Shopping for Malay antiques in Kuala Lumpur
Antiques display in Sungei Plaza
Although the Malaysian cities of Melaka and Penang are more closely associated with antiques, there are plenty of great places to shop for collectables in Kuala Lumpur. All manner of crafts are available in the city and not just those of Malay origin. Antiques shopping in KL can embrace all of the constituent cultures that make up the nation including Chinese and Indian artefacts.
But potential buyers should make note that taking Malaysian antiquities outside of the country can only be legally permitted with a special permit from the Director General of Museums. But any foreign antique which was first legally imported into KL is not subject to the same restrictions and can be removed without such documentation.
Recommended Kuala Lumpur antiques shops around Chinatown
The best place to start shopping for antiques in Kuala Lumpur is probably Central Market. Here there are dozens of stalls and shops spread over both floors of the Art Deco building featuring a wide range of old and new crafts. Although prices can be a little higher than some little tucked away places, there is usually no problems concerning the quality of the articles on display.
Favourites outlets include Jewellery Circle which specialised in jade stone and period jewellery featuring precious stones of Southeast Asia (G63 Central Market, +60 (0)3 2274 0612) and the Collectables Centre which has a wide range of Malay antiques based on the ground floor. (G43 Central Market, +60 (0)3 2273 3182). For more on Central Market.
Just a few minutes walk from Central Market is another goldmine of the Kuala Lumpur antique scene, Chinatown’s Petaling Street. This enormous covered market flanked with shops and restaurants is a great place to find leather goods, ornaments as well as knock-off clothes and jewellery. There can be a few decent finds here for those diligent bargain hunters unperturbed by row upon row of slogan t-shirts. And remember to haggle hard as the first price quoted by stallholders is normally many times the true value of the item. For more on Chinatown in KL.
Recommended Kuala Lumpur antiques shops elsewhere
Bazaar at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman
Traders flock to Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman to sell a wide variety of wares from old carpets, second-hand books and vintage textiles. Kashmir carpets and accessories can be found at Kashmir House (64 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, +60 (0)3 2693 0243) with lace and related items of embroidered fabric available at Peiping Lace (223 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, +60 (0)3 2698 3184) and exclusive home furnishings including items inspired from classic designs at Da Vinci Collection (168 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, +60 (0)3 294 6333).
There are countless boutiques and small stalls and a lively night market every Saturday from 18:00 – 22:00 where smallholders bring traditional delicacies to sell. (Jalam Tunku Abdul Rahman, otherwise known as Batu Road, is a short walk from Bandaraya and Masjid Jamek LRT stations or Independence Square (Dataran Merdeka))
Little India is a bustling neighbourhood showing a small slice of true sub-continental colour right in the heart of the city. Apart from the myriad of sari cloths, spices and bangles on offer there are also interesting icons and ethnic statues of varying quality. Care must be taken not to be duped into paying over the odds for pieces, and beware any deal that sounds too good to be true – they invariably are. Visitors wanting to go antiques shopping in KL’s Little India are best off arriving in the late afternoon. (Nearby Masjid Jamek station is on both Star LRT and Putra lines)
The fashionable expat area of Bangsar to the west of the city centre also has a smattering of high-end shops catering for the affluent residents who live in the surrounds. Prices are sky high here compared to other parts with antiques shops in KL but a lot of the hard work as been done for you so there is no need to browse for hours to find a treasure.
Some favourite Bangsar antique shops are Tomlinson Collection Sdn Bhd(30 Jalan Telawi Lima +60 (0)3 2283 2196) which features all manner of oriental pieces and specialises in Ming-style ornaments, Yi Lu Fine Art Sdn Bhd (10 Jalan Telawi 4, +60 3 2284 2286) which features a superb range of Chinese Elm style collectables and Purser’s Choice which has teak furniture from the colonial era of the country (second floor Bangsar Village, +60 (0)3 2282 1928).
Other antique shops in Kuala Lumpur
Art Decor Asiatique contains a decent variety of period furniture and antiques from across Asia (Second Floor, Mid Valley Megamall, +60 (0)3 2282 8008). Benze brings Italian chic to the city (Third floor, KL Plaza, +60 (0)3 2145 1848) while Eastern Stamps, Coins & Antiques is popular with collectors (First floor, Sungei Wang Plaza, +60 (0)3 2148 7217).
Flying Birds is great for sourcing all manner of Indonesian crafts such as carvings and ornaments (1 Lorong Damai 13 Kiri, +60 (0)3 2141 1487) while Rustic Empire (115 Jalan Maarof, +60 (0)3 2287 1028) and Teakita (38 Jln Pemberita U1/49 Shah Alam, +60 (0)3 5569 4192) are leading names in the world of quality teak furniture.
Of course if you can’t find exactly what you are looking for while Kuala Lumpur antiques shopping then the historic city of Melaka is not too far away. The busy lanes around Jonker Street are renown as some of the best on the continent for buying antiques. And if you have the time there are always the quaint shops of Penang to scour through which often prove rich pickings given a little time and patience.
