Hidden behind an unassuming wooden framed glass door on Tai’an Lu, Renaissance Man is an antique shop that specializes in vintage industrial- and steampunk-style home furniture, light fixtures of various sizes, knick-knacks and fashion accessories.
The shop, which opened about six months ago, is located in a refurbished lane house and also doubles as the studio for product and interior design company Wu Chen Che Jian (无尘车间, which directly translates to ‘spotless train cabin’). Separated into two areas, the Chinese owners use part of the brighter area in the back of the compact showroom as their office, but guests are free to roam through the entire space at their leisure.
Every inch of Renaissance Man reflects the owners’ penchant for items from a different era. Vintage alcohol bottles and Edison light bulbs sit on top of a vintage American style desk. A few feet away, a Dutch-style multifunctional cabinet/bookshelf is leaning against an old Hoegaarden poster ad. Everything in the store is collected from the owners' travels to the West and Japan, where similar antique shops are commonly found in some of the most popular shopping districts of Tokyo.
While Tai’an Lu might not have as much foot traffic as other streets in the neighborhood, the owners chose this as the home for their little shop and studio due to its rich history and a tranquility that evokes a sense of nostalgia. Besides visiting the showroom, you can also browse and shop on their Taobao shop as well.
See listing for Renaissance Man.
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