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Subject:Re: Antique shopping in Indonesia - Any good?
Posted By: RogerD Wed, Oct 03, 2018
Tim:
The picture I sent was just a random shot of a shop on Jalan Surabaya, but there are about 3 blocks of similar shops with some specializing in pottery, bronze, carving, etc. Generally, if you mention a certain item you are looking for the shopkeeper will bring out a hidden "valuable antique" and the word will instantly travel to the other shops. As you continue along the way, shopkeepers will start bringing out items you have expressed interest in.
Chinese porcelain items are not plentiful. One or two pieces may be available from a shop and some are very good replicas. I believe that they are brought in from Singapore and China. I am not certain if it is still there, but when I lived in Singapore 1990 - 1996, excellent reproductions of Ming and Qing porcelain pieces were produced at the Ming Village on Pandan Rd. I believe many of these reproductions wound up in Indonesia.
There are hundreds of ceramic kilns throughout Indonesia, but the major porcelain kilns produce commercial and houseware pieces.
I have heard that some Chinese style porcelains are made at kilns in Sarawak, the Malaysian part of Borneo, by Chinese immigrants who settled there in the early 1800s. The area is well known for its pottery kilns and some porcelain production may be there also. I have also heard that some authentic Ming pieces have been found there among the descendants of the original Chinese immigrants. Most of Borneo belongs to Indonesia and is called Kalimantan. The north side is the Malaysian state of Sarawak. Both areas produce beautiful urns (guci) in all sizes in Chinese styles.
If I can be of help, please let me know.
Regards,
Roger
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