Treasure Hunt
M ay–J u n 2016
Lu x e Lif e
Treasure Hunt
Portuguese colonial rosewood cupboard flanked by British colonial mahogany side tables
The world of antique furniture has so much to offer. Longitude chats with Marie-Hélène Van Houten, owner of The Past Perfect Collection, on the thrill of the hunt and what makes a piece so special.
W
hat started off as a personal hobby developed into a business for Marie-Hélène and husband, Pieter. It all began in India. When posted to the South Asian country for work, the native Dutch couple packed their bags and flew miles away to make the foreign land their home. Here, a passion for collecting antique colonial furniture developed. After all, India’s rich colonial history meant that there was a lot to discover. “During our free time, we combed markets to see what we could find,” shares Marie-Hélène. Soon, an impressive collection
31º
Longitude
Lu x e Lif e
began to fill their abode in Mumbai. “Friends who visited our home started asking us where we discovered our furniture,” she continues. “To cut the long story short, we decided to quit our jobs and make a business out of our hobby.”
“You don’t need to have a room full of antiques. Even if you prefer a simple, clean style, a single piece will still fit in nicely.” — M arie - H é lène
This leap of faith led the couple to Singapore, where they opened The Past Perfect Collection in 2007. The store offers an unrivalled choice of antique colonial furniture – British, Dutch and Portuguese pieces made over 100 years ago during the colonial era. Despite the challenges that come with being in a niche market, the decision to follow their hearts has paid off. The Past Perfect Collection has since outgrown its original River Valley showroom to a bigger space in Sime Darby Centre. This move has allowed them to showcase more of the beautiful pieces in their collection, all personally handpicked from India. Both Marie-Hélène and Pieter make frequent visits to their dealers’ warehouses located all over India, where they scour through furniture discovered in old palaces, mansions and houses. It is the search that is Marie-Hélène’s favourite part of the business. “You must remember, when we first stumble upon them at the warehouse, the pieces are not how they are presented in our showroom,” she expresses. “It’s all very dusty and you really need to look very carefully. But when we find something precious, it’s very thrilling.” Pieces that are deemed precious are those that are not just of good quality, but also come with a proven slice of history. Marie-Hélène shares that the best finds are those that still have their original maker’s label stamped on them. “There was also once we found a desk with a newspaper dated all the way back to 1902 still hidden in the drawers. It even had some ink stamps from a lawyer’s office!” she enthuses. 32º
A STUNNING DUTCH COLONIAL MAHOGANY & EBONY STORAGE CHEST
M ay–J u n 2016
Lu x e Lif e
Thinking of purchasing antique furniture? This is why you should, says Marie-Hélène.
1 Antiques offer trend proof decorative impact. “While antique pieces are less likely to be super trendy, they are also less likely to ever be completely untrendy. There is nothing wrong in mixing antiques and new pieces in a room; it adds interest to a home as well as personality.”
2 Antiques are good quality furniture. “The beauty of colonial furniture mainly lies in its historical background, its uniqueness and above all the quality of the craftsmanship and materials used. Local craftsmen used exotic hardwoods such as rosewood, mahogany and satinwood, because these were particularly suited to the climate.”
3 Antiques offer a wide range of choices. “Colonial furniture from India is very diverse; it can be British, Dutch or even Portuguese in style. Each style has its own distinctive qualities. Don’t be afraid to ask your dealer some questions to find out more about a piece.”
BRITISH COLONIAL MAHOGANY SOFA WITH SHELL MOTIF
To restore the pieces to their former glory, the couple commission master craftsmen to work on them. The pieces are stripped, sanded and Frenchpolished to perfection. The result is elegant, exquisite pieces that hint at a sense of time. But with more home decorators preferring contemporary styles these days, it’s hard not to wonder if antique furniture can still retain its popularity. Is old still gold? Marie-Hélène gives us a little tip – don’t be afraid to mix the old with the new. “You don’t need to have a room full of antiques. Even if you prefer a simple and clean style, a single piece will still fit in nicely,” she advises. “Plus, it’s a good conversation starter and really adds character to a room.” And those who feel that an antique is simply a white elephant in the room, you are gravely mistaken. Most, if not all, of
The Past Perfect Collection’s pieces have a practical use. As Marie-Hélène puts it, “A chest of drawers is a chest of drawers. They are all functional.“ The fact that these pieces have survived through bygone eras also tells you something about the quality of the materials. Hence, for those interested, antique furniture do actually make for good long-term investment. After all, “Quality, coupled with beauty, ensures that value increases over time,” says Marie- Hélène. “But more than that, the antique is something you can admire and enjoy in the meantime,” she believes.
The Past Perfect Collection www.pastperfect.sg Sime Darby Centre, #02-01D +65 6737 3078 [email protected] 33º
Lu x e Lif e
Treasure Hunt
Portuguese colonial rosewood cupboard flanked by British colonial mahogany side tables
The world of antique furniture has so much to offer. Longitude chats with Marie-Hélène Van Houten, owner of The Past Perfect Collection, on the thrill of the hunt and what makes a piece so special.
W
hat started off as a personal hobby developed into a business for Marie-Hélène and husband, Pieter. It all began in India. When posted to the South Asian country for work, the native Dutch couple packed their bags and flew miles away to make the foreign land their home. Here, a passion for collecting antique colonial furniture developed. After all, India’s rich colonial history meant that there was a lot to discover. “During our free time, we combed markets to see what we could find,” shares Marie-Hélène. Soon, an impressive collection
31º
Longitude
Lu x e Lif e
began to fill their abode in Mumbai. “Friends who visited our home started asking us where we discovered our furniture,” she continues. “To cut the long story short, we decided to quit our jobs and make a business out of our hobby.”
“You don’t need to have a room full of antiques. Even if you prefer a simple, clean style, a single piece will still fit in nicely.” — M arie - H é lène
This leap of faith led the couple to Singapore, where they opened The Past Perfect Collection in 2007. The store offers an unrivalled choice of antique colonial furniture – British, Dutch and Portuguese pieces made over 100 years ago during the colonial era. Despite the challenges that come with being in a niche market, the decision to follow their hearts has paid off. The Past Perfect Collection has since outgrown its original River Valley showroom to a bigger space in Sime Darby Centre. This move has allowed them to showcase more of the beautiful pieces in their collection, all personally handpicked from India. Both Marie-Hélène and Pieter make frequent visits to their dealers’ warehouses located all over India, where they scour through furniture discovered in old palaces, mansions and houses. It is the search that is Marie-Hélène’s favourite part of the business. “You must remember, when we first stumble upon them at the warehouse, the pieces are not how they are presented in our showroom,” she expresses. “It’s all very dusty and you really need to look very carefully. But when we find something precious, it’s very thrilling.” Pieces that are deemed precious are those that are not just of good quality, but also come with a proven slice of history. Marie-Hélène shares that the best finds are those that still have their original maker’s label stamped on them. “There was also once we found a desk with a newspaper dated all the way back to 1902 still hidden in the drawers. It even had some ink stamps from a lawyer’s office!” she enthuses. 32º
A STUNNING DUTCH COLONIAL MAHOGANY & EBONY STORAGE CHEST
M ay–J u n 2016
Lu x e Lif e
Thinking of purchasing antique furniture? This is why you should, says Marie-Hélène.
1 Antiques offer trend proof decorative impact. “While antique pieces are less likely to be super trendy, they are also less likely to ever be completely untrendy. There is nothing wrong in mixing antiques and new pieces in a room; it adds interest to a home as well as personality.”
2 Antiques are good quality furniture. “The beauty of colonial furniture mainly lies in its historical background, its uniqueness and above all the quality of the craftsmanship and materials used. Local craftsmen used exotic hardwoods such as rosewood, mahogany and satinwood, because these were particularly suited to the climate.”
3 Antiques offer a wide range of choices. “Colonial furniture from India is very diverse; it can be British, Dutch or even Portuguese in style. Each style has its own distinctive qualities. Don’t be afraid to ask your dealer some questions to find out more about a piece.”
BRITISH COLONIAL MAHOGANY SOFA WITH SHELL MOTIF
To restore the pieces to their former glory, the couple commission master craftsmen to work on them. The pieces are stripped, sanded and Frenchpolished to perfection. The result is elegant, exquisite pieces that hint at a sense of time. But with more home decorators preferring contemporary styles these days, it’s hard not to wonder if antique furniture can still retain its popularity. Is old still gold? Marie-Hélène gives us a little tip – don’t be afraid to mix the old with the new. “You don’t need to have a room full of antiques. Even if you prefer a simple and clean style, a single piece will still fit in nicely,” she advises. “Plus, it’s a good conversation starter and really adds character to a room.” And those who feel that an antique is simply a white elephant in the room, you are gravely mistaken. Most, if not all, of
The Past Perfect Collection’s pieces have a practical use. As Marie-Hélène puts it, “A chest of drawers is a chest of drawers. They are all functional.“ The fact that these pieces have survived through bygone eras also tells you something about the quality of the materials. Hence, for those interested, antique furniture do actually make for good long-term investment. After all, “Quality, coupled with beauty, ensures that value increases over time,” says Marie- Hélène. “But more than that, the antique is something you can admire and enjoy in the meantime,” she believes.
The Past Perfect Collection www.pastperfect.sg Sime Darby Centre, #02-01D +65 6737 3078 [email protected] 33º
