Primitive

I’m going to preface this with saying that I stopped in to look at the art/​antiques, not looking to purchase. We stopped in at 4pm on Saturday and were the only ones in this store. We were greeted by a British man (I think his name was Donald? I can’t remember exactly)… However he was very kind and knowledgable! He talked with us and gave us a tour of the floors we had access to (4^th floor was undergoing renovations). It was amazing to see all of these art pieces and antiques from around the world. Definitely pricey for a lot of the items, but they spend a lot of attention to detail and decorating here so that their pieces are showcased tastefully. It felt like being in a museum (minus the curators). Definitely one of my favorite aspects of my trip to Chicago. Accidentally happening upon this artistic gem!

After they were unresponsive to emails requesting if items were still for sale, I lost interest, posted, and then finally I got prices. They were astronomical! I literally found the same items for $ 50-​$ 150 that they were asking $ 1500! Guess they feel we are uneducated consumers. Off their market. All in all, experience felt unprofessional.

You can think what you like about the name of the store, but it is clear the owners have a real passion for displaying works from cultures not well represented at other Chicago stores. Look at the inventory online, as not everything is on display in the showroom and many pieces are in the warehouse (which is fairly readily accessible). Primitive had many items unlike any I’ve seen previously and is a must-​see for those who collect the unusual.

my husband and i stopped in this weekend on a whim. we were both dressed like complete bums (we were in our workout attire) i thought that we’d be shunned away based on our appearance…
we were greeted by a very nice lady who told us to feel free to roam around and take a look at everything. she gave us a brief overview of the company.
we weren’t there to purchase anything, we weren’t even «window shopping» but we were both transformed to another land.
i’d go there again just to take pictures of everything.
great find.

I was at Primitive for a work event and it is quite a unique place, like a museum but where everything is for sale (at very high prices). As I explored the store, it dawned on me how strange it was called Primitive. The art there was created by cultures that were anything but! I also began to wonder how much of the inventory was legally and ethically obtained and exported from the countries of origin. It seems kind of sketchy and even sad that such incredible artifacts would be scooped up by an American merchant, carted off to a store called Primitive in Chicago, and sold into private collections.
The event was amazing and the store is truly impressive, but I can’t shake the uneasy feeling. I feel guilty for eating on a $ 20,000 table, gawking at a $ 300,000 stone sculpture, and casually sipping mojitos while surrounded by some other country’s pilfered treasures.

I recommend that you read the other reviews about Primitive. Although each of us might have our own axe to grind about such a business as Primitive, as a visitor or potential customer, you can only benefit from taking in many opinions about it. I guess it’s much too late for the unfortunate name to be something different, something that doesn’t belittle the ancient cultures represented in this place. Many of these cultures are older and richer than our own, so you wouldn’t expect to find them in a place called «Primitive.»
My first connection with the gallery was through their Fall sale in an old warehouse building on 35^th Street at Racine (
). The objects there were quite impressive; very much like being in the back room of some museum. And a few objects were museum worthy. If you get a chance to visit there (it’s by appointment when there’s no sale on) don’t miss it.
Our visit to this «home base» of Primitive imparts a much more commercial feeling than that from their warehouse some 4 months earlier. Here there is a formal grand lobby from where you walk up a few steps to the main display floor, where the staff awaits you. That will have to wait for next time. Today, we are here just to view the exhibit mounted on the fourth floor, about 100 magazine-​quality photos of modern Wuhan, China (a city on the Yangtze River, west of Hangzhou). For that purpose, it is a loft space for an art exhibit as fine as any in the River North area. And with the roughly finished floors, robust support timbers, elegant new walls, and thoughtful rest/​conferring areas, you might think that’s where you are. The gallery is to be lauded for leaving us to view the photo exhibit undisturbed the whole time we were there.
I’m intrigued enough to visit again to see what’s on those other three floors. I will keep in mind the caveats of the other reviews here. One indicator I can pass along involves that impressive front lobby. High overhead is a massive sculpture composed of multiple (over 100) blown glass organic shapes, all connected together (see my photo). This form of glass sculpture, a «chandelier,» is well known as being created by the famous glass artist, Dale Chilhuly. So, of course I inquired of the Primitive staffer if it was indeed a Chilhuly. She told me, «No,» that instead it was done by a Chinese sculptor, with full knowledge of what he was copying. Compare theirs with a bonafide Chilhuly chandelier at the Milwaukee Art Museum:

I’ve been to numerous events here, all of them made more special by the incredible surroundings and spirit within the building. It’s hard not to be taken aback amidst the treasures throughout. A place to take anyone that appreciates other cultures.
So they sell what they stock, it’s a store, not a shrine. I’ve found the owners to be nothing but fascinating, with a story behind every piece.

Although they have many interesting items for sale here, please be careful if you should purchase anything. The owner was found guilty of dealing in endangered animal parts back in 2005. Just be sure whatever you purchase isn’t illegal. This is a text of the charges filed by the federal government.

I think it is important for potential customers to know THIS STORE’S OWNERS WERE INDICTED FOR PROTECTED SPECIES VIOLATIONS:
. They «were indicted today on federal charges for allegedly violating various wildlife protection laws by smuggling, possessing and selling merchandise composed of parts of protected wildlife and migratory birds.»
The unfortunate truth is we live in a world where we can’t depend on suppliers and stores to go about their business in an ethical way, so it is up to us as consumers not to proliferate their harmful work by refusing to do business with them.
The reason that I personally am most disgusted with this company and its owners is not because of the tasteless name choice or the despairing state of elephant endangerment due to ivory kills (Primitive was indicted for smuggling ivory), but because the illegal ivory trade exploits jobless African and Asian hunters to risk their lives for no more than $ 10 for each elephant they kill and sell. I respect art, especially that of ancient African and Asian cultures, but I do not think my right to have a nice mantel piece justifies someone across the world being killed, or even risk being killed, just so I can have it. I hope you agree and consider this information in your decision to shop at Primitive.

They get 5 stars because they gave my office a great deal on a fabulous textile for our lounge.
Well, that and the place is awesome.
I travel a lot for work, and Primitive is like a dream come true… what if you could bring EVERYTHING you found wonderful on your Asian adventure back home with you? And have the space to display it all in!
My favorite piece is the Balinese structure they feature when you walk in… it was so fun to do all the paperwork inside of it… a very cool version of a playhouse (if you will).
I’ve also been to the store for a fundraising event, and it is a fantastic space for a party. The Buddha room itself looks incredible for a dinner party (just glad that YOU wouldn’t have to move the statuary!)
So…even if your pockets aren’t deep enough to buy something, go have a look around. It’s a great mini-​break from Chicago!

It was an amazing experience visiting the primitive warehouse. i went to their warehouse in south chicago and while it is expensive I think the pieces are worth it. it was as interesting as visiting a good museum and learning the history behind the artifacts was fun. the owner, Glen, is very knowledgable and the staff are helpful. I didn’t find it elitist unless you are politically correct and overanalyzing the name. I’m sure the original owners of the furniture artifacts were paid decently and the pieces only become marketable/​valuable once they are restored which isn’t easy to do well. No one is patronizing other cultures: the pieces are heirloom quality furniture/​objects with an interesting history, probably a better value than most other material objects.

This store is racist, If somehow a store carried ancient european artifacts, would anyone think of calling it primitive? No, becuase somehow old european cultures are considered more refined, and sophisticated than asian and african cultures. These are the same attitudes that justified the colonization of these regions many years ago. That is why this store is racist.
This store is tapping into that notion, if it wasn’t, it’s name wouldn’t be primitive. And then Americans buy these pieces, and use them to feel like they’ve escaped from modern american life to a more «primitive» time. — If you truly want to escape from modern american life, why don’t you build a log cabin, and go hunting or something, and stop commodifying and exploiting our cultures.

Do you love looking down on other cultures, while simultaneously wasting a lot of money to own their artifacts? Do you buy into new-​agey bullshit that tells you the Buddhism is at once primitive and also the best thing ever? Do you like magical wishing penises that will grant your vapid desires with their metaphorical ejaculation? Would you like to meditate at a «temple» where everything is for sale? Are you possibly the devil? If you answered yes to two or more of these questions, Primitive is for you. If you didn’t, you’re a decent human being, and should never buy anything here. On the other hand, if you want to have a really surreal experience that makes a good story to tell your friends, go get the tour, but please, please, don’t buy anything.

Wow… Just, wow.
I stumbled upon Primitive while out with freinds looking for art galleries. We walked in, realized it was a store more then a gallery, and were about to head out when the proprietor swooped in and started us on the tour.
How can I sum this place up? The $ 5 silver Moroccan dagger (I own two) they were selling for $ 2,200? The blocks of stone flooring from temples in China destroyed by the Three Gorges Dam, which we were told was a wonderful project to help millions of people (!). The Buddha Room, set up as a mock-​temple where everything is for sale? The wishing lingam (Sanskrit for penis, fyi) where you were assured that granted wishes are free of charge!
If you want to learn about other cultures, go to the damn Field Museum. If you want to buy their chachki, buy a plane ticket and go there, it’s cheaper then this place and you’ll probably do the artists and represented people a lot more good. As the name «Primitive» clearly describes, this place is distilled Western elitism.

Super cool. Still not sure what it is. Store? Gallery? House?
I was there with friends for the Factio Magazine event for free drinks so it was a mega bonus that it was actually a cool place.
Pieces from all over the world. Expensive, clearly, but worth the prices, I’m sure.
I don’t imagine going back because I can’t afford anything but if you hear of a party there, go. It’s cool.

This place collects art and artifacts from around the world. You may see furniture, jewelry, and rugs from all the continents, and there is a sculpture garden too.