Colonial Antiques

Paul's Antiques

The market for vintage homeware and furniture has been steadily on the rise internationally, and while Thailand itself was never colonised, nearby Myanmar was, which means Bangkok enjoys a brisk trade in pre-loved interior decor with Paul’s Antiques, the go-to for colonial Burmese furniture circa 1820-1940.

Opened in 1994, this much-loved, two-storey showroom sources, cleans and upcycles in their in-store workshop. Notable for good, well-built European craftsmanship, old Burmese furniture was principally made from teak, a once-plentiful, now-protected tropical hardwood from the rainforests of Indochina – so any pieces that cannot be rescued by Paul’s team of antique conservators are used to craft bespoke items.

Offering a varied selection of furniture as well as artwork and eclectic design items, there’s something to appeal to all tastes, from traditional collector’s items to eccentric one-offs. Art deco rocking chairs, antique looms and carved four-posted beds sit alongside colonial vanity tables, bookcases, glass-fronted cabinets and desks, as well as cultural conversation pieces like gilded and lacquered teak Buddhist monk’s chairs, carved naga (seven-headed serpent) balusters from North Thailand and delicate ceramic water pots adorned with Chinese dragons.

Not in Bangkok? Don’t worry, just click online to snap up the must-haves, and they’ll deliver worldwide.