A Fine Vintage

If you’re looking to freshen up your living space then why not go vintage? Be it a 1950s sideboard nestled in your bedroom or an art-deco coffee table serving as a focal point in your living room, vintage items often remain popular decades after the pieces were originally conceived.

”Single armchairs, table lamps and light fixtures are very popular,” according to Pan Tang from Out of Stock, a vintage shop located within the trendy area around Gough Street. “People come to the shop looking for an original piece that will stand out in their home,” he adds. Although small, the shop is packed with colorful and interesting items, both vintage and modern pieces in vintage styles.

Chen Mi Ji stocks furniture which is second-hand and mostly dates back to the 1950s and 60s, according to owner Mike Chan. His shop displays an array of retro chairs and homely coffee tables as well as a wall of clocks that seem to gaze upon you as you check out the old radios and other vintage paraphernalia dotted around the shop. Once or twice a year he makes a trip to Europe to buy new items, choosing to stay away from tourist spots, preferring to venture into flea markets and shops in side alleys. Among his collection are chairs by renowned designer Charles Eames, now worth several times their original value—but Mike says he won’t part with them because they are the centerpiece of his collection.

For some people in Hong Kong, there is a high value placed on buying all the latest designer furniture, and many still find it hard to overcome the stigma of owning second-hand goods.

But buying vintage furniture doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality. “Well-made furniture stands the test of time and we want people to be able to say this looks like new,” says Richard Bowsie of 2nd Chance, a company that buys and sells second-hand furnishings. Often, if you find a well-crafted piece it will be decades old, some having outlived their previous owners, so it makes a great investment and can be treasured by the next generation of owners. From humble beginnings in a 700-square-foot flat in Sham Tseng, husband and wife Richard and Mavis Bowsie now operate a 5,000 square foot furniture showroom. “Quality furniture speaks for itself and we’ve seen our business grow largely by word of mouth, as customers refer their friends to us,” says Mavis. They often buy furniture from expats who are moving out of Hong Kong, or renovating and want to clear out the existing furniture. “Often people have lived in homes for over 20 years so you end up with some interesting pieces from all over the world,” says Richard.

If the furniture has suffered damage they restore it in the workshop. “We bought one table which was covered in stains caused by coffee mugs and wine glasses. We sanded it down and applied a new coating of varnish and it looked as good as new.” The range of furniture they have is immense. “Unlike most shops which hold the same stock for four or five months, we get new pieces every three or four days, so there is always something new coming in,” Mavis says.