Shopping for antiques in Singapore
Little India antiques shops are filled with curios
With its long colonial history and modern cosmopolitan way of life, Singapore has become a major centre for the trade in art and antiques from all over East Asia. It is probably the region’s foremost place for Asian antiques and attracts international buyers and art dealers from across the globe.
There is a vibrant market for local ‘Peranakan’ antiques but has also become a main clearing house for items brought from neighbouring Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan and especially mainland China. There are literally hundreds of antique showrooms located across the city and finding the genuine article among all the reproductions is no easy task for the average browser. If you are not completely sure about what you are looking at it can be easy to be taken for a ride, so never part with you cash unless 100 per cent sure.
Recommended Singapore antiques shops
The range of items, both genuine and fake, is pretty phenomenal. Early 20th century period furniture is popular, with jade trinkets, pewter, oriental rugs, hand painted silk wall coverings and tapestries.
To get a taste of what is in store, head to the Tanglin Shopping Centre (Centre (19 Tanglin Road, between St Regis & Orchard Parade Hotel, tanglinsc@anysituation.com.sg, opening Mon-Sat 12:00 - 18:00) which is located just five minutes away from Orchard Road. It is a modern mall packed with two full floors of large art showrooms and small boutiques selling all manner of collectibles.
Some of the dealers here specialise in reproduction furniture while at other places such as Antiques of the Orient (Unit 40, 2nd Floor, Tanglin Shopping Centre, 19 Tanglin Road, Tel: +65 6734 9351 sales@aoto.com.sg, open Mon-Sat 10:00 – 18:00, Sun 11:00 – 16:00) are the real deal with a vast collection of old maps, books and old maritime artefacts. Most traders can also arrange shipping and insurance for large and valuable consignments, although this naturally adds a considerable amount to the overall cost.
Antiques of the Orient has a wide range
Perhaps the biggest market in Singapore is for exotic Chinese ornamental items such as teak tea chests, tapestry plus terracotta and ceramic figurines. The Chinatown Heritage Centre (48 Pagoda Street, Chinatown, Tel: +65 6338 6877, admission: adult SGD$10.00, Children 3-12 years SGD$6.00) offers many fine examples of Oriental antiques and a good reference point for further browsing.
Nearby is Yue Hwa (70 Eu Tong Sen Street, Tel: +65 6538 4222, open: Sun-Fri 11:00 – 21:00, Sat 11:00 – 22:00) which is a vast Chinese emporium boasting a large antiques department, with a good range of items made from bronze and jade. Prices are fixed but you can be pretty much assured of the genuine article. Antique porcelain wares can be found in the small specialty shops on Trengganu Street and Pagoda Street in the heart of Chinatown for decent prices as long as you can navigate your way through the many obvious fakes.
A little further out of town is the arty district of Dempsey Road, a happy hunting ground for unique period furniture from Burma, mainland China and colonial style rattan furnishings. There is plenty of variety here of all shapes and sizes. There is a wealth of quirky knick knacks too such as old opium pipes, Buddha figurines and gaudy silk wall coverings.
Shang Antique (Blk 16 #01-04/05 Dempsey Road, Tel: + 65 6388 8838, shangantique@pacific.net.sg, open: 10:00 – 14:30 daily) is a Dempsey Road institution and showcases elegant ‘Jepara’ teak furniture from Java and authentic antique wood carvings. Even if you are not in the market for antiques, it is still an enjoyable browsing experience. Most places are only open until around 18:00 each day, but may be willing to stay on past this time if you show a particularly strong interest in something.
Top tips for buying antiques in Singapore
Open air rummaging at Singapore’s famous weekend flea markets are always great fun for all and who knows, you might just unearth a unique piece of fine art for next to nothing. Stadium Cove and Clarke Quay are both worth getting up early for and are full of one of a kind bric a brac and attractive jewellery which high street retailers simply do not stock anymore.
Combine a visit at Clarke Quay with a stop at Royal Selangor Pewter Centre (3A River Valley Rd., 01-01 Clarke Quay, Tel: + 65 6268 9600). This is an upmarket gallery of fine pewter ware and you can even have go and create your own designs. There is also an exhibition space of old antique pewter and a spacious showroom selling faithful reproductions.
