03/08/2025

ON SUNDAY August 3, 2025 theSunday Special XI

British Crown Colony of Aden Mahra State stamps T KLV FRORXUIXO VWDPS VHW IHDWXUHV nine gorgeously designed stamps from the British Crown Colony of Aden-Mahra. I found them through a local thrift seller IRU MXVW 50 7KH\¶UH QRW SDUWLFXODUO\ rare, but their designs are vivid and hold VLJQL¿FDQW SROLWLFDO PHDQLQJ Thrifting tip: Stamp collecting may seem old-school, but it’s a treasure trove IRU KLVWRU\ EX̆ V 6HWV OLNH WKHVH DUH EH FRPLQJ KDUGHU WR ¿QG

1930s art deco yellow gold pressed glass powder container Yard sales are where dreams go to be rediscovered. This yellow-gold, clear pressed glass container from WKH V FDPH IURP D KRXVHZLIH¶V ZHHNHQG \DUG VDOH )RU MXVW 50 , JRW D ÀDZOHVV SLHFH IHDWXULQJ EXW WHUÀLHV DQG ÀRUDO HPERVVLQJ ,W IHHOV like something out of The Great Gatsby . Thrifting tip: Always ask the seller about the item’s history. Not only does it enhance the emotional value, but it might also provide clues about its era or maker.

Miniature book-shaped porcelain decanter Discovered in a vintage shop in Johor during one of my starry, ZDQGHUOXVW ¿OOHG QLJKWV WKLV V porcelain decanter features Van *RJK¶V 6XQÀRZHUV WULPPHG ZLWK 22K gold. Shaped like a book, it’s delicate, rare and unusually charm LQJ DQG FRVWV RQO\ 50 Thrifting tip: Tiny items often get overlooked. Always scan lower

shelves and corner dis plays. You never know what treasure might be hidden there.

19th-century French perfume bottles I SXUFKDVHG WKHVH WZR ODWH WK FHQWXU\ SHUIXPH ERWWOHV IRU 50 from a local antiques dealer. Marked MOREL & C GRASSE FRANCE, they hail from Grasse, the world’s perfume capital. The base note is sandalwood and they still carry a faint, earthy aroma. Each bottle features an illustra tion of the Taj Mahal, a nod to the romanticism that perfumers once infused into their craft. Thrifting tip: Antique perfume bottles can be collectors’ items. Look for engravings, manufacturer’s marks or country of origin to gauge authenticity.

What makes thrifting euphoric A FFRUGLQJ WR D UHSRUW E\ WKH 0D OD\VLDQ )LQDQFLDO 3ODQQLQJ &RXQFLO of Gen Z and millennials are more likely WR EX\ VHFRQG KDQG WKDQ WKH\ ZHUH ¿YH \HDUV DJR GULYHQ E\ ¿QDQFLDO FRQVWUDLQWV and environmental awareness. The global second-hand apparel market, meanwhile, LV SURMHFWHG WR GRXEOH E\ UHDFKLQJ DQ HVWLPDWHG 86 ELOOLRQ “Thrifting is more than just economic,” said Asmadi, who has been dealing antiques and curios for the past three decades since he was a young man. “It’s a form of cultural preservation. Every garment or object carries with it stories of craftsmanship, place and time.” There’s also the psychological high. Research published in Psychology Today suggests that the unpredictability of thrift ing activates the brain’s reward system, similar to winning a jackpot. That “thrill RI WKH ¿QG´ NHHSV XV FRPLQJ EDFN T LSV IRU ¿QGLQJ \RXU HXSKRULF thrift moments • Get to know your local sellers. The EHVW ¿QGV RIWHQ FRPH IURP SHRSOH QRW platforms. Build trust and you’ll usually JHW ¿UVW GLEV • Be patient. Thrifting is like dating. You’ll have to go through a lot of duds EHIRUH \RX ¿QG ³WKH RQH´ • Have a wishlist. But keep an open mind. I never thought I’d love a poison bottle until I held one. • Inspect before you buy. Check for tears, stains, odours or repairs. Bring D SRUWDEOH ÀDVKOLJKW WR H[DPLQH LWHPV in dimly lit shops. • Don’t haggle aggressively. Respect the seller’s time and knowledge, especially antique dealers who often price items fairly. Thrifting isn’t always glamorous, but it’s always rewarding. With a bit of luck, curiosity and tenacity, you too might stumble upon your peach-gold brocade dress or love-themed mirror and when you do, trust me, you’ll remember it forever.

WWI emerald poison bottle Yes, I knowingly bought a poison bottle and no, I don’t regret it. This emerald green, ribbed poison bottle from WWI still has residue inside. It was used in England for pest control or medical treatments (yes, medical treatments!) These bottles were coloured dark and given textured surfaces to prevent accidental ingestion. Some even had embossed skulls. Mine doesn’t, but the craftsmanship is hauntingly beautiful. Thrifting tip: If you’re into oddities or medical curios, always ask about the item’s origin. Be cautious and perhaps avoid storing it near the kitchen.