Humidity is the collector’s constant companion. Here is how to live with it well.
Singapore sits at 80% humidity most of the year, and every material in your collection responds to it. None of this should worry you. Pieces that have survived decades in Southeast Asia are proven in this climate. They simply ask for placement and habits that respect what they are made of.
Wood moves with moisture, which is normal and mostly harmless. What harms it is rapid change: the blast of an air-conditioning vent, direct afternoon sun through glass, or a damp exterior wall. Give carved pieces a stable spot away from vents and windows, and dust with a soft dry cloth, working along the grain and into carving with a soft brush. Avoid silicone sprays and supermarket polishes, which build residue that is difficult to reverse.
The single most expensive mistake in metal care is polishing. The deep, uneven surface on aged bronze is patina, formed over decades, and it is a large part of both the beauty and the value. Dust it, enjoy it, and leave it alone. If a piece needs more than dusting, ask us before acting.
Cast iron and vintage steel prefer dry stability. Keep them off balconies and away from open windows, wipe with a barely damp cloth followed immediately by a dry one, and a thin coat of microcrystalline wax once a year will hold surface rust at bay.
The most forgiving members of a collection. Stable placement, occasional dusting with a soft brush, and no chemical cleaners of any kind. Their mounts, usually metal or wood, follow the rules above.
A few centimetres of breathing room from exterior walls, out of direct sun, away from vents and kitchens. Get placement right and most care becomes nothing more than gentle dusting.
Every piece leaves us photographed and documented, and pieces cared for this way come back to us beautifully, which matters if you ever exercise your Buyback Promise. When in doubt about any piece, message us before acting. Advice is free, and reversing damage rarely is.
A question about a specific piece? Ask us on WhatsApp.