The Weight of History

ALL IN THE FAMILY

BAROSSA FURNISHINGS

The next time you step into the grand lobby of the Raffles Hotel Singapore, keep your eyes peeled for the solid elm console table tucked between two sofas right under the statement chandelier. The piece of furniture might look deceptively simple, but it was originally a 12-feet long antique painting table, featuring classic latticework from the Ming dynasty, which had been refurbished by furniture restorers Barossa Furnishings prior to the hotel’s reopening in 2019.

“Raffles Singapore contacted us out of the blue and we managed to source for the table, restore its degraded woodwork and top it off with an added glass surface,” shares Alex Ditcham, who helms the workshop of his family business, which was founded by his father, David Ditcham. His mother Su-lin runs the day-to-day operations and company’s upholstery and design services. She shares, “Restoration is a touchy-feely process that requires input from everyone. All three of us will come together to discuss the finer details of each project.”

Coming from a family of antique