By Sabine Klier
Charlottenburg’s Suarezstrasse is a kind of living museum: nowhere else in Berlin are so many antique shops gathered in one place. 25 dealers offer knick-knacks, curiosities and artistic items. A road for hunters and gatherers.
Chrome, leather, precious wood: furniture from the Bauhaus period, Art Deco or mid-century – this is what “Zeitlos by Drozd” (Suarezstr. 61) specializes in. The classics were meticulously refurbished in the owner Artur Drozd (55) and his three employees’ own workshop.
Chairs, armchairs, sideboards, bar carts, lamps or carpets from the 1920s or 1930s look like new and are timelessly beautiful exhibits. “Every piece has its own story,” says Drozd. “And this furniture doesn’t lose value. They are consistent. A treat for the eyes.”
The Art Deco table made of maple burl wood costs 4900 euros Photo: Sven Darmer
However, the rarities also have their price: an extendable dining table made of maple burl wood that has been hand-polished costs 4,900 euros. The chrome-wood cantilever chair from the thirties is available for 500 euros. Drozd: “The value of the chair has doubled in the last two years alone.” (Daily 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Sat 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Dusting is the boss’s job in Nikos Kamilas’ (57) shop. The danger that something could fall over in the crowded store (Suarezstr. 53) is too great. Here a garden gnome stands next to a plaster replica of Michelangelo’s David, an old Steiff teddy bear next to a large Nefertiti head.
He has been running the shop since 1999, which is full of curiosities: old mannequins, death masks, globes and anatomy figures from the 1920s. The trained electrician was infected by the treasure hunter virus early on.
In “Zeitlos” there are furniture classics and unique pieces like this bar cabinet from the 1920s. It was extensively restored in our own workshop Photo: Sven Darmer
“I used to always go digging – at the former garbage dumps outside of Berlin,” he says. He sold the finds, such as old porcelain or bottles, at flea markets.
Then he turned his passion for collecting into a career. Kamilas: “I never wanted to become a pseudo-antique dealer. My audience is over 20. They love the old things.” For him, acting is part of it. (Mon-Fri 3 p.m.-6 p.m., Sat 11 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Katharina Göres (42) sells vintage clothing and fine accessories such as the pearl bag in “Spitze”. Photo: Sven Darmer
Between delicate lace umbrellas, pearl-embroidered handbags and shiny silk dresses, Katharina Göres (42) decorates a glass display case with butterfly glasses.
In her “Spitze” shop (Suarezstr. 53), lovers of original vintage clothing will find plenty of choice on 94 square meters – for women and men. Here you can dress completely in the style of the 20s, 30s and 60s.
She took over the store in January 2020. The most expensive piece is a silk chiffon dress embroidered with pearls from France in the 1920s: 1,200 euros. Gores. “Most of my work is preparing, sorting, cleaning, repairing and ironing.”
In Katharina Goeres you can travel back in time in fashion Photo: Sven Darmer
She has over 400 pairs of historical shoes in the warehouse alone. In addition to film and television (“Babylon Berlin”, “Kaufhaus Tietz”), their customers also include private interested parties. “There are a lot of people who like to wear this old workmanship,” she says. (only Fri 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Sat 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.)