Humble House gallery

Humble House gallery is a Fyshwick destination for antique furniture, contemporary art and distinctive homewares. Its collection centres on authentic oriental antique furniture, original contemporary Australian art, unique lighting and decorative pieces. The gallery’s antique range includes cabinets, tables, chairs, benches, carved panels, jewellery boxes, stools and other furniture, with each piece selected for its craftsmanship, history and practical place in a modern home.

The antique furniture was sourced through the owners’ established premises in Beijing and is conserved and restored by craftsmen connected with the gallery’s workshop. Humble House says its approach is to preserve as much of each piece’s original character as possible, rather than extensively altering it. Furniture is accompanied by information about its background, provenance, symbolism and insurance value, giving visitors more context than a typical browse through homewares. The collection is described as finite, following changes to China’s export laws.

The Fyshwick showroom is presented as a substantial, comfortable space where antique furniture and contemporary work can be seen together. The website describes more than 600 square metres across the showroom, museum and gallery areas, including an upstairs furniture museum, a dedicated exhibition space and smaller rooms for changing shows. Exhibitions feature artists from Canberra and the surrounding region, as well as interstate and international artists. The gallery highlights works including Canberra scenes, Australian landscapes and florals, alongside classic furniture and decor.

Humble House is owned and operated by Roger and Weilian Carter, with Roger’s brother Andrew also part of the team. The business grew from the owners’ interest in Chinese furniture, its joinery, timber and history while living in Beijing in the 1990s, and has operated since 1998. There is also a practical workshop side to the business: lamps can be rewired, repaired, fitted with handmade shades or created from treasured objects such as porcelain vases and carved statues. It suits shoppers looking for a considered furnishing piece, art collectors, anyone interested in Chinese furniture and craftsmanship, or visitors who simply want to explore a museum-like gallery at their own pace.