VINTAGE FURNITURE - FROM CONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION TO CONSPICUOUS CONSERVATION

Dear All

Vintage furniture is all the rage nowadays, especially among young upper and middle class couples having their first or new home. Though the furniture are expensive compared to mass produced, run of the mill ones, they are highly sought after by this group. They are willing to go all out for a particular piece, to take the trouble of  repairing and restoring them and  to be directly involved in the choice of colours and materials.  They take pride in the vintage pieces that they have and the fine cultivation of taste that such pieces displayed.

The quest for vintage furniture by this group, however, is not solely a display of wealth or social status, or conspicuous consumption, as Thorstein Veblen in his Theory of the Leisure Class, would have labelled or categorized.  This is because, those who desperately seek vintage furniture is not simply out of fashionable or conspicuous consumption, but also for the memories of the past, the fine craftmanship and the lasting value of these furniture. Furthermore, unlike conspicuous consumption, which most of the time results in wasteful spending, quest for vintage actually does away with wastage and brings about conservation and sustainability.

Below are latest additions to Second Charm. Some have been taken up almost immediately as they come in especially french armchairs and midcentury modern chairs - both  seem to be all the rage nowadays.  

A pair of french chairs that we repainted and reupholstered in contrasting

velvety black and fushia pink for Samantha's newly opened boutique,

The Dress Suite

The reupholstered french chairs, a lovely addition to Samantha's

 beautiful boutique. Do visit The Dress Suite, overlooking the serene

 Kallang River at 883 North Bridge Road  01-14,  Southbank.

 Call her at  6297 9877 / 9663 5154

French chairs and sofas are all the rage nowadays, that they are fast snapped up

at Second Charm. This has been taken up even before we post it online.

A pair of lovely french chairs that came in last week.  Taken.

Awaiting reupholstery.

A nice piece to work on, given the carvings and the tufted back.

Taken too.

For those who love to mix and match, this beautiful crafted chair

will be a lovely addition, once reupholstered and repainted.

$80 as is condition.

A dainty slim french 2-seater.  Frame in good condition.  But need reupholstery.

$250 as is condition.

A pair of midcentury modern chairs from Second Charm, reupholstered for Biona.

Biona choice of fabric make the chairs really stylish.  Don't you think so?

3 midcentury chairs from Second Charm, reupholstered in black fabric

for a newly married couple, Patricia and Daniel.

Another pair of mid century chairs of slightly different design, reupholstered 

for Patricia and Daniel in the same black textured fabric

A pair of bentwood armchairs beautifully restored and reupholstered. 

Oliver felt in love with them the minute he saw them. The chairs

were made in Holland.

Another bentwood chair, restored by us. Taken up by Oliver.

It was really a joy to see Oliver passion for vintage furniture.

Another new batch of midcentury chairs that came in last week. We had same

4 pieces in mustard yellow a few weeks ago. Like french furniture, mid century

chairs are all the rage nowadays, so much so, we simply don't have enough to go 

round for those interested.  These four pieces have first and second reserves.

One and only authentic retro chair.  This cute piece in light brown suede

was taken up  on the same day we got it.  Lucky Hwee Yin.

A pair of midcentury teak armchairs. Restored and reupholstered

for Angela. At one time, we have so many of them. All taken.

Angela has the last two pieces. 

A pair of elegant teak armchairs. One of the cane seat will be recaned.

Cushioning the seat is also possible. $100 each  as is condition.

Colourful spindle back chairs.  Newly repainted in red, blue and green.

$100 each.

A beautifully crafte lounge chair in genuine leather. 

In relatively good condition. $250 each.

A pair of them.

Seasoned looking Bolivian chair . All genuine leather. 

$250  as is condition.

My favourite find.  Vintage fibre glass swivel chairs and table in 

dark army green $450 per set.

Solid teak elegant 2 seater sofa with collapsible back.  Taken by Iza.

A single burmese teak armchair with new cane works on the seat.

Taken up by Phoebe.

A pair of art deco 1950's solid teak chairs, repaired and restored.

 Ideal as dining  or study chair.  $ 180 each.

Another pair of art deco 1950's solid teak chair we got last week.

Awaiting restoration.  Seat will be teak base. Once restored, they

 will  look like the chairs in the picture above them.

$180 with restoration.

Vintage art deco 1950's solid teak chair.  Awaiting restoration.

$195 with restoration

Decorative collapsible iron garden set. Repainted. Taken up.

Vintage teak 91 cm kopitiam table, restored with old marble top.

Taken up by Hwee Yin.  We have a few kopitiam tables in Singapore

and Kuala Lumpur.

Camel  chairs.  Teak brass inlay legs. $80 each.

2 pretty ottomons . $50 each.  Taken up

Danish coffee table. When we first got it, it was badly painted in dark stain.

We restore it back to its original condition.  Reserved for Chris Tay.

Rare three door tall and slim glass cabinet ideal for books and collectibles.

Beautifully restored. $2500

Elegant retro 1960's teak glass cabinet.  Restored.

Taken up by Joanne and Sean.

Vintage 1960's teak book cabinet.  Fairly wide of 122 cm.

Reserved for Evelyn in KL to match at pencil leg writing table

that she got from us.

1950's teak glass cabinet.  For books and collectibles.

Beautifully restored. $850

Rare 1920's-30's writing desk. A piece of mine.  Just sharing

this beauty with you.

Rare 1920's marquetry sideboard.  Beautifully restored. $850

Art deco 1950's solid teak side board.  Nicely restored. $550

Art deco 1950's solid teak chest of drawers.  Handsomely restored 

and taken up by Izhar in Kuala  Lumpur.  Another piece being

 restored and available.  Restored at $750

It has been sometime since we got this kind of  Chingay cabinet.

Circa 1930's -40's. Taken up by Hwee Yin on the day of arrival.

Pretty teak cabinet in green peranakan green glass.  $1200

Vintage kitchen larder, repaired, restored and repainted in white.  

$1200

3-door  solid teak wardrobe.  The 3 doors sit onto a pedestal pencil 

legs base. Such is the fine craftmanship of furniture of those days.

$1500

A beautifully  restored 1960's solid teak wardrobe on a pencil leg

pedestal.  Taken by Izhar in Kuala Lumpur.

A pair of vintage 1960's bedside cabinets.  Reserved By Kathy. Awaiting

 her choice of retro pencil leg queen size bed to match with this

highly sought pieces.

Art deco 1950's solid teak bedside cabinet.  A pair available.

$300 each.

A similar 1950's solid teak bedside cabinet. Restored at $300

Rare late 19th century, early 1920's peranakan dresser.

Beautifully restored.  $3500

Vintage 1950's solid teak dresser with 3 foldable mirror.

Restored.  $750

Beautifu l1920's  french marquetry cupboard.

Rare.  Restored.  Reserved.

Vintage 1960's formica wardrobe. As is $450.

$$750 with restoration.

Inside view of the cupboard above.

My favourite find of the week.  Antique wardrobe. Circa 1920's-30's if not earlier. 

It is typical of furniture of that period to have dark almost black lacquer finish.

Vintage stool restored. $80

  

Vintage teak wooden planter or a nice side stand. Restored. $200

Pine wooden chest. Ideal for storage. $150

Inside view of the chest above.

Vintage sewing machine on cast iron leg.  Wooden top and machine still intact.

Leg alone $150.  With original top and machine $300

Vintage round stools.  Restored.  Taken by Karen and Henry.

Vintage kebaya  framed. $150

Vintage enamel tray. $25

Vintage enamel tray. $25

Vintage enamel tray. $15

Old vase $50

Chinese calligraphy handpainted on bamboo.
$50 a pair.







A collection of vintage mortar and pestle. $35 for the big ones
 and $25 for the small one.

Let me know if you like any of  the above.  For pieces that have been taken, we can let you know if same or similar ones turn up. No obligation, not to worry.

Till my next posting,

Warmest regards

Sharifah

You have read this article5 BEST RETRO FURNITURE SHOP / ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES / MID CENTURY MODERN. RETRO FURNITURE IN SINGAPORE. RETRO FURNITURE KUALA LUMPUR / VINTAGE FURNITURE IN SINGAPORE AND KUALA LUMPUR. with the title VINTAGE FURNITURE - FROM CONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION TO CONSPICUOUS CONSERVATION. You can bookmark this page URL http://i-is-another.blogspot.com/2011/10/vintage-furniture-from-conspicuous.html. Thanks!

Write by: Dj Ganden - Monday, October 31, 2011