GEORGE TOWN: Antique irons may be trivial to many but to some, these items are invaluable.
That is certainly the case with P. Thiyaka Rajan, an antique collector from Simpang Ampat near Nibong Tebal, who plans to set up a gallery to store his collection of 140 antique irons, among others.
The Kedah karate coach said he has been collecting antique items over the past two decades.
“My collection of antique irons is from Malaysia as well as countries like Germany, the United Kingdom, and India.
“I frequently travelled overseas due to my job as a karate and yoga instructor.
“I would always look for antique items and would be curious to know how people lived with them. If the items are affordable, I will buy them,” he said in an interview.
Thiyaka, 53, said the most expensive antique iron he had bought was from Germany, priced at RM1,500.
“Antique irons which I purchased locally cost between RM500 and RM550,” he said, adding that his collection of antique irons was estimated to be worth RM70,000.
His other antique collection items are copper utensils (50 pieces), old badminton rackets (40), bicycles (15), motorcycles (seven) and porcelain containers (20).
“My collection of antiques is all stored at my karate centre in Simpang Ampat. I plan to name my antique gallery T-yaka Vintage House,” he added.
Thiyaka’s passion led to an entry in the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) for the “most antique iron collection by an individual”.
The award was presented to him during an event held at Goju Ryu Karate Centre in Simpang Ampat recently. It is learnt that he is the first Malaysian to be recorded in the MBR for such a feat.
The certificate was presented to Thiyaka by MBR office manager Lee Pooi Leng and was witnessed by the Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation Penang chapter deputy chairman Datuk Seri Pulayantran Kayambu who praised Thiyaka for his preservation efforts.
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