By The Eye desk · Last verified 12 October 2026
Antiques in Singapore are now spread across shophouses, industrial buildings and older malls rather than one famous address: Tanglin Shopping Centre, long known for antiques, maps and prints, was vacated and demolished in 2024. Shops listed in April 2026 range from Peranakan cabinets on Craig Road to vintage collectibles at Havelock Road and heritage artefacts on South Bridge Road. To check authenticity, ask for a written description of age and origin on the receipt, plus any provenance. For export, the hard rules are about materials: elephant ivory cannot be sold in Singapore since 1 September 2021, rhinoceros horn is prohibited from export, and wildlife materials need CITES permits to travel.
Hunting for old things is one of the city’s quiet joys. A little homework turns a happy find into a safe one.
Quick facts
- Tanglin Shopping Centre, the old antiques landmark, closed and was demolished in 2024.
- Antique and vintage dealers are now scattered across Chinatown, Tanjong Pagar, Havelock Road and industrial estates.
- Selling elephant ivory, or displaying it for sale, has been banned in Singapore since 1 September 2021.
- Rhinoceros horn in any form is prohibited from export, according to Singapore Customs.
- Ivory needs CITES permits from both countries to enter or leave Singapore, even as a personal item.
- Other goods may be controlled: check Singapore Customs’ HS/CA Product Code Checker.
Where to buy antiques and vintage in Singapore
These dealers were listed by Seth Lui in April 2026. They are named for information only; some work by appointment and hours change, so message before visiting.
| Dealer | Where | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Tong Mern Sern Antiques Arts & Crafts | 51 Craig Road | Three floors of large pieces, including Peranakan cabinets and colonial-era furniture |
| Wing Antiques & Collectibles | 2 Havelock Road, #03-27/28 | Small vintage items: pins, postcards, vinyl, books, watches |
| Viewpoint Trading and Collectibles | Fook Hai Building, 150 South Bridge Road | Heritage artefacts from older Singapore |
| Hock Siong & Co | 153 Kampong Ampat | Pre-loved furniture and lighting, with restoration |
| La Vie | 5 Spottiswoode Park Road | Vintage fashion, brooches, cheongsams and kebayas |
| Yasashii Trading | Bukit Merah Lane 1 | Ceramics, silver spoons and decorative homeware |
For museum-quality pieces, auction houses and established galleries are the other route; they usually provide catalogue descriptions and condition reports.
How do I check an antique is real?
No checklist replaces an expert, but these steps protect you at any budget.
- Ask the dealer to commit in writing. The receipt should state what the piece is, its approximate date, origin, and any repairs. A dealer confident in the age will write it down.
- Ask about provenance. Where did it come from, who owned it, and is there paperwork? Gaps are common for everyday pieces but matter for anything costly.
- Look for honest wear. Genuine age shows where hands, feet and use would touch. Even, all-over “distressing” can signal a reproduction.
- Check construction. Hand-cut joints, old fixings and tool marks on furniture; foot rings, glaze and marks on ceramics. Compare with museum examples.
- Get a second opinion on anything expensive, from an independent appraiser or an auction house specialist, before you pay in full.
- Be wary of materials. Jade, gold, pearls and gemstones have their own tests and certificates; see our guides below.
What are the rules on export and restricted materials?
| Item | Singapore rule | Who to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Elephant ivory | Sale and display for sale banned since 1 September 2021; entering or leaving Singapore needs CITES permits from both countries; it cannot be sold abroad either | NParks (CITES) |
| Rhinoceros horn | Prohibited from export, worked or unworked, including powder and parts | Singapore Customs / NParks |
| Other wildlife materials (e.g. some shells, corals, woods) | May be CITES-listed and need permits | NParks (CITES) |
| Other antiques | Check whether the goods are controlled using the HS/CA Product Code Checker; your destination country may also have import rules | Singapore Customs; destination customs |
NParks says penalties for selling ivory can reach S$200,000 per specimen and up to eight years’ jail, and for moving it across borders without permits up to S$50,000 per specimen and up to two years’ jail. Ivory can be sent abroad for repair only with a CITES permit and proof that it was imported before 1990, and must come back. If a piece contains anything that looks like ivory, horn, tortoiseshell or coral, ask before you buy.
The WahLiao Verdict
Buy what you love and can live with, not what someone promises will rise in value. Get the age and origin written on the receipt, take photographs, and pay a specialist for a second opinion on anything that costs real money. Walk away from ivory, horn and anything the dealer cannot describe plainly. Then take your treasure home and enjoy it.
Questions people ask
Do I need a permit to take an antique out of Singapore?
It depends on the item. Wildlife materials need CITES permits and rhino horn is prohibited; for other goods, check Singapore Customs’ product code checker and your destination’s import rules.
Can I still sell my grandmother’s ivory carving?
Not in Singapore. You may keep it, wear it or give it as a gift; NParks recommends keeping records of its origin.
What happened to the antique shops at Tanglin?
Tanglin Shopping Centre, home to antique, map and print dealers since the 1970s and 1980s, was vacated and demolished in 2024 for redevelopment. Today’s antique trade is spread across the city, so search by dealer rather than by building.
What is the difference between antique and vintage?
Dealers often use “antique” for pieces around 100 years old or more and “vintage” for younger ones, but there is no single legal definition here. Ask what age is being claimed.
Sources: National Parks Board, domestic trade ban in ivory; Singapore Customs, controlled and prohibited goods for export; Seth Lui, antique stores in Singapore, April 2026; Remember Singapore, Tanglin Shopping Centre’s history. The Eye explains; it does not endorse.
Read next: Jade Explained: Type A, B and C · Buying Art in Singapore: Originals, Prints and Gallery Pricing · Back to The Eye
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
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