VINTAGE FURNITURE AND THE POWER OF MEMORIES

 Dear All

The response to my last blog posting on vintage Singapore street signages was tremendous. I received so many emails from  interested, curious  individuals.  Some recalled the signages as auctioned pieces.  It seems in 2003, these pieces were auctioned by Singapore Land Transport Authority , when black and white street name signs were replaced with the present green and white ones.

Collectors recognize the value of these pieces. They are part of Singapore history, especially those with Malay names like Rambutan Road, Langsat Road, Ciku Road, Lorong Pisang Emas, Lorong Pisang Hijau, Jalan Terang Bulan and  Jalan Limau Purut.  They remind us of the old Malaya days and colonial era, where Malay language was still a significant influence.

Apart from the interests by collectors, many enquired simply for sentimental reasons.  Tasha Nambiar was interested in Jalan Pisang Emas, because her grandfather used to live on the street with the same name in Malaysia. Rene Hillig also used to live in Jalan Pisang Emas in Singapore.  He was so disappointed when that particular road signage was sold.  But the power of memories is too strong for him to let go, that he personally requests for me to link him to the new owner. I'm more than happy to do that, because if this blog helps in connecting people and reliving memories, I would consider it, our contribution.

Mohd, a serious collector of all things Malay, bought Jalan Terang Bulan, for the sentimental reason, it reminds him of P Ramlee movies and Malay kampong. In some of the old Malay movies, full moon (terang bulan implies full moon that shines brightly) is always associated with romance, longing and happiness. A lover's secret rendezvous always takes place under a full moon.  A lover's pining for his or her love ones, is often seen singing at the window of  a kampong house and looking up to the full moon and quite often with the lover's image appearing on the moon! Happy occasions like village feastings and celebrations, also took place under  full moon.

Mohd would pay premium for Jalan Ampas, if it is available. The road is where the Malay movie industry was.  His cherished collections of vintage malay movies magazines, posters of veteran Malay actors and actresses, old Malay vinyl records and black and white photographs, would be perfect, he said, if  they all could come under the signage of Jalan Ampas.  Let's hope, he would find the signage one of these days.

While quite a number were considering the street names signs and hoping to drop by the weekend to have a look, someone came in on weekday and bought the balance of 11 pieces, all at one go, leaving the others quite disappointed. Interestingly, the one who bought it is a proprietor of a bicycle shop. He quickly saw the inseparable connection between cyclists and road signages.  I'm sure the signages would look impressive in his shop.  And should he decide to resell them, I'm sure he will get premiun prices for them.

By the way, SECOND CHARM had the good fortune this month of being featured in Singapore Home and Decor Magazine. The coverage helps in introducing us to  new vintage furniture lovers in Singapore.  We also had the good fortune of being listed as "The 5 Best Retro Furniture Shops'' by Singapore Time Out Magazine, last month. Sometime ago, we too were covered by Malaysia's Time Out Magazine for our KL shop. To Rebeccka Wong, Deputy Editor of Home and Decor and writer Wyn-Lyn Tan  and also to Time Out Magazines, thank you so much for opening doors for us.  

Below are some of the pieces that came back from our restorer last week and some of our latest finds. Hope you like them.

A beautiful rare vintage 1960's pink formica. The mirrors came with

beautiful etchings of birds and flowers. A pity that one of the mirrors were

broken.  Taken up as soon as it came in by Dr Quek.

An elegant midcentury teak armchair.  Taken up by Alice Seto for her boutique.

She came back a few days later to pick up 2 more similar pieces for her home.

2 pieces of these elegant mid century teak armchairs taken up

by Amanda Thorpe.

A striking velvety turqoise blue and deep brown fabric brought over by

Athalee Brown for us to upholstery for this long retro teak sofa that she got 

from us. Awaiting 2 single armchairs to match, which are being restored.

Another 3-seater midcentury modern solid teak sofa, restored and

reupholstered for Petrina Reddy, Nana Zubir and Joanne. This is the second

piece they bought from us. The earlier piece was clothed in cool Jeans fabric.

A contemporary Scan teak 2-seater sofa in good condition.

As is condition. 

A beautiful  teak showcase that we modified from vintage solid teak retro 

1960's wardrobe. The depth is narrowed to 14 inches. The sides and front substituted  with glass.  Taken up by a boutique  owner, Ms Yen, as soon

as it arrived in Singapore from our restorer.

A tall cabinet of good 14 inches depth, ideal for books that we modified

from vintage 1960's solid teak wardrobe.  Taken up by Jeffrey Tay.

2 more pieces being restored for Marcus Tan and Alice Seto.

A few Queen size beds were taken up the last few weeks in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Violinist Wong, Kishant,  Mr Tham and Athalee Brown in KL and Wang Zineng, Mohd and Irwin in Singapore. The young midde class seems to be less superstitious, I guess. Anyway, the restoration  which involves stripping the original lacquer, washing, sanding down, shellac, lacquer and relacquer, is enough to exorcise the piece, if need be. The wonderful thing about vintage art deco and retro beds is the simple elegance of the designs. and the beautiful solid teak pieces from which they are made, some of them almost an inch thick.

One and half door retro wardrobe cum dresser, beautifully restored
for Han She.  We have a few similar one-and-half door wardrobes but of the
art deco 1950's.  All solid teak pieces.

Beautiful  all wooden 1960's solid teak wardrobe  taken up by Arthur Lim. 

Arthur have some very beautiful vintage furniture in his lovely Peranakan shophouse off Geylang Road. Hope this piece and a few others he bought 
from us will be a lovely addition to his vintage collection.

A glass display cabinet restored for May Yee in Kuala Lumpur.

Slim single door vintage wardrobe of the 50's. Restored.
Seraya wood.

Tall 2-door wardrobe.  This piece doesn't seems like 

the regular 1950's-60's wardrobe and could have been customed made.

And made of superior teak wood.

A matching chest of drawers  to the above wardrobe.

This is one handsome piece and in very good condition  inspite of its age.

A 1950's solid teak dresser that is part of the wardrobe and the dresser

above.  The sliding door in this case is wood, when usually it is glass.

A cute solid teak sideboard.  With original decorative handles that

we repolished. L33 x D14.5 x H36 inches.

A uniquely slim 1950's sideboard.  Unrestored as yet.  2 pieces available.

One taken up by Wang Zineng. L42 x D11.5 x H44 inches.

A battered piece of low sideboard.  Worth saving because it is made
of solid teak. Out for restoration.

An interesting long and slim Art deco sideboard of solid teak wood but

done Chinese lacquering style of black and dark orange.

Inside are several layers of  narrow teak shelving.

A small low teak book cabinet that can be placed on top of a table.

Taken up by Sandy for her son's toy collection.

My favourite find of the week.  A naturally distressed piece of sideboard.

Seasoned and weathered with usage. Opening at the top, much like an old

trunk but on sturdy high legs.

A nice round table with pretty legs.  36 inches in diameter.

A vintage 70's foldable round table.  In spite of the formica, the table top is 

solid teak.  Will polish the formica and paint the legs green for Jenny Huang.

When I emailed her this picture, since she has been looking for one, her 

response, was, "I love it", and appeared an hour later at the shop to chose 4 

matching chairs to it.

A pair of Chinese style bamboo chairs. In good condition.

Another favourite find of mine.  Pretty  chinnoserie single bed headboard.

The other parts of the bed missing.  But this piece alone makes a beautiful

statement wall piece.

The other side of the headboard.

Old Chinese working bench seasoned with age and usage.  Taken up

Indonesian 2-seater solid teak bench

Solid teak bench.  Contemporary

Cute outdoor slightly curved bench that can be screwed to the floor wall.

A nice low ottomon.  With pretty retro design  fabric.  Parts 

of the fabric have frayed and may need reupholstery if you are particular.

I would keep it as it is and enjoyed it to the fullest.

A nice long cane weave coffee table on wooden legs.

A pretty wrought iron coffee table with glass top.  Love the flower

base.  Taken up.

A nice drop leaf coffee table.  Part of the lacquered top has peeled off.

Out for restoration.   

The drop leaf coffee table with the side flaps down.

A pair of seasoned leather armchairs for you to sink in. In good condition.

Grand carved dining chairs.  Will come with cushioned seats. 
4 pieces available.

A bentwood rocking chair that we painted white and reupholstered 

with lively flowered patterned fabric brought over by Siew Huey.

Originally the rocking chair is black with plain red fabric.

A lovely transformation, isn't it.

A simple, dignified kidney shaped sofa that we reupholstered for Diana 

Lim for her exclusive apartment at Tanjung Rhu.

A vintage/ retro 1960's Queen size bed in white and gray formica.

A rare Burmese teak art deco Queen size bed in lime wash finish.

A pretty retro 2-door wardrobe in solid teak. Original condition.

An art deco 1950's wardrobe and dresser.  Best restored.

A vintage wooden rack to be painted black for Jenny Huang.

A leaf shaped side table.

A beautiful marquetry oval mirror.  Part of an old late 19th century-

early 1920's dresser.  We put in bevelled edged mirror befitting its

old granduer.  Sourced among my many spare parts for Mrs Koh

who wanted one for her bathroom.

A 2-fold screen.

An outdoor timber decks.  Individual size of 16 x16 inches.  

37 pieces available.

Old garden pot  ideal for water plants.  Reserved for Mr Tan

Bentwood stool with pretty flower based seat.

A cute kid's rocking cane chair.

A vintage plastic stool 

A beautiful carved sandstone Chinese figurine in solid rosewood frame.

A Vietnamese movie poster.

A white painted study table that Zul bought for us sometime ago. 

He sent me this photo, to show how well it blends with his other

 furnishings.

My apology for late posting and for those who are disappointed that the pieces that they want so much are taken up by others. Vintage pieces are really limited.  When the same piece will turn up, I too cant be sure.  But we will certainly try our best.

Till sharing with you my next finds, 

Warmest regards

Sharifah

Saturday 9 April 2011, 6.05 am

 

   

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Write by: Dj Ganden - Jumat, 08 April 2011