ALL ABOUT US
Gado Gado is a family-owned and operated business specializing in antique and reclaimed teak furniture; Indonesian art, artifacts, textiles and architectural treasures; Tuareg jewelry; African masks, statues and carvings; and much more. Owners David Sussman and Barbara Hirschfeld have spent the last decade traveling, collecting and fine-tuning their inventory selections to showcase only the finest items from Indonesia, Thailand, Burma, and Africa.
David and Barbara’s unique story of travel, family, and a passion for artisan craftsmanship is the starting point for Gado Gado’s success, and motivation for their continued search for unique home furnishings. They believe there is something special about collecting and living with objects used and loved by people of other cultures. Gado Gado’s customers discover the richness of traditionally hand-crafted furnishings and architectural elements. Integrating this unique Pan-Asian style with both traditional and modern living spaces brings a cultural history into their own living spaces.
HOW IT ALL STARTED
David, a volcanologist, spent most of the last two decades exploring and developing geothermal energy fields around the world. He began working as a geologist in Southeast Asia in 1986, moving a few years later with his wife Barbara, a teacher and database consultant, and their children to the Philippines and then Indonesia. David quickly developed an interest in Indonesian culture and traditions. He was fascinated by traditional Indonesian architecture and art, which helped foster long-lasting relationships with artisans who craft furniture and architectural pieces through centuries-old traditions.
Working in the jungle, occasionally living in traditional teak houses on stilts, and surrounded by a rich culture, David began to collect architectural elements, antique furnishings, and indigenous art. He filled up the yard. He filled up the garage. He filled up his house and then a nearby warehouse with one-of-a-kind antique pieces. David hired several local woodworkers to repair and refinish some of his favorite pieces in the warehouse, and several of these craftsmen are still working with us today. When David & his family returned stateside, they brought with them enough furniture and architectural pieces to fill their own and several other homes. By November, 2000 Gado Gado opened its doors in Santa Rosa’s historic Railroad Square district, attracting the attention of homeowners, designers, builders, and landscape architects from across the nation.
ON THE HORIZON
For years David has returned to Indonesia, Thailand and Burma in search of unique pieces to grace homes and gardens in the United States and beyond. He actively seeks out old and antique architectural elements from traditional houses and buildings that are being replaced by modern structures. Sometimes he is able to buy an entire house, deconstructing it piece by piece to reclaim the wood for future usage. His architectural pieces include carved solid teak doors and windows, pillars, capitals and bases, wall panels, and corbels.
Many pieces have been exposed to the tropical elements for a century or more. Gado Gado has a workshop in East Java where the pieces are carefully screened and brought back to life by a small group of craftsmen who work exclusively with traditional methods and hand tools. The distressed yet clean aesthetic of many Gado Gado pieces are a testament to the quality of craftsmanship.
Custom orders are another specialty of Gado Gado. Our workshop employs talented carpenters and woodcarvers who work with reclaimed and plantation-grown teak. Whether you want to create something new using sustainably farmed teak or start with reclaimed teak, we are here to help bring your ideas to life. Through Gado Gado we encourage you to explore the artistry of Asia!