I dont know if you celebrate Valentine’s Day, because I dont. Never had and never will. Well, …unless it’s vintage, of course. Cinta Tempo Doeloe (Vintage Valentine) is an event organized by Komunitas Djadoel on Feb 11 (today) until Feb 21, 2013 at Blok M Plaza, Kebayoran Baru. Anything you can think of at the vintage department, you will find it here, said Omen, the vintage activist who is in charge of the event. There are over 60 booths participating, offering many different items, and yes, including those antique Mercedez Benz cars, and photos of Indonesian movie stars from the 80′s. Looks like this year I have an excuse to celebrate Valentine. By the way, this 10 day event will also conduct a charity auction, band performance and other entertainment. Happy Vintage Valentine everyone.
Jakarta Vintage tour was back again and this time around it was more enlightening. At least in the first stop of the tour at National Museum (Museum Gajah). Thanks to my friend Rima who has been very kind to guide –and educate– us about some important collections in the museum. With Rima as the guide –really a walking museum wikipedia I would say–, two hour walking around in the museum was a quick business. So quick that it was almost lunch time already and we had to rush to Trio. Does anyone remember Trio? An unpretentious, quite authentic Chinese restaurant in Cikini that has been around for 66 years, that’s where we had lunch. Sigit and Lucy have been there once, but the rest of the group is new to this vintage restaurant. Two portions of roasted ducks, fried doves, and two plates of cah kangkung later –honestly I dont remember what else that we ate there– we are full and energized to hit Jalan Surabaya for a vintage hunting, the meat of the program. For those who have visited the place, have you ever stepped into the back area where many more shops are located? You should. This back area is as fun. Ending the vintage tour in Jalan Surabaya is really true to the whole point of having the tour. Lucy came home with some old books and maps, Rosaleen was happy with her new finds (what did you get by the way?). Nicole and Matt were excited with some crystal and glasses for their new home in Jakarta, Sigit bought an old Chinese painting. And shall I mention too that I went home with five Grace Simon and Andi Meriem Mattalata’s vinyls? Lol. Yes, this time around the tour is as fun as it is enlightening.
How can anyone go to Solo without visiting the famous Pasar Triwindu for a vintage therapy and not talking about it? I cant. So here it goes. Visiting Triwindu flea market now is a pleasant experience, compared to …four years ago. It’s clean, well-organized, and it has almost everything in vintage department. Did I mention that the pasar is also located in a new two storied building dedicated to vintage and antiques? Yup. Nett nett–as my friend Geline likes to put it– the only competition comes from Antique shopping arcade in Jalan Surabaya, Jakarta, in terms of “one-stop-vintage-shopping experience”. After spending almost a whole day here, I managed to secure a set of 70′s chairs and table, vintage doors and Dutch era metal pillars. I told you it has everything, not just typical vintage stuff as I featured here. Have a productive Monday everyone!
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!
In Solo, the question on which places to visit for a vintage passionista like me is a predictable matter. Pasar Triwindu, Kraton Surakarta and Mangkunegaran, Pasar Klewer, and Kampung Batik Laweyan. That’s where I went to the last time I was there four years ago. And last week too. At both time I had a good time. At Laweyan I was supposed to hunt for batiks, but these doors stole my attention. I had no choice, I had to take pictures and blog about them here. Laweyan batiks, they are too famous already. But these doors and the vintage houses where they belong to, are worth a look. Just look.
I love Yogjakarta for so many things. The batiks, the gudeg, the lesehan, the sense of humor. And now these tiles. I am sure it’s not just me. I saw them in Kraton, in some coffee houses, hotels and restaurants…and in this Diamond Baru tile shop, well of course. I went there last week to check what they have to offer. Knowing Diamond is a lesser known tile brand compared to the legendary Cap Kunci who practically owns the category and the buzz, I was surprised to see how beautiful the tiles are. The tiles featured here are mostly from this shop, and some belong to the Kraton. Dont you love them too?
Jakarta Vintage is in the press again. This time around it’s in Home & Decor Indonesia. In its December edition, the stylish magazine covered our first event that is the Retro & Beyond Vintage Auction held in Kemang Village last November under “What’s Hot” page. With the headline “Vintage Goes Hip”, the overall article sounds very kind and supportive. Of course, who wouldn’t? As quoted there: not only vintage is cool, it’s good to the earth too. So go get it for a good read.
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.
Vintage can be bright and colorful too, that’s what this house is trying to achieve through colorful vintage items in the interior. Sofa in recycled flowery fabrics, chairs in colorful faux leathers, paintings in dashing colors, et cetera. This video clip is one segment in a Dulux sponsored TV program “Lets Colour” aired at 9am on Sundays on Metro TV. By the way the house belongs to Jakarta Vintage. Hope you like it too.
Vintage as we know it can be slightly different from a Javanese point of view. Look at this house in Yogja, which to me looks like a priyayi house, if you know what I mean. Every single thing in the house is either antique or vintage –all in fine condition– and of course with a strong Javanese touch. According to Sigit, the owner, who is not a priyayi by the way –he is actually a banker based in Jakarta– it is important that things in the house are kept in one theme, in harmony with each other and in order. Typical Javanese philosophy. And somehow it works just fine. This home is just beautiful. PS: Priyayi as Clifford Greetz put it: is the traditional aristocratic class of the elites in traditional Javanese society.
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!
