ANTIQUES

The shops listed in this section are those specializing in antiques and represent only a small portion of the thousands of dealers in antiques in Jakarta. Many handicrafts shops also carry a few antiques. Bargaining is an essential element in any shopping in Jakarta, and especially important to the buyer of antiques. While some larger shops in Jakarta are establishing a fixed price policy, most dealers expect to bargain before a sale. Do ask for a discount before making a purchase! Comparative shopping is recommended since pricing is quite arbitrary.

There are many tukang – tukang who go from door to door in the residential areas selling antiques and arts and curios. Tukang, literally translated, may mean “ skilled laborer “ or “ artisan “. But for antique buyers the world has a special meaning. Besides his special skills in the buying and selling of antiques, the tukang is a bearer of treasure and junk, information and vagaries. He is both trusted supplier and inveterate scoundrel, and quite necessary for the amazing of an antique collection in Indonesia. Tukang make up their inventories in severa! Ways and the price of a particular item may reflect in part the manner in which it was obtained. Some, perhaps the most professional and certainly the most affluent ones. Make several buying trips during the year to an island where diggings for porcelain are in progress, or to small towns where family storerooms may still harbor antiques. If he does not have the capital for transportation or the necessary connections with the village chiefs, he may buy from colleagues who have. Lacking money for that. He will work on a commission basis out of an antique shop, each evening returning the unsold pieces. From time to time private collections are put up for sale and he may act as go-between, also on a commission basis. If interested, one can best contact these tukangs by asking a friend who deals with one to send him to your house. It is still possible to find rare examples of fine Portuguese and Western European furniture which were either brought here by the early colonists. Or duplicated by skilled Indonesian cabinet makers. Some of the antique furniture made in Indonesia incorporates designs from Europe or China. Indonesian furniture items are frequently classified by their area of origin, such as “ the Palembang bride’s chest “.

The shopper should be aware of the fact that there are many copies of antiques and that one should be extremely careful when purchasing such pieces with the intention of taking them home. The copies although beautiful, are very seldom made of cured wood may crack when subjected to a change of climate.

The following are suggested guidelines for the novice antique buyer to consider, check for replaced parts, remember too many replacements and the piece loses its value as an antique. Look closely at all sides of the item, including the insides. For wooden pieces, look for irregularities in texture, color and finish – wood with unnaturally high gloss or sheen is likely to have been recently repainted or shellacked. The museum in Jakarta offer excellent examples of the various antiques and regional styles to be found in the city shops by the industrious shopper with the time and patience to seek them out. The Museum Pusat in Jakarta will examine and authenticate your antiques for a small fee. The wary shopper should try to establish the right to return an item to a dealer should it prove to have been misrepresented.

ARNOLD ART CURIO AND ANTIQUES

Jl. Wahid Hasyim 52, Menteng.

Hours : 8am – 1:30pm Monday – Saturday, 8am – 12 Noon Sunday.

Many furniture reproductions. Artifacts and porcelain. Curios and miscellaneous items.

BALI ART AND CURIO

Jl. Kebon Sirih Timur Dalam 42, Menteng.

Hours : 7am – 1pm, 3pm – 7pm Monday – Saturday.

Shop with small pieces such as porcelain, krises and lamps. Also sells wayang kulit, wayang golek, lopung masks and sarong from Sumatra. Owner has porcelain at home also where he will take customers by appointment.

“ BUMI “ ART AND CURIOS

Jl. Kebon Sirih Timur Dalam 257, Menteng.

Hours : 8am – 2pm, 4:30pm – 7pm Monday – Saturday.

Open By Appointment Sunday And Holiday.

Specializes in antique furniture, Chinese, Javanese, some European. Limited porcelain. Varied inventory of carved chests, candle holders, mirrors lamps, plaques, wayang golek, old batiks, old Palembang and Lombok tapestries, and antique crystal.

DJODY ART CURIO AND ANTIQUES

Jl. Kebon Sirih Timur Dalam 22, Menteng.

Hours : 8am – 2pm, 4:30pm – 7pm Monday – Saturday.

Open By Appointment Sunday And Holidays

Mostly Chinese and European antiques. Some Palembang and Madura pieces. Wide variety of furniture items. Large stock porcelain and stoneware. Also makes carved furniture to order.