Does the weathered patina of an aged piece of furniture send you all of a quiver? Singapore is bursting with the stuff. Whether you’re an antiques virgin or seasoned collector, looking to make a bob or two from your investment or pick up something that just looks nice in your living room, you can’t fail to find something to please you. Here are some of your oldies-but-goodies.

Just Anthony
379 Upper Paya Lebar Road
(+65) 6283 4782
www.justanthony.com

I love the unexpectedness of finding a wealth of Chinese and Tibetan furniture in an otherwise residential area. The staff is honest about what is antique and what is reproduction, and they are very willing to modify a piece to suit your needs.

We have purchased three Chinese wedding cabinets of different sizes and colours. One we had one converted into a wardrobe, the other two serve as storage cupboards. Although the style is over a hundred years old, it works well in a contemporary setting as the lines are simple and the pieces aren’t ornate.

More recently, I asked Danielle to produce a wardrobe for my daughter Tui’s new room, in simple white covered in hand-painted butterflies. It fits perfectly in our new house and is much nicer than a built-in wardrobe. Now Tui has a beautiful piece of furniture to call her own.

Melanie Fitzgerald – New Zealand/UK

Art Trend Gallery
19 Tanglin Road
#02-07 Tanglin Shopping Centre
(+65) 6735 2253
www.arttrendgallery.com.sg

Initially, we had no idea that our four-door red lacquered elm cabinet was an antique. Nevertheless, we liked it from the first moment we laid eyes on it.

The paintings on the doors are unique and the whole piece is a distinctive red. But what struck us most was the fact that it was made without using nails.

We were given a detailed background of the piece, including the specification and certificate of authenticity, plus the written meaning of each of the paintings on the doors.

We’ve bought many pieces from Art Trend Gallery over the years and it has always been our first and last stop when looking for furniture. We’ve bought each piece with the intention of creating a different ambience in each room, and they all add a little touch of Asia, making our place pleasant and cosy.

Monica Reis – Brazil

Eden Galerie
21 Lorong Kilat, #01-04 Sun Court
(+65) 6463 1885
www.edengalerie.com.sg

Our solid Tibetan sideboard, with its hand-painted doors and drawers, has become the centrepiece of our dining room, and visitors always comment on it. It adds a classic Asian feel to the space, and we already have the ideal position in mind for it for when we do eventually move back to our home in the UK.

Marco told us that he had sourced the sideboard on a trip to China, and took the time to explain the history of the piece. We continue to use it on a daily basis, as it has been used throughout its history.

Both Marco and his team provide an excellent service, and the collection in the store is varied – every visit brings with it a new surprise. In fact, I have a few more pieces of furniture in mind that I want to secure before we go home this summer.

Catherine Dean – UK

Past Perfect Collection
480 River Valley Road
(+65) 6737 3078
www.pastperfect.sg

What first struck me about the store was the number of beautiful writing boxes and chests, all in immaculate condition. It was like walking into a candy shop!  

I bought a lovely rosewood Arab chest, dated early 19th century. It displays beautiful ‘‘shiraz’’-style strap hinges, and fastens with an elaborate Oriental hasp, staple and padlock.

The other piece is a 19th century Indo-Dutch mahogany writing box, featuring beautifully pierced brass mounts. I especially like the decorative escutcheon and ornament on top, which gives the box a rather regal appearance.

In addition to the long-term investment value of these pieces, they also add a sense of history to our home, provide food for conversation, and elicit frequent compliments. However, I love the pieces most for their beauty – they put a smile on my face each time I see them.

Lies Ellison-Davis – UK/Netherlands

Journey East
15 Joan Road
(+65) 6253 4950
www.journeyeast.com

My hobby is collecting antiques and designer retro furniture, and I have been visiting Journey East on a regular basis for years. I love the store for its wide and unusual collection of retro and designer furniture, but most of all, I appreciate Vivian Wong, who manages the store, for her dedication to her customers.

Vivian not only takes the trouble to find out what designs and styles interest you, she also matches the furniture to your character and identity. She knows what makes her customers “tingle”.

My most recent purchase was a retro designer sofa set, which has an elegant curved wooden armrest, and bucket seats made from cushioned fabric. It brings a warm nostalgic feel to my living room, and has been a conversation piece for anyone who visits my home.

Ramesh Selvaratnam – Singapore

Lee’s Antiques & Interior
108 Pasir Panjang Road
#02-03 AFP Warehouse
(+65) 6773 2245

We had our home fully furnished by Lee’s Antiques and Home Essentials because we liked the flexibility of a two-year lease with an option to buy. However, we purchased some of the pieces upfront, including a large 120-year-old wedding cabinet from Shanxi, these unique 80-year-old solid elm doors with cast iron lion-head knockers, an old elm frame-door coffee-table – a great conversation piece! – and my husband Rob’s favourite: the old elm bar decorated with the longevity motif.

We bought them initially for their aesthetic appeal, but now we realise that they are a good investment. Laura Lee, the owner, gave us detailed background information on every piece, including its age, the type of wood it was made from, and its origin.   

Thanks a bunch to the wonderful team at Lee’s Antiques and Home Essentials who made our house a home away from home.

Zelda Auslander – US

Woody Antique House
Block 13 and Block 15 Dempsey Road
(+65) 6471 1770

The best thing about Woody’s is that they custom-make furniture, which allows me to design the piece that’s perfect for my needs. They understand detailing and I’m never afraid that I won’t get exactly what I designed.

As an interior designer, I do a lot of work from home, so I need a space that is functional and comfortable to work in. But I still like a residential feel that reflects my personal style. I also want it to feel more international than specifically Asian – more eclectic.

Among other things, I purchased an antique altar table in an aged brown lacquer finish and had Woody’s put in additional ledges for storing samples underneath, so it’s a beautiful antique piece that’s also a very functional work-table.

My favourite piece, however, is an armoire made from reclaimed wood. Taken from antique Chinese doors, the weathered elm has a beautiful patina and the style of the piece feels more Western than Asian.

Michael Fiebrich – US

Lim’s Arts & Living
211 Holland Avenue
#02-01 Holland Road Shopping Centre
(+65) 6467 1300

Lim’s is unpretentious and the staff is knowledgeable. They have very good buyers who find interesting things, and the inventory turns over quickly. There is always something new to be found, and the prices are low compared with other stores.

We have bought various furniture and accent pieces from Lim’s, but we are particularly pleased with a large elm chest from Guangxi that we use as an entertainment centre. The staff was creative and helpful, building in hidden supports to handle its weight.

We see Lim’s as a fine source of accent pieces and working furniture, some of which are antiques, some which aren’t. The age of the item has not been our central focus, although some of the store’s Chinese items are from the early 1900s.

One of the year’s special events for residents who have been here a while is the Lim’s anniversary sale, where you can get great discounts.

Carol Fontana – US

Asia Box
170 Upper Bukit Timah Road
#B2-06 Bukit Timah Shopping Centre
(+65) 6467 0762
www.asiaboxliving.com

I liked my green Tibetan cupboard with sliding doors and hand-painted peonies so much that I bought a second one in red, with a green base. The two pieces look great juxtaposed against my other furniture, including my most recent purchase – another cupboard with carved cage-work, which I use to store shoes.

Each piece I have bought from Asia Box adds functionality and vibrancy to my home. Functionality because of the storage space it affords me, and vibrancy because of the rich colours and patterns. Each piece is a character in it own right and has a story to tell.

Asia Box has a very nice, open environment, a variety of goods, and the staff don’t chase you around the store in search of a sale.

Joan Fry – Australia