Where to buy antiques or vintage furniture – reviews

Here are recommendations from two readers for antique, vintage or reproduction furniture, and how they fit the pieces in with their home décor style. Sometimes, expats wait until it’s time to leave before they buy Asian antique furniture and accessories. But why not enjoy them now? If you’re keen, take a look at where to buy antiques in Singapore.

Recommendation for vintage furniture and antiques in Singapore

Indra Iswaran

Antiques tell a tale – and Expat Living reader INDRA ISWARAN loves the stories told by a collection of charming antiques she came upon in furniture store Just Anthony. She has found an ideal corner of her home for the items, connecting past and present in a special way.

Tell us about the antiques you bought from Just Anthony and how you’re using them in your home.

The first treasured find was a piece depicting Li Bai, the ancient Chinese poet, lying on a boat. It now features on my balcony overlooking the waterfront, as it seemed so fitting for that area.

I also chose an antique table with jade tassels hanging off the drawers. It’s nestled into a green canopy of palms in the same area. There’s another piece with jade tassels, too – an old earthen pot that I have transformed into a table lamp. And an antique wooden basket is now a home to needle ferns.

I loved the pieces that I saw and put them together as my narrative for the balcony. It’s also a conversation piece when I have guests dining in this area.

How did you find out where to buy antiques in Singapore? And why did you choose these particular pieces from Just Anthony?

I’ve known the store for many years and have always been interested in finding old pieces, not just for my home, but also for my children’s homes overseas.

The fact that I love Oriental poetry made me feel that I had to have Li Bai as a piece in my home. I love all Asian antiques, especially those from India and China, and am an avid collector. Many of my Chinese and Tibetan pieces have been purchased from Just Anthony, including the ones featured in this collection. I matched the pieces and colours that I felt would look right together.

I’ve always come away happy from my visits to the store. Danielle and her team have been a great help whenever I’ve shopped there. My family loves going there when they visit Singapore, too. We have also had our purchased pieces shipped out to the UK, Australia and Malaysia, and all have arrived satisfactorily in our homes.

Hubab Hood and Clayton Woltz

Tell us about the antiques you bought from Just Anthony and how you’re using them in your home.

We recently moved into a shophouse, and it only made sense to decorate the interior with Asian antique furniture from Just Anthony. We were renting a condo in Sentosa before moving, and our furniture consisted of modern pieces and traditional Balinese antiques. After moving, we decided we wanted more Asian elements in the house.

We’re always on the hunt for quality antique furniture that has been used for decades, knowing some pieces are no longer in production. This makes them rare and even more desirable in the right setting. Clayton and I often scroll through apps like Carousell, and I guess the algorithm got us when Just Anthony started appearing on our Instagram feeds. We instantly knew it was a sign.

Since moving to the shophouse, we have more space to fill. Just Anthony made it easy for us to purchase, as every piece of antique furniture restored by them has been given new life. We also find the quality to be outstanding. How many times have we bought plywood furniture only to damage it? We would rather invest a little extra in wood that has stood the test of time.

After living in Siem Reap for a time, we were inspired to paint some of our interior walls a monastic yellow. It reminded us of the peaceful spiritual feeling of Buddhist temples. This backdrop helps the antique furniture stand out instead of being background pieces. We find that the pieces we have are cohesive, regardless of style, size and colour.

The team at Just Anthony were accommodating with their time, and we absolutely love all the antique furniture we’ve bought there. It’s something we’ll keep and pass down to the next generations. We will definitely return to the store to do another round of shopping to fill our dream house that we’re planning to build.

Just Anthony
379 Upper Paya Lebar Road
6283 4782 | justanthony.com

This article on where to buy antiques in Singapore first appeared in Expat Living magazine. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!