JK Antiques Diversifies With Silicone Prosthetics, Movie Props And More

JK Antiques Diversifies With Silicone Prosthetics, Movie Props And MorePhoto: Stephen Jackson / Hoodline
Stephen Jackson
Published on December 19, 2014
 Ever since The Other Shop burned down, JK Antiques has shouldered the load of providing the southern end of the Divisadero corridor with antiques and oddities that can’t be found anywhere else in the city. Now, father and son duo Wayne and Jesse Koniuk are switching up their business model to encompass an even wider range of items, from the very practical to the downright peculiar.



To understand the scope of their endeavor we must start with San Francisco Prosthetic-Orthotic, located next door. Wayne’s father, Walter Koniuk opened the business, which fabricates prosthetics and orthotics to those who’ve lost parts of their body, in 1954. Wayne took over in 1980 and ran it until 2010, when he sold it to one of his partners. However, both he and Jesse have continued to work on certain jobs since then.
 
What’s fascinating, however, is that along with making silicone limbs and extremities, Jesse and Wayne also use the silicone workshop in the back to create lifelike busts of dinosaurs and mythical creatures out of the same material used to help folks, quite literally, get back on their feet.
 
These side projects in some way help give context to the opening of an antiques and oddities shop, but the real reason behind Jesse's fringe retail venture, which he opened three years ago, is his grandfather Walter, who was quite the collector and passed his passion down through the bloodline.
 

(Photo: Wayne Koniuk)

However, change is in the air. Wayne and Jesse are in the process of remodeling the space to accommodate both their righteous assortment of historical knickknacks and a silicone work bench so that they can ply their trade in the public light of day. 

Along with busts from the land before time, the two will also fabricate partial silicone feet and silicone liners for prosthetics. “It’s basically like a sock that goes over the stump and then the prosthetic goes over that,” Jesse told us. “People love them. We’ve never lost a customer over them. In fact, some people who use them have been wheelchair-bound and have regained their ability to walk.”
 

(Photo: Wayne Koniuk)

But that’s not all. About six months ago, Jesse started renting out some of the items in his store for use as props in movies and musical acts, including some shows at The Independent. The new version of the store will further highlight this service, which is at the moment very affordable. “We don’t charge very much, anywhere from $5 to $100,” Jesse said.
 
Wayne and Jesse are also treating the shop as a custom silicone business that focuses on creating both special effects items and prototypes for independent inventors, primarily in the medical field.
 
For the special effects piece, the two have hired some of their buddies to help with projects, most notably their friend Jay Davis, who has done silicone fabrication on movies such as The Terminator and Robocop.
 
“If someone wanted to come in and get a dinosaur head for a movie we could work with them to get it made. Jay Davis is amazing, he can make just about anything,” Jesse said proudly.
 
In short, what was once an antiques and oddities shop will also soon be a prosthetic limb workshop, a prop rental store, and a custom special effects and prototype fabrication complex. As if that wasn’t enough, Jesse also plans to encourage local artists to show their work in the shop from time to time as well.
 
The ever-busy Koniuks hope to have the newly revamped place up and running by the end of January. They will be open Monday through Friday, and intermittently on the weekends. However, Jesse lives right nearby, and will gladly open the shop if you make an appointment, even on the same day. He can be reached at (650) 703 -9515.
 
We can’t wait to see how this place turns out.