Singapore Guidebook September Edition sgb_digital-magz_en-compressed | Page 22

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TIMELESS TREASURE
Timeless Treasure,
Peranakan Antique Shop
Heritage Jewels: Rising of the Phoenix
P
eranakan culture has existed for more than
200 years and its distinctive feature is the detailed
workmanship of motifs such as phoenix, butterflies,
dragonflies, birds, crickets, and various flowers. These
workmanship entails months of painstaking hard work,
creativity and patience. It is rarely found in current
generation, which expects everything to be done
instantly.
To get to know if a thing is from the Peranakan culture,
you need to look at its motif, color, chop, type of gold,
and type of silver. “And in the case of kabayas, we look
at the material such as swiss voile or rumbia and the
intricate works and motifs that characterise the heritage
pieces”, says the shop owner Elizabeth Tng.
Starting from 1996, Elizabeth was selling auction estate
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pieces and contemporary watches and jewels. Tanglin is
a great area to sell antiques. Slowly but surely, Timeless
Treasure evolved to become not just a jewelry store
but an antique jewel shop and paradise for collectors
who are looking for nonya jewellery, kabaya, sireh set,
porcelain, and other antiques.
Timeless Treasure has many rare items, and there are
so many of them that it makes you feel like you are
in Peranakan Museum. There are kerosangs, intans,
gemstones, diamonds, antique watches, kamchings,
etc. Timeless Treasure has many antiques and rare
things that have existed since 1920s to 1940s!
Although there are many ads promoting modern jewelry
and clothing, there are still many people who are
hunting for antiques these days. This is because people