Looking to inject character into your home or buy a memento of your time in Asia? Antique furniture, quality reproduction or vintage furniture from the region is the way to go! We love how antiques have their own story. If you’re looking for cabinets, chairs, tables, lamps, sideboards and more, you’ll find classic colonial signature pieces and creative Chinese options at these top antique furniture shops in Singapore.
Asian antique furniture and antiquities
For the past 22 years, Woody Antique House has been offering a huge range of Asian furniture and antiquities sourced from various areas in Asia such as China, Tibet, Mongolia, India, Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia. It’s one of the best shops for antique and vintage furniture, and a favourite among the furniture stores in the Tan Boon Liat Building.
They’ve built up a varied range of antique furniture such as Mongolian and Tibetan sideboards and cabinets over the years. You’ll also find Chinese wedding, kitchen and traditional cabinets of all shapes and colours. There are also rain drums and bronze gongs from Thailand and Myanmar – great as a special feature piece. The Indian coffee tables, dining tables and cabinets are meticulously restored to retain and reveal their original beauty.
Furniture can also be customised here, so you can create unique pieces and turn an idea into reality. Bi-weekly shipments ensure that there’s always something new on offer when you visit. Follow the Facebook page to keep updated on new shipments.
Antique furniture top picks
- Original wedding and kitchen cabinets from Zhejiang Province in China can be repainted in modern shades or reproduced in various sizes and colours. It’s a great way to mix antique furniture styles in with new.
- Indian coffee and dining tables made from old doors and windows are also popular; and there aren’t many left in the world!
- Make a statement with a Mongolian sideboard. A carefully restored piece will not only tell a story of its own with its unique and beautiful paintings, but also provide much-needed storage space in your living area.
Tips and advice on buying antiques
“Know the story behind the antique piece you’re getting. Reputable antique shops will be able to tell you this,” says manager Chris Ang. “It helps in building a connection to it and providing a great conversation topic between you and your guests. First, choose a piece of antique furniture you like as the statement piece; then build the rest of your décor around it in the area you’ll be placing it.”
#13-03 Tan Boon Liat Building, 315 Outram Road
6471 1770 | woodyantique.com
Vintage furniture, Chinese antiques and reproductions
Just Anthony carries a wide selection of vintage furniture, reproductions, Chinese antiques and accessories in a showroom spanning 10,000 square feet. You can shop cabinets, chests, day beds and Ming-style reproduction furniture pieces, plus there’s a large selection of stunning lamps.
You’ll also find elegant silk wall coverings, wall decorations, mirrors and even antique room dividers repurposed from old door panels. Got a tricky space or something particular in mind? Get your piece customised to your ideal colour, dimensions and design.
Just Anthony receives monthly shipments; subscribe to the mailing list or follow the Facebook page for updates.
Antiques and reproduction furniture top picks
- Antique lattice door panels from China’s Zhejiang Province can be used in a variety of ways in a modern home, including as doors of a cabinet or simply as a dramatic background piece. The texture and original colour of these old doors have a lot of character and style; they’re sure to make a statement!
- Old carvings made into doors of small and medium-sized cabinets are very popular. Instead of being just wall hangings, they become a piece of furniture that’s both unique and functional.
- Repainted antique sideboards from Gansu and Shandong Provinces offer generous storage whether for linen, cutlery or books, and add a rugged charm to any room.
Tips and advice on buying antiques
“If you love a piece, buy it. Don’t just get something that will fit in your current home.”
379 Upper Paya Lebar Road
6283 4782 | justanthony.com
Vintage and antique furniture from Northern China
When you enter the Emperor’s Attic store, the first thing you’ll notice is colour – from pastel pinks to pillar-box reds and Tiffany blues! Owner Chantal Travers and her team have a brilliant eye for styling. You’ll see immediately how any number of their pieces could fit into your home. And they’ll dispel your fears around the use of colour, or how to blend Asian furniture into your home.
The next thing you’ll notice is the high quality of the pieces, both old and new; there’s a potent combination of beauty, quality and practicality. Each piece has been carefully hand-picked by Chantal from highly skilled artisans in Northern China. You can shop hand-painted Chinese cabinets, seating, sideboards, chests, ceramics, stools and many other home accessories. It’s one of the best shops to buy antique furniture and gorgeous repurposed pieces for the home.
Stay up-to-date on new shipments and the store’s regular events on Instagram and Facebook.
Antique furniture top picks
- Cabinets in beautiful blues are very popular at the moment and work well as statement pieces in homes of any size and design.
- Antique hand-painted cabinets and sideboards from Gansu Province are exclusive pieces, great for storage in the dining room, hallway or living room.
- Functional and aesthetically pleasing, elegant tall noodle cabinets from Shanxi Province offer a heap of storage space for linen, toys, tableware and more.
Top tip on buying antiques
“Don’t be afraid to mix styles,” says Chantal. “By doing so, you’re making a statement and making your home uniquely yours.”
#01-10 Tan Boon Liat Building, 315 Outram Road
9011 0380 | emperorsattic.com
Unique and rare antiques from China and Tibet
With more than 2,500 pieces lovingly curated over a period of 26 years, Li Bai Arts & Antiques offers a vast range of antiques. This includes museum quality ancestral portraits, Ming-style pieces to vernacular furniture belonging to the common people of ancient China. The collection is both unique and rare, personally sourced by owner Linda Lee.
An advocate of sustainable living and environmental protection, Li Bai only collect and restore old antique furniture. Currently working with Temasek Polytechnic on a documentary project on the sustainability of antique furniture, they understand the need for long-lasting, not disposable furniture.
Over the years, the company has walked the talk towards sustainability by helping numerous customers restore their beloved heirlooms and treasures. Li Bai is dedicated to help preserve your project to withstand the test of time.
Top picks
- Tibetan furniture from the snow mountains of Tibet
- 19th C Qing Dynasty Painted Cabinet hailing from the mountainous region of Shaanxi
- Republican-age (1912 – 1949) Manchurian Sideboard with auspicious ceramic tiles
Top tip from owner Linda Lee
“I always advise against buying on impulse and instead ask customers to take the time to understand and appreciate the piece. To a quote poet John Keats, ‘a thing of beauty is a joy for ever’. The principle behind this outlook and philosophy is rather than owning ten mundane pieces own a unique piece that will hold its value and become a family heirloom.”
#07-08 Enterprise Centre
20 Bukit Batok Crescent
9129 2313 | libaiarts.com
Now we’ve laid out the best shops for antique furniture, how about some more inspiration and a look around these readers’ homes?
