BACK ON THE VINTAGE HUNT

Dear All

It has been sometime, isn't it since my last posting. My apology.  I was away in China and Sulawesi, Indonesia. Visited 3 Chinese cities, Yiwu, Xián and Guangzhou.  Fell in love with Xián.  Such a historical and vibrant city.  The blending of old  and new is simply amazing.  You have buildings dated more than a thousand years co existing with modern skyscrapers, historical landmarks emerging from modern underground pedestrian malls, young busker singing modern pop songs amidst sellers of Chinese calligraphies, a huge modern laser telescope beside a street stall selling traditional head massage gadgets, mao collectibles and chinese silk amidst modern consumer goods  -  a landscape of tradition and modernity that galvanizes so seamlessly,  that you are left with a sense of awe.  

At the hotel where we were staying, Xian Bell Tower Hotel,  right in the tourist belt of  Xi'an, the lobby is filled with genuine antiques and  a short description of each piece. As you stepped out of each lift level, an antique Chinese console and vintage table lamps greeted you. Beautiful Chinese paintings and calligraphies graced the walls of the hotel room. Green tea satchets were  not served in cold porcelain container but in beautifully crafted wooden box. Even the dustbins were made of beautiful crafted wood with Chinese paintings on them. Outside the hotel, a terracota warrior stood tall as if guarding the building,  reminiscent of  the old feudal loyalty. The sense of pride in heritage and tradition cannot be missed. 

Because of the strict business schedule and short stay, I could not make it to the Museum of Terracota Warriors and the Horses, regarded  as the eight major miracles of the world.  Ah, what a miss.  So, I promise to return and hope to bring back some of those beautiful old Chinese consoles and benches.

I'm back on my daily routine and on the vintage hunt again. It is still the most fun thing for me. Below are some of  those finds and those that came back from restorations. Some have been taken up, alot more available.  For those pieces that have been taken up, let me know if you like same pieces.  Will reserve them for you the next time, they turn up.

A pair of Chinese armchairs with dragon motif in the centre back panel.

I have 4 pieces of these chairs, tucked among the many chairs in my KL outlet.

for quite sometime.   Glad they caught the eye of Beng Beng, who secured 2 of them.

Instead of Chinese satin which she originally thought of using, she settled for a

modern design fabric and the tie back concept which turns out beautifully.

 Oriental with a touch of modernity. 

Chinese bench restored in black lacquer.  2 pieces available in Singapore.

 Available.

A real antique piece. Victorian sideboard late 19th century, early 1920's. Could not
 believe my eyes when I saw it. This one is for keeps as I have a similar sideboard, 

open  shelf and a pull down writing desk with the similar designs and motifs.

Vintage 1940's square dining table. Well used over the years. Top covered

with linolieum.  Of course will take it out.   Will be beautiful once restored as 
the whole piece is in solid teak.  Being restored and will be available
 in third  week of August. L 37 x W35.5 x H 30 inches. Available.

Mid century modern 3-seater wooden sofa in green pvc.  Taken up by  Linda

together with a retro pencil leg coffee table.

Single retro armchair. part of the set above.  Recently, taken up by Mr Kwek.

Mid century 3-seater sofa beautifully restored. Customised 4-inch thick 
cushions that fit perfectly to the wooden frame. Grey plain fabric with
 dark grey lining.  Elegant outcome for Claudine's home office.

Latest addition to our retro sofa collection. Solid teak 3-seater with arms.
Restored and available.

2 armless retro armchairs, taken up by Farah to match her contemporary sofa.









Retro 1960's solid teak coffee table .  Beautifully restored.  Available.







Rare retro 1960's  divider.  Glass on both sides.   Taken up by Marko who
 recognized the rare availability of such piece that he ordered it 
while we were restoring it.

Old colonial teak armchair, restored and recaned.  Available.

Art deco 1950's solid teak chair.  Taken up by Saifuddin.

Rare planter's chair.  In totally bad shape when we got it. We recaned the back
and substituted the cane battered seat with vintage teak wood.  
Taken up by Ridwan.

Chippendale chairs that we painted in matt black and white for contrast,

with black and white cotton fabric.  Really beautiful.  The black 

armchair was taken up by Rachel.  The white one is available.

A two seater french mahogany sofa that was taken up by Cristina Estrada.

We did the upholstery from fabric of her choice, of  light green and gold stripes.

Reupholstered french armchair that we did for 

Veronica.  A  beautiful combination of dark green plain velvety 

fabric for the seat and flowered fabric on a tufted back.

A pair of french armchairs.  Taken up by Xin Ya, a young textíle designer

commissioned to create new fabric designs on these chairs and a couple others

that she got from us. Look forward to her creative outcome.

Another armchair taken up by Xin Ya for her project.

Wrought iron chairs with square dining table on metal legs.  15 pieces

of the chairs and 4 pieces of  the tables available

 Dimension of table  L80 x W80 x H76inches

Vintage 2.5 ft kopitiam round table.  Being restored.  Available

with old or new marble top.

Old teak mahjong table that we restored for Edmund. Sentimental to him as 

it formerly belonged to his grandmother.

Vintage 1940's-50's 2-seater piano bench with lift up top.

Restored.

Art deco 1950's solid teak writing desk.  Restored.  2 pieces.

One taken up by Lakshmi  in Kuala Lumpur and another by Veronica

in Singapore. A good size of 42 inches in length.

Vintage 1960's all teak wardrobe, awaiting restoration.

L122 x D58 x H 176 cm

Inside view of the above cupboard.  Great space for hanging and 

a full length, made-in-England Pilkington, bevelled edge mirror.

Another wide retro wardrobe in solid teak, awaiting restoration.

L120 x D 58.5 x h 169 cm

An inside view of the above wardrobe.

Retro 1960's 2-door wardrobe with formica. Solid teak.

Vintage 1950's  wardrobe in beautiful wood grains. Awaiting restoration.

Vintage 1960's solid teak Queen size bed with sliding panels for the 

compartment headboard.  Restored and available.

Simple and sturdy solid teak retro queen sized bed that has been fully

restored.  Available .

Vintage 1950's solid teak queen sized bed, awaiting restoration.

A matching wardrobe is also available.

A new addition of retro solid teak queen size bed.  Awaiting restoration.

Available.

Art deco 1950's solid teak super single bed. Awaiting restoration.  A pair available

if you are thinking of 2 matching single beds in a room. 

Restored super single bed.  Vintage 1960's. Available.

Solid teak super single bed. Restored. Available.

Vintage 1960's solid teak dresser.  Beautifully restored .

Taken up By Rachel.

Art deco 1940's solid teak dresser. Will be converting it into

2 bedsides cabinets.

Simple but solid teak table.  Restored.

L91 x D 44 x H 109cm

Art Deco 1950's glass display cabinet .  Nicely restored. 

Low art deco 1950's glass cabinet, beautifully restored.

L85 X D46 x H93 cm

Art deco 1950's side table.  Solid teak . Awaiting restoration.

Makes a good TV console. L76 xD50 x H68 cm.

Art deco 1950's U-leg side table with side drawer.

Will be beautiful once restored as most art deco

pieces of the that period are made of burmese teak.

Rosewood chinese console, L129 x D40 x H 84cm.

Low rosewood table. 

Small side table .

Vintage kitchen larder awaiting restoration.L39 x D21 x H76 inches.

All wood side cabinet.  Ideal in the kitchen or dining room. 

Awaiting restoration. L49 x D18 x H35.5 inches

Mid century dining table with metal leg. 

L58 x W35 x H29 inches

Vintage kopitiam chairs with rattan seats.  Being restored

4 kopitiam chairs.  Taken up as is condition by Lilian Liu.

2 kopitiam chairs with solid teak base.  Probably made in Thailand.

This type of kopitiam chairs are sturdier than the European bent wood type.

Available.

A restored kopitiam chair with solid teak base. Available

Vintage Malaccan chair. I piece only.

2 bent wood chairs taken up by Saifuddin.

2 bent wood chairs with curved arms.  Require upholstery for

  missing cushion seats.

2 black thonet chairs. Reserved by Adrian

Spindle back chair that would  be nice to repaint.  2 pieces available.

6 vintage foldable chairs. Available.

Feng Shui mirror

Another piece of feng shui mirror.  More elaborate carvings.

Kid's rattan rocking chair.

2-seater bench.  Reserved by Serena

My favourite find.  Retro long teak bench with the characteristic pencil legs.

L183 x D35.5 x H45.5 cm. Reserved.

Mini vintage bench.  Taken up by Edwin

Solid teak bench. Restored and available.

Beautiful big mirror in silver finish. A slight crack on top part, though.

46 x 81 inches. Available.

Decorative pine mirror.

62 x 122.5 cm. Available

Carved wooden divider with elephant motive. One top end of the panel, 

slightly chip. 153 x 183 cm

Beautifully carved teak wooden panel. 80 x 200cm

Wooden mortar and pestle.

Brightly painted wooden rocking horse.

2 wrought iron bar stools.

2 wrought iron bar stools, similar to the above but with wooden seats.

Pool deck timber chair. L79 x W25.5 x H11.5 inches

2 cane armchairs.

White table with magazine rack at the bottom.

Vintage dessert cups.  Taken up by Wan Chin for her ice parlour

she is opening soon.

Metal low white cabinet.  Be nice to repaint it in other colours.

Make a good TV console for those who love industrial / metal furniture.

L 46.5 x D16 x H25 cm

Vintage metal trunk. L29.5 X D18 X H11.5

Vintage metal trunk.  L36 x D19.5 x H 13.5 inches

Solid brass table lamp with silk cover

Vintage Chinese baskets.

Vintage pyrex with the rose flowers design, popular in the 70's.

Small vintage pyrex containers.  Love the colour.

Vintage triangle stackable pyrex. All taken.

Another vintage pyrex to add to your collections.

Solid glass jelly mould.  A welcome collection to present day plastic moulds.

All taken by Wan Chin for her ice cream shop.

Five old stools.  Being restored.

A set of vintage window grills, 10 pieces big and small.

15 pieces of contemporary chairs. Lovely red.

Oil painting. L98 x W68cm

Painting. L102 x 66 inches.

2 matching  stone table lamps. 

Vintage teak small wooden cabinet.

L29 x D18.5 x H32.5 inches.

2-layered bench.  Ideal for plants or as shoe rack. 

L60m x D15.5 x H17 inches.

Rosewood Chinese console. L129 x D40 x H 84 cm

Low glass cabinet.  Awaitiing restoration,

L64 x D35.5 x h99cm

Big square teak table with opening at the sides.

L100 x W100 x H45.5 cm

So much for today posting.  Let me know if you love any of the above.

Warmest regards

Sharifah

posted on 7 august 5.10am

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Write by: Dj Ganden - Saturday, August 6, 2011