Some 500 pieces of restored furniture, some of them antiques, were put on display yesterday by the Taipei City Government in an effort to promote environmental protection and the concept of conservation.
The old furniture, which has gained a new lease on life after being repaired by skilled carpenters and craftsmen, had originally been thrown away by Taipei City residents before last year's Lunar New Year, according to officials at Taipei City Hall.
Addressing a ceremony to mark the inauguration of the Taipei City Renewed Furniture Display Center, Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
Ma lauded the extraordinary craftsmanship that the carpenters and handymen demonstrated in returning discarded furniture into something beautiful.
Ma pointed out that restoring old furniture is not only environmentally significant, it is also cost-efficient.
He said that when he was studying in the US, almost all of the furniture in his home was second-hand, including chairs made of used tires and a sofa brought off the street. He bought a second-hand bicycle for US$18, which he resold a couple of years later for US$15 when he was preparing to return to Taiwan.
Officials from the EPB and the BLA said they decided to establish the Renewed Furniture Display Center because the number of such restored pieces was so large that it could form a furniture company.
In addition, they noted, the center will serve to provide job opportunities for unemployed handymen and craftsmen, while the renovation efforts will significantly help reduce the city's burden of dealing with bulky garbage.
Visitors to the display were amazed at the excellence of the renovation jobs -- with some teak furniture turning out to be antique items that would otherwise cost a fortune.
"Sorry, they are not for sale at the moment," city government officials said when asked how much the restored furniture cost.
The refurbished furniture is designated as gifts for groups helping less-privileged people in the city, the officials said, adding that the city government will consider selling some at flea markets only after the less-privileged have been taken care of.
RSS