Sergey Rylov
Macau’s first antique gallery specializing in European clocks opened on Monday at Fisherman’s Wharf, with the owners hoping to capture the attention of an increasingly “romantic” Asian market.
Sergey Rylov, owner and restaurateur, acknowledged that while the European public is accustomed to this type of product, the Asian market is still developing. He believes that the Asian audience is looking at art differently now, and has started looking for romantic items and artworks.
Although targeting a VIP customer, as prices of the clocks available at the gallery range from HKD10,000 to HKD50 million, Mr Rylov stressed that the general public is welcome to visit the store to contemplate art, and learn more about clock restoration work.
In addition, he said he’d be happy to develop educational projects in cooperation with local schools, through which students could learn about the history behind these clocks and their restoration process.
“We are thinking of organizing lectures about the clocks’ history. We are also aiming at bringing a cultural side to it. We would like to hold exhibitions in educational institutions,” he said.
One of the oldest clocks in the store, he said, comes from the bedroom of a French queen and was made in 1565 by a clock master in Germany. The piece is not for sale.
The clocks, which are made of wood, bronze and even gold, were made in France, Austria and Germany.
As Chinese president Xi Jinping expands his anti-graft campaign, sales of luxury goods have declined. Mr Rylov acknowledged that, “From a financial point of view, this could affect us,” but “the anti-corruption campaign doesn’t mean that people will stop loving art. People will not look at art differently,” he added.
Mr Rylov was born in Russia and lived for about 20 years in the Czech Republic. He moved to Macau with his family, as he “always loved Asia.” He also believes that “people are more open and friendlier here.”
David Chow, CEO of Macau Legend Development Ltd., which manages Fisherman’s Wharf, said that the “Antique Gallery” is something new to the Macau market: “This is a different kind of market. People who love this kind of antique aren’t gamblers.” He concluded by saying, “I already have a few items in my hotels from France. If we have this gallery here, we don’t need to go and buy it there anymore – we have a connection here.”
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