A Step Back In Time At The Moongi Project In Singapore for Vintage Antiques And Collectables20/9/2013 When people speak of vintage, they are often referring to the period around the 1940s and 1950s, but it seems there really is no limit to what ‘old’ items can be used to decorate the home and still be classed as vintage. This is one of places for obscure knick-knacks and ornaments. Vintage hunters can find some extraordinary pieces at good prices. Indian food entrepreneur and antique collector Amit Chillal opens a vintage lifestyle boutique at Orchard Central Mall (the other at Haji Lane) in Singapore that feels like a mini museum chockfull of curios. The Moongi Project's aim is when decorating our homes is to make it feel as though you have traveled backwards in time to a different era. If you are interested in creating a similar effect in your home, here is one of places to help you achieve that! At the Moongi Project, most of the items are worn out or tattered, or even stained, which makes them even more priceless in people's eyes. You will find an eclectic mix of vintage antiques, collectibles and generally interesting objects. Collecting old things is as inherent to Indian culture as marmite on toast, sheep and alcohol-induced amnesia. The older and dustier the better the find. Furniture, jewellery, even clothes are lovingly polished, darned, restored passed down and hoarded for many generations. For the vintage lovers, this is my nod to sentimentality and nostalgia. The set-up of the boutique Moongi Project store is low-key and unpretentious. It is as basic as it gets, just plain concrete floor and pale yellow walls but the electric range of products is enough to charm. We all have those favorite little trinkets that we have accumulated over the years that just sit in a box or on top of bedroom dressers. A fun way to display these is simply by hanging some shelves. Try to hang them in more unexpected places, like in your study room or in your bathroom. It's always fun to see nice little displays pop up when you least expect them. The goods are mostly small, one-of-a-kind pieces like a French medicinal bottle, an antique cast iron and vintage wine barrels, sourced directly from artisans all over the world. There is also a handful of restored furniture, including a hand-painted cabinet from India. Prices at the Moongi Project store aren't just affordable and they are up for negotiation too which is extremely rare for a shop within Orchard Road in Singapore. Stocks are also updated weekly so there are always new items to purchase. Plus, their service staff go out of the way to satisfy customers, like providing free delivery and customization tips. Everything you have for a home - furniture, rugs, lighting, artwork can be plotted on an historical timeline and affixed with labels like "contemporary", "antique", "vintage" or "retro". An item's age is a key determinant of its value, considered alongside its condition, quality, and relative rarity. And the age of an item is evaluated not only in terms of its actual date of origin but also in the context of contemporary fashions and socioeconomic trends. Understanding our love for all things old is easy when you consider the many layers of vintage history. Any item that tells a story of eras gone by is revered rather than dismissed. It is this tendency to protect and revive that has ensured that vintage remains rich in culture and steeped in history. Hope can you drop in at the Moongi Project store soon and maybe find yourself a treasure or two!
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