People & Places

Mixing Culture with Business
Boll Chow

"When I started secondary school in the 'big city' of Tseung Kwan O, I had to straighten out a lot of misconceptions," says Amy Tse. Born and bred in Sai Kung, she had always spent her free time like other kids there - outside - swimming, on the beach or on a boat. Deeply suntanned by the end of the summer, she was briefly mistaken for a Pakistani on her first day of school.

Talking over tea, you feel his passion for Chinese culture and antiques flows naturally.

Originally in the garment accessory business, Boll had plenty of spare time during numerous trips to the mainland. "I looked around. I bought furniture I liked. I wasn't concerned with prices then." From interest sparked by opening the door of his warehouse, he saw an opportunity and set up shop.

Experience is the key to knowing the types of wood and difference between antiques and fakes, says Boll. And that comes from buying and carefully examining numerous pieces of furniture or, he laughs, by "paying school fees". Now, he agonizes over selling: "On the one hand it's great to sell nice things, but on the other, I hate to let them go."

"Old doesn't necessarily mean antique," he says. "In the past ten years, the market has been flooded with thousands of similar pieces of old Chinese furniture. An antique should be unique and at least 90% perfect - then it's valuable and warrants a higher price." Antiques are usually made of hard woods such as huanghuali, zitan (red sandalwood), rosewood and ebony.

These days Boll sources his goods mostly from the coastal provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Fujian, as well as Shaanxi and Guangdong. Occasionally he comes across a great find, like the 32 different pieces from a 200-year old house - doors, window frames and panels. The owner sold to settle a huge illegal gambling debt quickly.

The solid wood modern furniture on the ground floor of The Gallery - Boll's own designs - is a product of consumer demand. "Despite an interest in antiques people want furniture that is practical," he explains. Still, sometimes an old door can be finessed into a modern style table with chairs designed to match.

"I think Sai Kung is the best place in Hong Kong - it has the sea, greenery and a mix of cultures," Boll says. That just might be why he moved to Sai Kung six years ago.

The Gallery

Shop 53-55, G/F, Sai Kung Villa, Fuk Man Road, Sai Kung
Tel: 2791 7882
Hours: 10:30AM - 7:00PM daily