Home décor haven, Emperor’s Attic, has been selling vintage furniture, hand-crafted antiques and reproduction Chinese furniture in Singapore for well over 20 years. But this isn’t all you’ll find when you visit. When CHANTAL TRAVERS took the business over in 2016 (it was then known as FairPrice Antique), she spearheaded a brand drive to rename and remarket. Since then, she has added art, lamps, bedding and even Singapore-themed goodies to the inventory. All the pieces are skilfully crafted by artisans and curated by Chantal, who does her best to keep them at affordable prices. With so much under one roof, we’re here to help you unearth what pieces should go on your home shopping shortlist!
#1 Antique & Vintage Furniture
At the heart of the award-winning Emperor’s Attic are its antique and vintage furniture. There are gorgeous cabinets, sideboards and consoles that are perfect to add character and colour to any room. Each item is personally selected, and each piece is independently authenticated so you can be sure of its age, origin and materials. And, since they’re unique in style, colour and finish, you won’t find the same product twice. Chantal maintains the quality of her products by working with just a few trusted suppliers and only sourcing from Northern China.
#2 Reproduction Chinese Furniture
Whether new, antique or vintage furniture, each piece is traditionally handcrafted to a high standard using reclaimed northern wood. These aren’t mass-produced pieces and they’re crafted to last a lifetime.
#3 Home Décor
The store’s ceramic and stone pieces are made traditionally in Jingdezhen, otherwise known as the “porcelain capital” and birthplace of Chinese ceramics. The stone is all traditionally hand-carved.
#4 Singapore-inspired Art
Chantal has a history of supporting artists who paint local landmarks that are recognisable and nostalgic. Artists include Deborah McKellar, Louise Hill, Mishell Leong, Diana Francis, John Mathis and, most recently, Elena Merlina. Emperor’s Attic is also known for its fun and informative “Meet the Artist” evenings (which will be back as soon as rules allow!).
#5 Furniture & Gifts
Chantal also links up with partner brands to create an even wider variety in the store. This includes a stock of rattan furniture and baskets from Layard Interiors, and limited-edition ceramics by Bowerbird. There’s also a wide range of gifts from brands such as Temple Candles, along with a range of books, jewellery by Stones that Rock, art décor by Singapore Skylines and more. These pieces make particularly good gifting options.
#6 Personalised Art
A new string to Chantal’s business bow is the personalised art service now on offer. Head to Emperor’s Attic to commission hand-drawn paintings of your home, a personalised map of Singapore or even silhouettes of your children. They’re created by resident artist Art by Sizzle, who can also design wall murals and personalised gift cards.
#7 Lampton Lamps
Another new home décor launch for Emperor’s Attic, these hand-crafted blue and white ginger jar lamps are paired with personally selected and hand-made shades of vibrant colours and styles. You can even have double fabric shades where the pattern from the inside glows to the outside when you turn your lamp on. Pick your lamp base design and pair it with the shade, shape, colour and style of your choice, and you have a unique, personalised accent piece for your home.
#8 Award-winning Willow Mattress
Willow Mattress, the sister company of Emperor’s Attic, can also be found in store, selling Certified 100 percent natural and organic latex mattresses. These super-comfy and luxe mattresses are perfect for Singapore’s climate as they sleep cool, are naturally anti-dust-mite and anti-mould, and, because of latex’s unique properties, provide excellent spinal alignment. They come in a range of sizes including European, Australian, Singapore, some US sizes, plus custom sizes too. The mattresses have a unique three-layer comfort system allowing you to fine-tune them to your personal comfort level; they come with a 15-year guarantee.
Coming Soon!
After the popularity of the shop’s Christmas 2020 decorations on sale, where they donated all the proceeds, around $10,000, to charity, Chantal is planning to launch Wandering Duck, a brand encompassing more Singapore-themed artisanal gifts with a difference. Like with their previous drive, a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to local charities.
A word from the store owner
We asked Chantal about her motivation to keep the business evolving. “I love every item and consider everything in the store to either be a hand-crafted work of art or a real labour of love by talented and gifted creatives, from the books to the candles to the furniture, and of course the art. I love giving these quality products and brands a platform to be shared and am so honoured when they choose to put their items in Emperor’s Attic. Everything is something that I love and want to keep for myself. I want to share them with others, but I also want to make them affordable. That doesn’t translate to cheap, given the quality of items we sell, but it does mean I will always do my best to ensure the best price possible.”
#01-10 Tan Boon Liat Building, 315 Outram Road
9011 0380 | emperorsattic.com
This article first appeared in the May 2021 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!
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