Expertise in antique restoration may wane as city's masters retire

The craftsmanship of Chinese antique furniture restoration that helped put Hong Kong on the world map as one of the most important spots for the trade is set to fade when the last generation of masters retires in about 10 years.

It is estimated only about 20 masters are active in restoring pieces from the Ming and Qing dynasties and the youngest are already in their 50s.

And despite the boom in the trade of such furniture, they say that even if they were willing to pass on the skills to the next generation, young people lack the patience to spend up to a year fixing one piece of furniture.

'It is too much hard work for young people, especially when they want to make quick money. It is not much of a career either,' Lo Wai-wing, 64, who has been making and restoring furniture since he dropped out of school in 1962, said.

'People prefer to do interior decor because it's much quicker money than restoring antique furniture,' said Ho Hung-yu, who started making furniture 40 years ago when he was 12 and now runs his own gallery, Ho Cheung Antique Furniture.

'It's possible that the skills of [furniture restoration] will fade out. It's too difficult to find a young person who is interested in this and has the patience and talent required.'

Dressed in a sweatshirt and shorts at a workshop without air conditioning filled with thousands of pieces of wood, Mr Lo said the work was difficult and required a lot of patience. 'If there are broken edges, I have to find a piece of wood that matches the pattern and colour of the wood of the original piece of furniture.'