VINTAGE FURNITURE AND THE ECLECTICISM OF MODERN LIVING

Dear All

There seems to be less vintage finds, real period pieces for us  in the last few months, here in Singapore. Perhaps, the supply is really running out.  With more people loving vintage furniture for the memories that they testify or for the lasting value of good wood and fine craftmanship, genuine vintage pieces, true to the period styles they represent are for keeps.  Few are letting go and many are getting them restored to last for the next generation.  At Second Charm, more are giving us furniture which they inherit from their parents and relatives, to be restored.  

Interestingly, those that are patronizing us are mostly young middle class couples or individuals,   most of them getting their first homes. (We have upper class, chinese tycoons, datins, expatriates, celebrities and members of the Malaysian royal families too, actually). Well travelled, well read , very cosmopolitan, half bourgeois, half bohemian, they are in touch with some of the latest trends and lifestyles.  Eclecticism seems to be one of them.  Thus, it is not surprising, the tendency is towards combining vintage and modern; reliving the past without the burden of conservatism, and enjoying the present without the throwaway culture and having instead a commitment towards conservation and the environment.

With such a trend, it is no wonder that vintage pieces are fast being snapped up  and less  and less of them will be in circulation.  So if you chance upon a particular period style  that fancy you for a reasonable price, try not to hesitate, for you never know if the same would appear again. The problem of extinction is real here, unless you are willing to settle for reproduction!

Anyway, I share below some of my finds this week.  Not many, but  to find  genuine period pieces during times of scarcity, is really a joy and makes one feel lucky.

 

A retro 1960's solid teak  sideboard.  Beautifully restored by us. 

With gilt edges and original blue formica on top.  

 The side view of the elegant sideboard above.

A retro 1960's coffee table.  Some retro coffee tables have teak legs but ply top.  

But  the one above is of solid teak, even the brown formica top and coupled

with that  aesthetically slender pencil legs,  this piece would be a joy 

to have.  L36 x D18 x H18 inches.

Another  retro 60's-70's coffee table.  Solid teak including the top.

Original condition, unrestored as yet. L41 x D17.75 x H17.5 inches.

 A lovely and interesting vintage piece.  The white painted legs seems original,

in the sense that it does not look like it has been repainted.  And the light

blue formica top blends in beautifully with the white legs.   A really calming
piece. Brought home to add to my daugher's white vintage collections.

A vintage 1950's single door cupboard.  L20 x 14 x 51 inches.  Reserved. 

 A beautiful queen size retro bed of the 60's.  Solid teak, with gilt edges.

 A side view of the retro bed above.

 Beautifull grained burmese teak from which the above bed was made.

 My favourite find of the day.  A retro bed of the 60's with refreshingly light

pink formica  over solid teak frames. The formica is a bit stained with age

  but once clean and polish, it should be able to return to its pleasaant pinkiness. 

The bed, however, is 54 inches width, an in between queen and supersingle.  

Mattress might have to be custom made, which is really not a problem.  

A custom made mattress is not more expensive than a standard  ones, from our experience. For a rare vintage pink formica over solid teak

                                           frames, it is certainly worth the effort.

The side view of the bed above.

 A close up of the vintage pink formica bed frames above.

An 1950's solid teak queen size bed.

One good reason why this bed is worth having is the beautifully grained 

burmese teak from which the bed is made.  This is part of the

headboard of the bed above.

The end frames of the bed above. The beautifully grained burmese teak 

of the above bed  constitute a pattern by itself.

A 1960's solid teak dresser in pink formica.  In original condition.

Best restored. L45 x D17 x H65.5 inches

A 1950's solid teak bedside cabinet.  In original condition.

A 1950's solid teak 2-door wardrobe. The knobs are not original to the piece.

L39 x D20 x H72 inches.

Side view of the vintage wardrobe above.

The inside view of the wardrobe above.  Most vintage wardrobes

have similar inside.  The mirrors of such wardrobes are often bevelled 

and imported from Belgium or London.  It would be a pity to replace

such mirrors because of little age spots to them.

A pair of solid empire chairs.  Upholstery required

Side view of the armchairs above.

A contemporary single lounge sofa on sturdy cast iron legs

waiting for creative reupholstery.  I'm thinking of lime green and

deep purple.  I saw this colour combination on ottomons in a high

end shoe shop and I thought they look beautiful

On the other hand, red and black combination can be pretty cool.

4 pieces available.

Another favourite find of the day for me.  Vintage foldable chairs.

I used to get them in red and turqoise blue.  This is the 
first time I got nice refreshing orange ones. I'm keeping 
one. The other 3 for grabs. $40 each.

A cane rocking chair.  A sentimental past.

Hope you like the above finds.  

Till my next posting, 

Warmest regards

Sharifah

SECOND CHARM

Thursday, 3 March, 3am

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Write by: Dj Ganden - Rabu, 02 Maret 2011