Awang Amirul, a vintage and antique collector, has a knack for finding old items at random locations. His pursuit of a passion he had had for ten years had led him to acquire the most rarest and exclusive items.
Collecting antiques — unravelling tales from the past
As we age, the time we spent when we were younger becomes more and more valuable. Every little detail from those times became priceless.
Even though we can’t go back in time, the objects and memorabilia brought along serve as a reminder of the past.
For vintage and antique collector Awang Amirul Dzikri Awang Mohamad, holding onto items from the past is like unravelling a tale within.
A visit to his vintage shop at Jalan Nanas Barat in Kuching was eye-opening. His collections include items from the 1960s, including toys, electronics, and furniture.
“I enjoy looking back in time, and these vintage items serve as a reminder of my childhood. Some of which I couldn’t afford at the time. Furthermore, through collecting these objects, we learn about the history of our culture, how people lived, and what materials were available at the time.”
The 37-year-old, who is often on a treasure hunt, said that he usually searches through old convenience stores, old houses, houses where people are moving out, or houses that are undergoing repairs.
Another place he often hunts is the recycling centre near his house in BDC. “I’d look through and choose what interests me. I would seek any opportunity I saw.” In his pursuit of the rarest, Amirul also travels as far as Sibu, Sarikei, and Sri Aman.
He said that holiday seasons like Chinese New Year and Hari Raya are typically when he could loot the most.
“People usually discard items they no longer need at these times. I can easily find items that are purchased in other countries in the recycling facility in BDC. I like collecting these items because the quality is usually exceptional.”
Other times, he will keep an eye out for goodies when going to different convenient shops.
He also has informants who can tell him if they spotted rare items or if a shop is set to close.
And when it comes to visiting these shops, that’s when his persuasiveness shines through.
“I’ll look through the place from top to bottom to see if anything piques my curiosity. I occasionally request access to the stock rooms of the shops so I can search through. I usually find outdated items in the storage area that cannot be sold,” he said, adding that he usually receives these products for free or at a reduced cost.
And if he finds a rare item, it usually isn’t for sale. The Dunhill wall clock is one such example.
“When I saw it, I immediately asked if they could sell it to me. Since it is a limited edition, I had to convince the store owner to let me buy it. He would then ask me how much I wanted to pay for it. I paid RM300 for it.”
Meanwhile, the 1,000 CC Daihatsu automobile from 1970, which cost RM12,000, was his most costly find.
A good opportunity
While some of the things in his ever-expanding collection date back to his childhood, the majority of them were acquired in the past ten years. But that was merely something he did for himself as a hobby.
Before opening his shop at Rubber Road, he housed all of his items and antiques in a store at Wisma Hopoh. However, it was not open to the public.
He moved to his new place with the goal of selling his prized possessions for a profit.v
The motivation came during the pandemic when he was unable to make money from car rental businesses.
“I started selling my collections. And it was this that kept me and my family afloat during the difficult times.”
He added that many people had come to him to purchase vinyl records and cassettes during the lockdown.
“Particularly the older generations, who under the Movement Control Order had no choice but to remain at home. Younger generations also show interest. Nonetheless, the vintage market in Kuching is thriving.”
A lot to marvel at
There are lots of things to admire in his shop. From the intricately crafted furniture to the vintage television set and the adorable little toys from the old days.
Awang Amirul revealed that the majority of the items he kept were from his time. He said that the audio, radio, and television are all in working order.
As he lived through the previous era today, he said that he would make an attempt to fix the electronics so that he could appreciate them.
“There are a few elderly uncles in the area who still fix old electronics. I sent mine to an old uncle who resides in Siniawan,” he added.
Though his shop appeared to be a treasure trove spanning decades, Amirul revealed that at home is another golden trove. The ones he values the most are kept at home.
“I couldn’t keep much because I have five boys at home. However, I do adorn my home with antiques and vintage furnitures.”
When asked if he would have liked to go back in time, he said, “I would have wanted to go back to the 1970s.”
“At that point, modernisation can be seen advancing gradually. From appliances to toys, furniture, and electronics.”
Awang Amirul has a huge collection of old antiques, but he never stops looking for the oldest and rarest items.
He hopes to go to other parts of Sarawak in the future, especially Bintulu and Miri.
With determination and his skill of persuasion, who knows what Awang Amirul will discover next in his coming treasure search.
But for the time being, he will be working in his shop at Jalan Nanas Barat and listening to music on the turntable or the vintage radio he fixed.
