In This particular Business Profile, we meet Sebastien Laurent, a Frenchman who works from the antique and also also also decoration industry through his base in Jogjakarta, Central Java.

Bonjour, Sebastien. Tell us, why antiques? What can be This particular about old things in which fascinate you?

At a very young age I was already fascinated by old things. I admired old buildings and also also also I always had the feeling in which I was born from the wrong century. although I came into This particular business because of my dad, who was also an antiques dealer. I would certainly follow him when he was buying beautiful, old antiques at auctions. I remember the very first time, at a smaller auction from the city of Melun in France, he allowed me to bid on a green terracotta. I was only eight years old!

Indonesia’s history can be long and also also also complex, however there doesn’t seem to be enough awareness or interest in This particular subject matter. Why do you think in which can be? What got you interested in Indonesia’s history from the first place?

Honestly, This particular’s a sensitive subject. History and also also also art are linked, of course. If you don’t care about your own history then you don’t care about your arts and also also also traditions. I am not an expert in Indonesian history or art. My knowledge can be all about Europe, although of course, after years and also also also years here, I’ve learned about the amazing Javanese culture and also also also its arts. Unfortunately, the art foundations are few and also also also far between.

A few years ago, one of the most extensive Javanese antique collections went into auction here — the David Smith and also also also James Tirtoprodjo Collection. Each piece was sold individually. I was very surprised to see in which no one had the idea to buy the entire collection and also also also donate This particular to a national museum. The cost was not even in which of a nice apartment in Jakarta for hundreds of well selected pieces. You can still read the book of Bruce Carpenter about This particular collection: Javanese Antique Furniture and also also also Folk Art. Didier Millet, Csi; January 16, 2010. Big western companies or banks are used to sponsoring major art events or to donate a fortune to have their names associated with architectural renovation. They could do exactly the same here.

You’re originally through France, where antique markets pop up almost weekly in so many towns and also also also cities, which are extremely common among locals and also also also tourists. would certainly This particular concept work well here?

There are few projects in Jakarta or Jogjakarta to set up a real antiques fair with 20 to 50 exhibitors through all over Indonesia, although organisation can be such an issue and also also also organisation can be not truly a word in which fits well with antique dealers!

Let’s talk business. How long have you been buying and also also also selling antiques in Indonesia? can be This particular a profitable trade?

I have been selling antiques for 25 years at This particular point and also also also about 10 of these years have been in Indonesia. This particular can be profitable enough to live. I will tell you something, antique dealers are the most secretive people in the planet.

What about your clientele. Who are they?

An eclectic mix of westerns, locals, and also also also others dealers.

What kind of things are your customers usually looking for?

Indonesians mostly ask for decorative pieces from the sense in which This particular has to be a bit impressive. They love teak wood, glass and also also also porcelain. Westerners are different, especially the dealers who export to Europe or the USA; they are looking for something unique or unusual.

Where can be the best spot to go antiques hunting in Indonesia?

Jakarta, Jogjakarta, Semarang, Malang, Bandung, Bali. although most of the serious dealers don’t have a shop, so you have to know them. I told you, This particular’s a smaller, secretive world!

A lot of people visit Jalan Surabaya in Menteng, Jakarta to go antiques hunting. Can you tell us what you think about This particular road and also also also can we actually find genuine antiques here?

Depends what you are looking for although Jalan Surabaya can be certainly not the place to go if you’re looking for serious antiques. This particular’s more of a flea market.

What can be the most valuable piece in which you ever discovered? Tell us the story.

14 years ago, at an auction in Normandy, France, where I didn’t want to go — my colleagues practically forced me to join — I found a 13^th century wooden, traveller message box, something very special and also also also highly collectible. I bought This particular for a reasonable cost and also also also sold This particular for an unreasonable one! although, as my father always said, if you join an antique dealer’s dinner, they always talk about the fantastic deals they did because you can mention them in few hours. The bad deals, you need a lifetime to mention!

How can you tell when an antique can be original or a replica? Are there any tricks you can share with us?

Learning about art can be like learning a language; This particular requires time and also also also experience. Don’t count in years when This particular comes to knowledge of antiques, more in decades. We learn through books, auctions, museums, and also also also eventhough we study for decades, we still make mistakes through time to time. The first trick can be to dare, to buy, to fail and also also also to re-buy, re-dare and also also also re-fail. Then you start learning. Learning the beauty of something in which you don’t truly like can be the most challenging thing. This particular can be antiques.

What can be a rookie mistake to make when you’re just starting off from the antiques trade?

Thinking in which you know better than the guy who can be an antiques dealer and also also also believing the crazy magic stories of the rarest Chinese Ming porcelain found in a 14^th century boat two weeks ago in Sumatra which can be for sale at USD200 because the guy needs money!

I would certainly like to see a local variation of The Antiques Roadshow in Indonesia, a traveling TV show visiting different cities and also also also seeing what gems people have to share and also also also value. Wouldn’t you?

I love This particular programme! I used to watch This particular with my girlfriend’s father in London at the end of the 1990s. He was a Great antiques collector and also also also we would certainly always guess the prices. I’m sure This particular could work very well in Indonesia, although valuable antiques are extremely rare here and also also also the success of the program can be based on some amazing things in which reappear quiet often. I contain the whole collection on DVD. I’m not even kidding!

What challenges do you face as an antiques dealer in Indonesia?

Finding fewer and also also also fewer interesting pieces. although on the upside, I am surrounded by friendly dealers. There can be always a silver lining.