House Decor Ideas: Check Out Jalan Surabaya Antique Market

Are you like me who's attracted to things that have a history or looked like they have a history? Or maybe you are looking for some more interesting artefacts to add to your home decor? Well my buddy J and I definitely were and we decided to check out the famous antique street/market in Jakarta- Jalan Surabaya.

This made me miss those times when I used to type essays with a typewriter.

One has to have patience to go through the piles of collectibles. 

Was tempted to get the gramophone for G.

Just love these vintage binoculars/telescopes. J got one of these for her son.

There's a couple of things to note over there:

 1. You need to haggle. A lot.

Most of the shopkeepers start with higher prices; although some must just be out of their mind or don't want your business, they quote you ridiculous figures. They quote us a vintage fan at 20 million rupiah..yes 20,000,000idr (~2,000usd). We laughed and walked away. This is clearly a lost case. 

Let's say hypothetically we just loved the fan and willing to part 2k on it, the shopkeepers wouldn't even have credit card/atm facilities to complete the transaction. J picked out an aged metal tray which she thought would be nice as a towel tray and they quoted 2 million rupiah..another nut case. I told her I could sell her a same one for less. I could just buy a metal tray and pee on it numerous times so that it would eventually aged the same ;p

2. Don't settle on the first or second shop.

J got her eyes set on the vintage telescopes and the first shop quoted her 7,000,000idr (~700usd) and no matter how much we try to barter (for e.g; getting more items..), the storekeeper refused to budge much. We pulled ourselves away from the shop and walked down the whole street, checking the various prices each store offers for a similar telescope. We finally found one that quoted us 3,500,000idr and we got it down to 2,000,000idr (~200usd). Deal done.

3. They may not be authentic antiques.

We also got these maritime scopes for 600,000idr(~60usd) each and I was extremely excited to give it to G. I was so proud of acquiring 'an antique' since the scope was engraved that it was made in 1913 (which made it more than 100years old = qualified as an antique). The oldest things I have now are couple of vintage lomo cameras and pre-war stamps so I was super duper thrilled to have acquired something so old...till G dashed my hopes as an amateur antique collector. 

"Thanks baby, it is a really nice antique reproduction."

What??! Really? It is not authentic? 

"No I don't think so, the leather cover is made to look distressed but not aged naturally..." G gave me an empathetic look. "But I still like it.." Smile.

:( 

The next day, J's hubby also confirmed that it is just a very well reproduced piece of 'antique'. However the scopes still made a nice decor piece so I didn't feel too bad.

Lesson: Buy the items if you like the designs rather than in hope of collecting antiques. 

4. Bring cash.

They don't accept any cards. And the nearest atm machine requires a drive.

---

Well then...hope this helps and happy shopping! I am planning to make a trip to the Antique Market in Arezzo, Italy soon and hopefully I can get some nice finds :) Will write about it in May, stay tuned!