Looking to inject some character into your home or buy a memento of your time in Asia? How about a gorgeous piece of antique furniture or a quality vintage accessory? We love how antiques have their own story, which gets to live on with their next owner. 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 five top antique stores in Singapore.
Asian Furniture and Antiquities
For the past 20 years, Woody Antique House has been offering a wide and diverse range of Asian furniture and antiquities sourced from various areas in Asia such as China, Tibet, Mongolia, India, Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia. It’s an old favourite among the furniture stores at Dempsey.
Through their extensive networks established over the years, they’ve built up an attractive range of antique furniture such as Mongolian and Tibetan sideboards and cabinets. You’ll find Chinese wedding cabinets, kitchen cabinets and traditional cabinets of all shapes and colours. There are rain drums and bronze gongs from Thailand and Myanmar too – great as a special feature piece. And the Indian coffee tables, dining tables and cabinets are meticulously restored to retain and reveal their original beauty.
Furniture can also be customised to your specifications, 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.
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 popular – and there aren’t many left in the world!
- Make a statement with a Mongolian sideboard. A carefully restored piece will tell a story of its own with its unique and beautiful paintings as well as 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. It helps in building a connection to it and providing a great conversation topic between you and your guests.
- Choose a piece of antique furniture you like as the statement piece and build the rest of your décor around it in the area you’ll be placing it.
- Choose an antique piece that’s unique and able to represent the area or era it came from.
Dempsey Hill, 13 Dempsey Road, #01-05
6471 1770 | woodyantique.com
Chinese Antique Furniture, Reproduction and Accessories
Just Anthony carries a wide selection of Chinese antique furniture, reproductions and accessories. You can shop cabinets, chests, day beds and Ming-style reproductions, plus they have 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.
Top picks
- Used as the main doors of bigger households, large antique wooden doors from China’s Shanxi Province are made of elm or pine wood.
- Original red wedding cabinets from Zhejiang Province are another favourite. Some are plain while others come with intricate carvings and beautiful paintings.
- Pick up an antique console table originating from the late Qing Dynasty or early Republic; usually made of elm wood, they’re sourced from Northern China.
Tips and advice on buying antiques
“If you love a piece, buy it, not just something that will fit in your current home.”
379 Upper Paya Lebar Road
6283 4782 | justanthony.com
Antiques and Traditional Style Home Décor
The team at Lim’s Holland Village has over 40 years of experience in the antique business and offers traditional home décor and furniture crafted to suit today’s lifestyle.
Sourced from Northern China, many pieces showcased at their Holland Village store can boast up to 150 years of history. In the extensive collection, expect to find chairs, chests of drawers, wedding and food baskets, trunk boxes and more.
Top picks
- Take a trip back in history with a long side console from Gansu in Northern China, featuring unique and intricate paintings. Each painting tells a story too – be it of a wedding, the first day of spring, or spirit animals.
- Made around 50 to 80 years ago, camphor trunks are usually quickly snatched up in store because of their unique grain and how they are kept in their original form as much as possible. These can be used as coffee tables or bed-end trunks.
Tips and advice on buying antiques
“Don’t be put off by imperfections in antiques. There may be the odd mark or dent, but it’s all part of a piece’s beauty, speaking of its age and uniqueness.”
#02-01 Holland Village Shopping Centre, 211 Holland Avenue
6466 3188 | facebook.com/limshollandvillage
Vintage 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 has a brilliant eye for styling, allowing you to see immediately how any number of the pieces would fit into your home.
Hand-picked from highly skilled artisans in Northern China by Chantal herself, the store’s furniture and accessories collection consists of quality, authentic pieces both new and old. You can shop hand-painted Chinese cabinets, seating, sideboards, chests, ceramics, stools and other home accessories. This is a gorgeous place to buy antiques in Singapore.
Stay up-to-date on new shipments and the store’s regular events on the Facebook page.
Top picks
- Cabinets in vibrant gem colours are very popular, 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.
Tips and advice on buying antiques
“Don’t be afraid to mix styles; 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
request, Emperor’s Attic
Best for Colonial Antiques
Love colonial-style furniture? Then visit The Past Perfect Collection in the Tan Boon Liat Building where British colonial antiques are the stars of the showroom. The collection bears the personal touch of the Dutch owners who travel to India and handpick original pieces that once adorned the stately colonial mansions. The store is filled with gorgeous top-quality antique furniture that has been restored to its former glory with exquisite polishing and fresh upholstery.
Pop along for great ideas on how to incorporate antique furniture into modern spaces, and don’t miss the gift-worthy silver collection, framed antique maps and luxury Good Earth tableware.
Top picks
- Large travel chests are a perennial favourite – in particular, Dutch colonial chests, which are sturdy as well as extremely elegant. With their ornate brass locks and large brass keys, they offer practicality and style all in one.
- Roll-top desks are very popular and date back to the 19th century when they were used by European settlers.
- The store specialises in colonial dining tables – extending, circular or marble-topped, each one is ideal for happy gatherings with family and friends.
Tips and advice on buying antiques
“Check out our website! You’ll find numerous detailed pictures of each piece including prices, provenance and in-depth descriptions.”
#11-05 Tan Boon Liat Building, 315 Outram Road
6737 3078 | pastperfect.sg
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