Sunshine Coast Hinterland Times

Manfred & Lili at their classical dining room table

Manfred and Lili Ziegert are like two jigsaw pieces. Manfred loves to restore antique furniture and Lili loves to sell it. Manfred is well known on the Range for his magnificent wood craftsmanship and, suggesting that they set up an antique shop two years ago, Lili has now satisfied her own passion for collectables. The Hinterland Times went to see this remarkable couple.

Manfred has a selection of 60s Hi Fi players and tape recorders

“My joy is when I see people’s faces when I have finished… when they are happy of course!” Manfred is busier than ever because people are getting their antique furniture restored  instead of getting a new piece.
Manfred became a widower in the late ‘80s and he later met Lili through her nephew who ran the Swiss Bakery in Maleny. Lili worked in hospitality, but she has always been a collector of antiques.
 Manfred says with his characteristic smile that when Lili came into his house, she marked every item of furniture that she liked.
”I scratched my initials on the back of the pieces I liked, and he just looked at me and his mouth dropped… it was just a joke”, laughs Lili.
After they were married, they looked at the contents of the four containers they had separately brought from Germany and Switzerland, and decided to start a showroom. Manfred had bought the old timber maternity

The "history" room is full of fascinating memories

hospital from Maleny and this now houses the showroom below and the various ‘historic’ rooms above.
Lili replenishes the contents of the shop by buying deceased estates.
“I just go on gut feeling, and what people are asking for”, says Lili. “I also read through all the antique books about what is collectable – like old suitcases and boxes for example. They sell as soon as I get them. I try to make a different corner of the showroom each month, whether it’s back to school or Easter or whatever, just so that it is different.
“People like the way I set up every room. We have a dining room, a children’s room, a bedroom and a kitchen. I try to set them out the way you might find them. So, for example, there are stockings with seams from the 40s and 50s just lying on the bed.
“I just love doing this,” enthuses Lili. “My last job in hospitality was a butler in a five star hotel. And I still love to talk to people. I really like what I am doing now, and I try to make it as attractive and as welcoming as I can.
“When Lili is doing this kind of decoration”, confides Manfred with a smile,  “I can’t talk to her”.
“I just get excited” replies Lili. “I can’t help it!”.