European antiques in Dubai

When I pass through the warehouse door of J+A Gallery in Al Quoz on a Tuesday afternoon, it’s as though I’ve stepped into another era. The loft-style space is illuminated with strategically placed vintage-style lamps. A huge clock face sits on the floor, a jazz singer’s lull fills the room and two men, one wearing a jazz hat and the other a flat cap, walk over to greet me.

As I venture further into the gallery, I spot what looks like an old camera (actually a periscope), a plane propeller (a ceiling fan) and huge wooden tables. Each object has tenderly been given pride of place under a spotlight within its own space.

Dubai-based Germans Arne Augustini and Sebastien Jaroslawski are the minds behind this remarkable new art venue, which sells rare furniture, lighting and unusual finds from European factories that date back as far as 1890. They say they are so inspired by the traditional beauty of their home town, Liepzieg, that they wanted to introduce it here.

‘The idea is love for the object,’ says Augustini. ‘I like this stuff very much. It’s something that’s not available in this country – for me, it was missing. We’re trying to keep pieces in their original state, but some are up-cycled to give them new value.’