglin area next to Tanglin Mall

[ksl]

Am fairly new to the antique scene in Singapore.

Does anyone here have any advice on the places to go and the places to avoid?

I have a preference for buddha images and old chinese furniture.

The antique scene in Singapore is very overpriced, dodgy with many replica's from China. But my main point is that dealers here believe antique to be 40 to 50 years old when you look at the definition of the word. And prices' to put it mildly are at least 100% more than they are worth, I guess this is due to unwise turists, that know little of the antiques market.

There are really many places around, and the fairest for price that I've come across is an old guy that moved shop from Orchard rd, to the area where i am. He's got some very good original antiques and i often call in for a chat. He ships many to the USA in containers! Not much furniture, here, but lots of statues and some buddhas.

Just Anthony on upper paya lebar rd, is expensive, but he has lots of furniture, you need to bargain hard!

Some of the stuff would never ever reach the prices, they are asking for, in the larger capital cities around the world, especially in London!

Although I blame the tourism and expats, that mostly pay the prices without the hassle of bargaining, for the state of the market here! Are you collecting or dealing?

I have a contact that brings in a few pieces of furniture from China, after renovation, at very reasonable prices and he also brings in reproduction furniture!

[rupertstreet]

Thanks ksl. I heard about the reproductions too. I've been looking around and i notice that some places do, as a matter of practice, give you certificates of authencity with even a buy-back guarantee should it turn out otherwise. I would feel more comfortable with this kind of assurance. I am surprised that some of the bigger dealers don't engage in such a practice.

I recently came across some chinese furniture and a reputable dealer and I was told that they were old and original huanghuali horseshoe chairs and zitan southern official hat chairs. The latter costs about S$16k for a pair. When I asked around, especially this much smaller shop that I frequent, he told me that it can't be original because if it were, it would fetch higher. He said he would get it himself if it were $16k for a pair of originals. Now i'm all confused. At another pretty established dealer, a pair of antique huanghuali rose chairs were going for S$22k. Again, i've been told that true originals should fetch a higher price, by virtue of its rarity and shortage of supply. Does that mean that the ones I saw were good reproductions but passed off as originals?

And btw, why are chinese birdcages so expensive?

Thanks. To answer your question, I am buying them for myself.

[Bafana]

Have to say I really like watching the BBC Antique Road Show, Bargain Hunt and Cash In the Attic on BBC Entertainment and am a closet antiques wanne be.

As such does anyone know where they hold flea markets, antique fairs, etc in Singapore? Is therte a Singapore Antiques related website?

[rupertstreet]

Hi Bafana, i don't think there's such a website around. Not many locals appreciate antiques. Most still go for contemporary art. Antiques buyers still consists mostly of expats and the older locals. Everytime i step into antique shops, the dealers would comment that it's hard to find young locals interested in such things.

There are 2 known flea markets in Singapore but there usually aren't very many good finds. One is located at the clubstreet public carpark and the other is at Sungei road near Jalan Besar.

[Bafana]

There are 2 known flea markets in Singapore but there usually aren't very many good finds. One is located at the clubstreet public carpark and the other is at Sungei road near Jalan Besar.

Very interesting - So what dys/times are they on?

BTW there is an Antique Store on Joo Chiat Road (behind Cold Storage) and a Hotel Second Hand Furniture joint as well mid way that seems to have some good stuff.

It would be really good to get into some house clearances but mayeb the stuff is sent to Salvation Army instead. One of these days I should make a trip to teh Salavation Army store in Changi. Has anyone else checked there?

[ksl]

Have to say I really like watching the BBC Antique Road Show, Bargain Hunt and Cash In the Attic on BBC Entertainment and am a closet antiques wanne be.

As such does anyone know where they hold flea markets, antique fairs, etc in Singapore? Is therte a Singapore Antiques related website?

My favourite pass time in the UK is searching car boot sales and flea markets, I've made some good investments in the past, doing this, and my best pal had over 90.000 banked in 3 years of doing house clearance, and believe it or not, his live in German partner emptied the bank account, and disappeared to Spain, this was a few years ago. One learns the hard way, real hard! But this was his second setback, the first was his divorce, having to sacrifice 50% of his hard earned cash!

For all the British here and abroad, I picked up this nice collectors piece, authenticated and valued, and the most unique piece in the world, 110 to 120 years old, vegetable dyed, wool on wool! Had several dealers to check it out from Arab street! Another hobby of mine! The workmanship is really something with around 8 or 10 colours in each elephants foot design 21 in all! Exceptionally lucky find, because the design resembles the British Union Jack! In fact the carpet is made up of many famous carpet designs, unusually put together! My best piece of which i will be sending to the UK shortly for auction!

Thanks ksl. I heard about the reproductions too. I've been looking around and i notice that some places do, as a matter of practice, give you certificates of authencity with even a buy-back guarantee should it turn out otherwise. I would feel more comfortable with this kind of assurance. I am surprised that some of the bigger dealers don't engage in such a practice.

I recently came across some chinese furniture and a reputable dealer and I was told that they were old and original huanghuali horseshoe chairs and zitan southern official hat chairs. The latter costs about S$16k for a pair. When I asked around, especially this much smaller shop that I frequent, he told me that it can't be original because if it were, it would fetch higher. He said he would get it himself if it were $16k for a pair of originals. Now i'm all confused. At another pretty established dealer, a pair of antique huanghuali rose chairs were going for S$22k. Again, i've been told that true originals should fetch a higher price, by virtue of its rarity and shortage of supply. Does that mean that the ones I saw were good reproductions but passed off as originals

It's really such a dodgy business, that even certificates' of authentication, have no meaning these days unless it's from reputable valuers, and even then they need to be contacted to verify!

The main thing is to be happy with the price you pay, if genuine, you should be allowed to have the valuation done, before purchase. Don't fall for the money back guarantees!

Once they have your cash it's too late, in Asia in many cases. If you can get MBA documents and degrees for nothing, you can certainly get a valuation certificate, from the most leading companies in the world too! What matters is being comfortable with what you pay, otherwise research and verification, before purchase!

I've been wanting to purchase this so called original Tang Horse for a couple of weeks now, finding hard to authenticate, the replica's sell for over 200$ that I have seen, and this one is supposed to be original at 120$, I mean the guy is in is late 70's and says he purchased it from an antiique collector in Beijing long ago, he says he can only guarantee it is very old, and you can see the difference between the ones, that are made to look old, apparently, the detail and muscle structure of the horse are the tell tale signs. The modern replica don't have the same kind of workmenship. But my point is, you get good copy rolex and bad copy rolex, some of them today, are in fact identical, and you will pay the price for it!
I'll probably buy the horse soon! although 120$ in Europe is about the same maxium rate for a bad copy!

300$ I gave for an old Omega watch to find out it was original parts, but not original watch, it had been made up from different watches! I was very lucky to recover my money on the parts, but it sold for the same price!

[Bafana]

Don't know much about rugs or anything else for that matter.

I just like stuff - My apartment is full of it, mostly religous icons from different places I have been (even got a taoist shrine going on the beer fridge facing the door). My other like is anything wood.

[ksl]

Don't know much about rugs or anything else for that matter.

I just like stuff - My apartment is full of it, mostly religous icons from different places I have been (even got a taoist shrine going on the beer fridge facing the door). My other like is anything wood.

I only collect unusual things too, I have some wonderful walnuts back in storage picked them up, when i lived in Beijing, the hand carving is just so remarkable and can only be seen with a magnifying glass, they have been made to look antique, although they are not, but very collectable!

[argylepink]

Hi ksl, I know this is a very old thread but could you tell me where exactly I can find this old guy (moved from orchard) who sells buddhas and statues is located? Cheers and thanks.

[ksl]

Hi ksl, I know this is a very old thread but could you tell me where exactly I can find this old guy (moved from orchard) who sells buddhas and statues is located? Cheers and thanks.

He's moved on again, lost track of him! Though the shop on Joo Chiat has some old stuff Buddhas and statues, he has some original flower pots too outside in the yard from the 1800's. you want at least 75% to 80% off his asking price

[SJ4373]

Hi ksl, I know this is a very old thread but could you tell me where exactly I can find this old guy (moved from orchard) who sells buddhas and statues is located? Cheers and thanks.

Hi ,

Don't know if I should post this , I've got plenty of those stuffs mentioned in this thread , just wondering how I can get them authenticated , old furnitures , buddhas etc

[auroraz]

I like collecting antique things that are shiny/mechanical not clocks.. if you're like me, check out my blog. Gramophones, fans etc..

[Erika_nguyen]

My family is moving moving soon and shifting of antiques are gonna be quite of an hassle, so if there's any antique lovers out there, u can pm me to have a look. My parents personally got them all over the world:) It's their passion:)