An antique collection carefully curated
over 6 decades
As I sit in a cozy corner of Ying Kee Hong on a Qing dynasty Blackwood lazy chair, surrounded by the beautiful antiques and artifacts that I grew up with which my grandfather sourced from all over China, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride and admiration for the man who started it all: my grandpa, Mr Loh Wang Kee.
While we open our doors to the public for one last time, we are reminded of the words of my grandfather, who once said, “Antiques are not just objects, they are a connection to our past and a window to our culture. They remind us of our roots and the legacy that we inherit from our ancestors.“
We hope that our collection of antiques will serve as a reminder of the rich history and culture of China, and inspire others to appreciate and preserve these treasures for future generations.
Below, we hope to share the story of Ying Kee Hong’s history with you.
Ying Kee Hong was founded by Mr & Mrs Loh Wang Kee in 1956 at Upper Nanking Street, and later moved to Lorong 12 Geylang in 1971.
Mr Loh was a serial entrepreneur dealing in China produce such as dried seafood, herbs, and spices. He also set up one of the earliest Chinese sausage factories in Singapore - Kwangchow Sausage Factory on Everton Road.
As an antique enthusiast with passion and appreciation for Chinese culture, he decided to set up an antique business that was co-managed by his wife, Madam Phoon Phui Ying. Through his extensive business connections in China and Hong Kong, he managed to source the most exquisite and unique antique goods.
Grandpa Loh Wang Kee, Antique Connoisseur and Serial Entrepreneur
At its height, Ying Kee Hong was famous for its collection of antiques. It had clients such as tycoons, foreign dignitaries, statesmen, artists, and authors who flocked to the shop to buy the antiques. The Leung Yun Chee antique collection bought many items from Ying Kee Hong. There was a prized green jade Hulu carved with many forms of insects. It was hailed as an Imperial piece. The piece was later sold to a pilot who auctioned it at an astronomical price.
The Cultural Revolution period provided an opportunity amid destruction. This period in China (1966-1976) witnessed the destruction of many aspects of traditional Chinese culture, including the wrecking of artifacts and cultural sites.
Amidst this turmoil, Mr Loh saw an opportunity to salvage antiques from the Qing, Ming and even older dynasties that were at the brink of being destroyed. Mr Loh brought in containers of salvaged antiques from China. These were exquisite pieces of antique furniture, delicate porcelain, intricate bronze work and valuable jade artifacts.
To house these treasures, Mr Loh used a large warehouse in Clarke Quay which became the main storage area for Ying Kee Hong. The warehouse was filled to the brim with artifacts, each one carefully selected by my grandfather for its historical and cultural significance.
Ying Kee Hong has remained dormant for more than 20 years since my grandparents' passing. The antique shop was closed and our collection of antiques were kept safely in storage, awaiting the day when they could once again be appreciated by keen collectors.
Now, after all these years, my family and I have decided to open the storefront of Ying Kee Hong for the very last time. It is a bittersweet moment for us, as we are reminded of the legacy of my grandfather and grandmother and their dedication to preserving the beauty and history of traditional Chinese antiques.
We are excited to share our collection of antiques with the world, and we hope to provide collectors with a unique opportunity to own a piece of history. We hope that our collection of antiques will serve as a reminder of the rich history and culture of China, and inspire others to appreciate and preserve these treasures for future generations.
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