By ZAZALI MUSA
OLD wooden furniture may be outdated, but to collectors, there is significant value in owning them.
The quality and detailed workmanship are reasons why these aged pieces are gaining popularity.
Unlike new and modern pieces, which are easily available at furniture shopsand home decor outlets, old furniture is not east to obtain.
Collectors must know where to source for such furniture, and Kampung Bumiputera Dalam in Rengit, Batu Pahat, is one such place.
In this village are a couple of shops run by an orang asli who sells second-hand items from Singapore such as furniture, electrical products, decorative items, carpets and dining ware.
This orang asli sells used modern furniture, but there are also three shops owned by Malay traders selling antique pieces.
Asraf Ali’s shop, known for its wide range of furniture, is located just metres away from the Rengit wet market.
Even antique shops from Kuala Lumpur and Malacca buy furniture from Asraf.
For several years, Asraf, 41, operated from his house, collecting, restoring and selling old furniture to customers all over the country.
He opened his shop five years ago as his collection had grown considerably and he needed a bigger space to store them.
Asraf’s shop is full old chairs, tables, wardrobes, display cabinets, beds, dressing tables, chest of drawers and other items.
He has furniture made of Myanmar teak and even mahogany, seraya and kembang semangkuk wood all crafted in the 1940s.
He describes his restored pieces as limited editions, and they are much lower in price than those sold in Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Penang.
“Most of my customers reminisce about teak furniture their families owned and discarded for modern ones,’’ he said.
Such items made in the 40s and 50s in former British colonies such as Burma, India and Malaya featured colonial designs and styles.
Post-war furniture depict simple and clean lines which are minimalist and display art deco whereas antique furniture is noticeable for its detailed carvings.
Asraf said that furniture from the 40s, 50s and 60s was sought after as it had a modern touch and blended well with contemporary homes.
His pieces range from 40 to 80 years in age and were salvaged from roadsides, bought or given by owners who no longer needed them.
Much of his furniture is from Singapore, brought in by runners who seek unique items.
“Getting old furniture is not easy as it is no longer in production. Owners, even the younger ones, are beginning to appreciate them and are not willing to part with them,’’ he said.
The pieces in his house are a prized collection which he has no plans to sell.
Among them are three Straits Chinese or Peranakan cabinets made in 1908.
Asraf said that the restoration of each item could take one to two weeks.
It begins with stripping out the paint or lacquer by using acid. This is followed with an alkaline substance to bring out the original colour of the wood.
The pieces are then dismantled and gaps and chips are filled or restored, sometimes with similar wood from other old and unused furniture.
The restored furniture is then sandpapered and lacquered according to the client’s specifications, like matt finish, honey colour or dark varnish.
“Old teak furniture has good value. Such handmade pieces are difficult to obtain and reflect the good workmanship of craftsmen of yesteryears,’’ said Asraf.
Asraf can be contacted at 012-750 1968 or 07-424 3489.
Source : http://thestar.com.my/
