Nothing timeworn about profits from antiques<\/p>\n
By Agus Maryono<\/p>\n
CILACAP, Central Java (JP): With great care, Yuni arranged a
\nbox-shaped object decorated in shiny dark brown hues. The antique
\nteak strongbox was ready for sale.<\/p>\n
The 24-year-old resident of the Pertamina housing complex in
\nCilacap has worked with her mother for the past three years to
\nsell antique household wares and furniture.<\/p>\n
\"Apart from making a profit, in this business we also gain an
\nappreciation of the artwork produced by people in the past,\" Yuni
\ntold The Jakarta Post during a recent sales exposition in
\nCilacap.<\/p>\n
Yuni acknowledged the antique business provided handsome
\nprofits which were often three times her purchase price -- and
\ncould be larger if the prospective buyer was ignorant about the
\nvalue of antiques.<\/p>\n
Among the antique household items she sells are tables and
\nchairs, Risband (long chairs), dressing tables, dining tables,
\nstrongboxes, mirrors and accessories, beds, side cupboards,
\ncabinets and kitchen utensils such as plates and glasses.<\/p>\n
She said it took work to find the items because, \"I have to do
\nmy utmost to get hold of the goods, hunting to the remote corners
\nof villages\".<\/p>\n
Yuni said she was able to purchase the items at relatively
\ncheap prices. Payments vary according to the size of the objects,
\ntheir condition and, most importantly, their owner.<\/p>\n
\"If the owner is a villager, they usually don't understand art
\nor the value of antiques, and it's not too difficult to settle on
\npayment.\"<\/p>\n
She said she usually paid from Rp 200,000 to Rp 300,000 for
\neach antique, which she subsequently sold for between Rp 1
\nmillion and Rp 4 million. A marble table with two chairs sells
\nfor Rp 1.5 million; a dressing table with marble accessories
\nsells for Rp 1 million.<\/p>\n
Yuni was reluctant to reveal how much she paid for the marble
\ntable, only willing to admit that \"my mother and I usually pay Rp
\n200,000\".<\/p>\n
She said many orders were from outside the area, including
\nJakarta. \"If the item has to be sent over a long distance, then
\nof course that entails an additional fee, unless it is picked
\nup.\"<\/p>\n
The business began from her family's own love of antiques.<\/p>\n
\"At the beginning, we bought them for our personal needs, but
\na lot of our neighbors asked about them and wanted to have them.
\nWe eventually started looking for them and then it became a
\nbusiness.\"<\/p>\n
She said using antiques filled a spiritual need, in addition
\nto showing appreciation for works of the past. Yuni noted that
\nteak antiques were strong and durable but \"at the very least they
\nshould be made from jackfruit trees\".<\/p>\n
Perhaps the most important aspect of a successful antique
\nbusiness is the desire to search for them in remote villages. If
\nthe antiques are in good condition, little work is needed on
\nthem; it is enough to clean, sandpaper and polish them for sale.<\/p>\n
\"Well, so the antiques look shiny black, we usually polish
\nthem with shoe polish.\" Damaged goods are repaired before being
\npolished.<\/p>\n
\"But if I see that an object is in a really bad state, which
\nwould be impossible to fix, then I buy it at the cheapest
\npossible price. Usually it's not even used anymore by the owner.\"<\/p>\n
Parts of the heavily damaged antiques are taken to repair
\nother objects.<\/p>\n
\"Sometimes we purchase a chair or table which has one leg
\nmissing. We can make that from an antique which cannot be used
\nanymore which has the same type of wood.\"<\/p>\n
Yuni said the trend to go \"back to nature\" was a benefit to
\nher antique business and boded well for the future.<\/p>\n
\"Most of those who buy these goods are wealthy people with
\nnice homes. Maybe they are already bored with modern items.\"<\/p>\n
Her good fortune showed during the exhibition. She sold 75
\npercent of her wares over the five days.<\/p>\n
\"Yes, I did quite well. It pays, after all, to venture in and
\nout of the kampongs.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nothing-timeworn-about-profits-from-antiques-1447893297",
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