This is Arai Yakushi temple in Tokyo. On Sundays, the temple hosts a flea market with about 40 vendors selling Japanes antiques and vintage
Finding flea markets in Tokyo is surprisingly not as difficult. All the info about it is humongous and just a google away. Keeping up with the schedule is however a different matter. Most of them open every weekend, some others open on the 2nd or 3rd Sunday of every month, one opens only on the 18th and 28th of every month, and so on. The good thing about it though is practically every weekend you have one or two flea markets to go. So during my brief visit last month I managed to visit two of them. The first one was right in Shinjuku, about 7 minute walk from the station. Just like most flea markets in Japan, Hana Zuno flea market is also located in a temple called …Hana-Zuno. Kimono, old coins and dolls are a common view in this flea market. The old glass painting of a Japanese lady in her kimono that you see below, I got it from here. The second flea market is at Arai Yakushi, a little more difficult to find, but it is worth the hassle because in terms of quantity and quality, this place is obviously better. Here antique martavans, imari plates, china and ceramics make me go gaga. Unfortunately they are not the kind of items I would buy in a flea market, besides it’s a bit risky carrying those fragile ceramics in a long flight. So I ended up getting nothing except those photos and a good impression how well the Japanese preserves, manages, and organizes these flea markets, they become not only a tourist destination but also a tradition. Have a good week ahead everyone!
At Arai-Yakushi flea market, antique and old imari paintings are a common view.
Aside from Jakarta, Bandung, Yogja and Solo, Bogor is the place to go for vintage hunting. The most famous one is Ciawi, where a shopping complex of antiques and antique-likes is located, pretty much like Jalan Surabaya. But for those who feel demotivated already by the idea of going to Puncak area –like me–, fortunately there are other options. Right in the middle of this chaotic city –between Taman Topi and Pasar Anyar, there are two or three small thrifty shops offering anything from vintage type writers to antique Chinese ceramics. To my surprise, the ceramic collection of one shop is quite good. There are also other places to go in Bogor for those who fancy mid century furniture pieces, all scattered between Jalan Semeru, Cilendek, Semplak and Parung. So when you are in Bogor –the city of angkots–, you can actually stay positive by visiting those places. And stay vintage, of course.
I had no idea Pasar Beringharjo Yogjakarta has a flea market inside, until recently. What I know of, the market is known more for the batiks, so it’s good that I asked around and insisted that for an old pasar such as this –and it’s in Yogja for good sake– there had to be vendors selling vintage and antique. My conviction paid off. The flea market wing is on the left side of the market, along a narrow alley. There are around ten vendors selling enamels, cookie jars, glasses, tea sets, and –this you can hardly find outside Yogja and Solo– cap batik (= a copper stamp to make printed batik). Like in any flea market, most of the sellers are friendly and eager, especially to a visitor like me. Here are some photos. Stay vintage!
I have for a long time heard about Jatinegara as a flea market spot, but only weeks ago I had a chance to see it myself, thanks to my friend Mbak Tuti who insisted that the place is a must visit for vintage junkies like me. She was right. Like any other flea market, the place offers random items, from camera and painting, to practically anything and everything, and yes, junks are inclusive. Jatinegara flea market is bigger than Kebayoran Lama and Taman Puring, thus it offers more items. Not necessarily better though. But somehow I was lucky to go home with a green ice thermos and some vintage kain ulos. This is the thing with going to a flea market, you dont know what you are going to get and you end up buying things you dont even think you need or want. Happy New Year to all my friends, hope next year is another great year for everyone.
Flea market and street finds are becoming art in the creative hands of artist Ade Darmawan, the founder and director of Ruang Rupa. In his solo exhibition called “Human Resource Development” at Ark Galerie (Sep 23- Oct 24), Jakarta Selatan, Ade turns objects such as second-hand chandeliers, used books and vintage desks into an art with a message. I don’t quite understand what the message is, but I do understand now that lost and found finds can make a beautiful art. So inspiring. Just look at these photos.
Vintage passionistas, I am happy to share the news with you all, that is: Flea Market at Kemang Point is coming this weekend (Oct 5-7). Prita of Artmedium, the initiator and organizer says there will be around 25 booths offering the best of secondhand goods, vintage items and arts and crafts of the local artisans. F&B goodies will also be available. Rumors has it that Jakarta’s hippest crowds will attend the three day event, therefore Prita is doing her best to make sure that everyone gets only the best the event has to offer. That’s why Jakarta Vintage supports. Isnt this the event that you have been wanting to go?
An abstract painting, a vintage cabinet, an Aedi sofa, and a marrocoan coffee table. A warm welcome to the tiny apartment.
Remember my posting in June titled “Vintage and The City” which highlighted an apartment in Senayan? Last month the Home & Decor magazine –with the tagline: stylish living made easy– visited the apartment and shot it for its August edition. So last week I bought a copy of the magazine, and when I flipped pages 68-75, it looks –shall i say it– more beautiful than the real thing. But of course. The photographer –Erwin Panjaitan– is a pro, so is the stylist, Stephani F Halim. Here are the photos from my iPhone. The title of the article is “Prudent Treasures”, but I would call it “Vintage Invasion In Modern Apartment”. What do you think? O by the way the space interior design is by me.
The group in front of 15th century Adityawarman statue at the National Museum
Our first Jakarta Vintage tour took place yesterday, starting off with what my friend Rima calls “heritage tour” at the National Museum (or Museum Gajah). Rima thinks it is important for us to get a little history and culture education before we hit the flea market and I couldn’t agree more. Except that we did it only for fifteen minutes, including ten minutes for photo shoots, o dear. Anyway, done with the museum tour, we hit Taman Puring to check out the latest vintage collection there. For my friends Kiki, Rima, Vanda, Ivan, Anna, Geline, Nanang and Andu, this is the first visit to a flea market in Jakarta, well probably to any flea market. And boy how they raid the place in style. Vanda in her red hot mini skirt to show off her curvy legs and Geline came in her new hairdo, fresh from the salon. I trust yesterday was an unforgettable day… especially for the vendors there. The tour ended up with fast breaking in the tasteful, classy restaurant Merah Delima. What a fun and vintageful day yesterday. Enjoy the photos.
My friend Kariim just sent me another video which he shot, developed and edited all by himself. I watched it right away and thought I should share it with you again here. The video is a clip of our vintage hunting session to Kebayoran Lama a month ago. For someone who is new to vintage and flea market ideas, Kariim –he is fifteen years old, an intern in my office– has really good eyes in spotting good stuff. Three minutes and two shops, he already managed to secure a cool polaroid camera for himself. A quick learner. Watch and enjoy the video. The soundtrack is “The Pretender” by Datarock. Happy fasting Sunday!
You have known what Taman Puring has to offer–well practically anything and everything, vintage and not so vintage– but you may be clueless on what the place looks like. So three weeks ago my friend Kariim and I cruised the place and shoot it with his 60D camera. The four minute video was shot, developed, edited by Abdul Kariim Risyad–15 years old– and is now ready for you here. O, the cool music in the video — A Certain Romance by Arctic Monkeys– is his choice too. Hope you like it, I do. Thanks Kariim!
An antique glass painting of three ladies in kimonos which I found at Hana-Zuno flea market in Tokyo is a real steal. Besides, it goes just beautiful with the Chinese tennis player lady from Taman Puring. Do you have a street find or a flea market buy that you want to share here? Please send the photo(s) to luthfi_hasan@yahoo.com. Lets find and share!
