Restoring antique Chinese furniture

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When furniture from the 18th, 19th and even early 20th century is found in China, the pieces are always in various states of disrepair. They have been used and abused for many years. While there are some collectors that only want pieces in what is called “found condition”, the vast majority of people who appreciate and live with antique Chinese furniture want pieces that look good and fit nicely into their homes, whatever the décor.  For example, bamboo altar table may be behind a contemporary sofa. Pieces that are in “found condition” are rarely suitable for installation into a home today. Most, in fact, are falling apart and need some repair in order to save them.
Without exception, that means that the piece needs some restoration. A table leg may be broken, a chip is out of the top of a stool, a chair seat is torn, the finish on a cabinet is peeling and a drawer is missing, the lattice work on a table is broken, etc. etc.  There is no end to what can happen to a piece of furniture after 100 or 200 years. That brings us to the question of how pieces that we import are restored.
First, all of our pieces are restored in China before they are shipped to Denver. In fact, one of our restorers here in Denver went with Carol to China and spent 3 days in the warehouse learning the techniques they used so that if and when the Denver climate had an effect on the pieces, she would be able to repair it with the same careful integrity that is found in China.  Second, we have made a point of emphasizing that we restore – not refinish – our pieces.
Refinishing means that the piece is stripped, usually with a chemical solvent, and then stained. New material is often added. The piece looks like new.
Restoring, on the other hand, means stopping the aging process. The piece is made usable and the patina is preserved at all costs. A good cleaning is done, usually by sanding. Chips, nicks, breaks and tears are carefully repaired by skilled craftsmen who have been doing this work most of their lives.  New shelves may be required for some cabinets. A piece of hardware may need to be added to a drawer when all the other pieces are in place, although we try to retain as much original hardware as possible. When the piece is clean, a polish or lacquer is applied to enhance its appearance.
The only exception to this rule is when we find a beautiful, unique piece, that some misguided person has painted. This happened most often during the early 20th century and we have seen lovely altar coffers from Shanxi province that were painted green, red, yellow or some other color. After we finish crying, and understand that the wood underneath is good, we have the paint stripped off. Then the piece can be re-stained. However, this is a rare occurrence. The vast majority of pieces that we select do not require this treatment.
Some pieces have the remains of gilt painting still visible on them, usually of vases, various figures or butterflies. What we never, ever do is have these repainted. They are usually black or red cabinets and require extra careful handling. We also do not allow any repainting of the Tibetan pieces that we buy. They are beautiful the way they are, and the lack of perfection is part of the charm.
In closing, it is perfectly acceptable for people to want pieces that have no flaws and are in pristine condition. They need to buy new or reproduction furniture. Antique Chinese furniture has a unique charm and value but usually comes with signs of its age. We value that and hope you do as well.

Happy Chinese New Year! The Year of the Rabbit.

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19th Century pair of nanwood carving with a rabbit motif.

19th Century pair of nanwood carving with a rabbit motif.

Happy Chinese New Year!
If you were born in any of these years: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 then you are represented in Chinese astrology by the Rabbit.

Rabbits are usually kind and sweet and of course, popular people. Nobody ignores them, for they are good company and know how to make the best of themselves.

A rabbit’s home is always a beautiful one because Rabbit people are famous for their artistic sense and good taste. And that’s why, in celebration of the elegance and grace so important in The Year of the Rabbit, Asian Treasures is offering a 20% discount from February 3 to February 28 on any item (or items) from the Asian Treasures store at The Collection, 899 Broadway, Denver, CO (303) 623 4200

19th century pair of nanwood carving w/ rabbit motif dating from the late 19th century

Come see Asian Treasures’ new shipment at The Collection, 899 Broadway, Denver, CO

And visit Asian Treasures online, to see a sampling of the newest inventory and become a fan of Asian Treasures on Facebook.

The Chinese Chair

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Elevated seating arrived relatively late in China and was, according to several sources, the result of the association with foreign cultures. As in most of the rest of Asia, seating evolved from woven mats on the floor to low platforms, to practical and movable stools and then to chairs.  Sometime during the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD), it is believed that Chinese royalty began using elevated seating on a regular basis.

The concept of elevation is what was important and that concept was retained for many centuries. To be raised above the floor, to whatever height, was to be raised in status. Clunas, in his book on Chinese furniture, states that, “It is this change in posture, not the change in the item of furniture, which leads to the situation in which China, alone among east Asian cultures, developed high furniture in pre-modern times”.

There are many examples of the varied chair designs that have survived but according to Wang Shixiang, the author of the book, Classic Chinese Furniture,. Chinese chairs are divided into four types; side chairs, armchairs, armchairs with curved rests and folding chairs.  Wang makes the point that all chairs with a back but no arms are called side chairs.

Regardless of the type of chair, one commonality exists for almost all Chinese chairs and that is that they sit quite high. We are often asked why this is when a client is sitting in a chair. The answer is easy to understand once you think about China during this time. There was no central heating so chairs kept the occupant’s feet off the cold ground.  If there was no built in footrest, footstools were used.

Horseshoe Chairs

Horseshoe Chairs

One of the most graceful of the Chinese chair designs is called the round-backed or horseshoe armchair. This type of chair is characterized by the curved continuous back, which serves to support the back and the arms. However, this type of chair is often not comfortable for Westerners. McCormic goes so far as to state that this type of chair, “…encourages one to slouch.”

The southern official’s hat chair, on the other hand, with its square back, graceful arms and modern lines, often has a lumbar support that many Westerners find quite comfortable. This type of chair was, in ancient times, often used in arrangements so that when we find them today, they are often in pairs.

The yokeback chair may be the most recognizable of the Chinese chair designs. It is certainly the most reproduced as one can see it in catalogues advertising dining room chairs from various contemporary and traditional furniture showrooms. It has horizontal arms and a high-yoked back and an S-shaped splat. Typically, it is simple in design and the high back gives it a sense of dignity. Yoke back chairs are found with and without arms and are often used as a dining room chairs although they also make wonderful desk or side chairs.

Pair of chairs

Traveling or folding chairs, small armchairs, low back armchairs, chairs made from bamboo, six corner chairs with curved sides, chairs with spindle backs, wedding chairs, moon gazing or resting chairs and art deco chairs are just a few of the other varieties of Chinese chairs you can find at Asian Treasures venues. For Asian Treasures, our main criterion is beauty and comfort so we actually do sit in each chair prior to it being included in one of our shipments. You can be assured it is comfortable for at least one of us.

We hope this brief review of the Chinese chair was of interest and might makes us all more aware of the importance of inviting a guest to sit in our home. It is still, as it was in ancient China, an important social gesture.

Bibliography:

Clunas, Craig, Chinese Furniture (London, 1988), pp. 16.

Shixiang, Wang, Classic Chinese Furniture – Ming And Early Qing Dynasties (Hong Kong, 1988).

McCormic, Andrea & Lynde, Chinese Country antiques; Vernacular Furniture And Accessories, c. 1780-1920 (PA, USA, 2000), pp. 27.

Antique Chinese Wedding Baskets – Baskets? Red?

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Antique Chinese Wedding Basket

Antique Chinese Wedding Basket

Q. I’ve seen the lovely wedding baskets that you sell but I’m confused as to why they are called “baskets” when they are actually  more like wooden boxes and why they are all red. Also, can you tell me how they were used?

A. There is no translation from the Chinese characters that describe these pieces more accurately so we use the term “basket” but you are correct. They are more like boxes then what we think of as baskets.  I have never heard another explanation for this term.

As far as the color, red is an auspicious color throughout SE Asia and is typically associated with weddings and Chinese New Year. In fact, a Chinese bride will often wear a red outfit for part of the traditional ceremony.  I like to describe these wedding baskets as the Godiva chocolate gift boxes of 19th C. China because they were typically filled with dried fruits, nuts and sweets and brought to the wedding for the bride and groom. Additionally, they were often used as gift boxes at Chinese New Year and brought to family gatherings.

If you have any questions about antique Chinese furniture, please let us know by e-mail and we will try to answer them. Thank you.

Focus: Why is That Bat on My Cabinet?

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If you enjoy Chinese antiques, you are probably aware that many of the designs that appear on textiles, porcelain and furniture have meaning over and above just being decorative. Understanding these meanings is difficult unless one is familiar with the Chinese language because there is an intimate connection between the language and the decorations. We’ll focus on a brief explanation of a few of the symbols commonly seen on Chinese furniture.

19th century pair of bamboo welcome panel

19th century pair of bamboo welcome panel

Often a Chinese character alone serves as decoration such as the one for “double happiness” or the one for “longevity”. Concepts may also be suggested by using well-known symbols such as coins that represent wealth. The most interesting way meaning is conveyed in Chinese design, and the most difficult for non-Chinese to understand, is the way visual puns called “rebuses” are used.  Since many written characters in the Chinese language are pronounced the same way, with only the tone and/or the characters appearing before or after it providing the intended meaning, it is easy to create these visual puns.

Following are just a few examples of commonly seen design elements on Chinese furniture and what they usually mean:

The bat (fu) is one of the most common images seen on Chinese furniture specifically hardware and is a good example of a rebuse). These creatures, which are considered grotesque in Western culture, are employed because in Chinese, the word for bat sounds like the word for “blessings or “riches”. Bats are often shown upside down because “upside down” is a pun on the word “arrived” so an upside down bat indicates that blessings have arrived.

The Butterfly is also commonly seen on the hardware of Chinese furniture. It is a very auspicious symbol most often meaning joy and happiness but it can also symbolize longevity. because the word for 70 or 80 sounds like the second character for butterfly.

Fish (yu), are usually a symbol of marriage and the wish for many children. Fish often swim in pairs and are happy in their own element ( water) so using fish as a motif may be a repuse for the saying, “may you be as harmonious as fish and water”. Fish are also a pun for “abundance” or “plenty” and are a wish for the married couple to have many children.

The Deer character (lu) also means an official’s salary. Therefore, when deer are used as decoration one meaning might be wishes for wealth and achievement.

The Crane character has two meanings. First, most commonly, the bird is a symbol of longevity because it is supposed to live two thousand years and secondly, it is white, which is associated with the white hair of old age. The crane is also associated with a high rank. It is the first rank among civil officials as can be seen on the rank badge of that office.

Dragons are a very ancient symbol in Chinese decoration. Unlike the mean and scary beasts they are considered to be in the West, the Chinese believe dragons to be benevolent creatures. They represent high rank and power. They were also associated with marriage and are a common wedding decoration because they are symbols of male fertility. If the dragon is combined with the phoenix, the head of all the winged creatures, it symbolizes royalty and conjugal bliss.

The Lotus, a flower associated with summer, is often seen on decorations and in Chinese paintings dating back centuries. It is an emblem of purity, fruitfulness and perfection because the flower grows out of mud and muck but the blossoms are beautiful. Deities are often seen seated on a lotus flower.

The few symbols explained here, in a very simplified form, are only a minute number of the many hundreds of symbols used in Chinese decoration to convey meanings. However, hopefully this brief introduction provides some insight into the fascinating and complex use of the these symbols. Look for examples on the Asian Treasures pieces you see. The books in the bibliography can also further your knowledge about this subject.

Bibliography and references:

  1. Bartholomew, Terese Tse, Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art. Asian Art Museum – Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture. 2006.
  2. Garrett, Valery M. A Collector’s Guide to Chinese Dress Accessories. Times Editions. 1997

What does the wax stamp mean?

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Q. “What does the wax stamp that appears on some Chinese furniture mean? I was told that it means it is authentic but your pieces do not have the stamp”.

A. Thank you for this question. The fact is that this stamp comes from the Chinese relics department of the Chinese government. It means that the piece (furniture, porcelain, bronze etc.) has been approved for export by the Chinese government.  THE STAMP IS NOT USED TO CERTIFY AGE OR AUTHENTICITY.   When Asian Treasures puts together a container, the Chinese Relics Department goes to the warehouse and puts a seal on the entire container, not on each piece. However, often dealers of Chinese furniture do not import in ways that require this stamp and, again, it has no bearing on authenticity.

Asian Treasures has been doing business with the same Chinese dealer, in China for over 17 years. We provide certificates of authenticity and will always take back any piece we sell if the client has reason to question the information that we provide.

Tibetan Chests

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Most Tibetan furniture was originally produced by monks and used in monasteries to store religious items. The pieces have a uniquely spiritual quality but are usually of a fairly crude construction. Typically, the furniture is painted using beautiful, colorful and meaningfully symbolic decorations such as flaming pears or eternal knots.

Tibetan Chest

19th C. Tibetan chest. Circa 1880, origin; Tibet.

Favorite colors included gold, red and green. Fortunately, Tibetan furniture is increasingly being integrated into many different styles of home décor and we hope that a new book devoted solely to the subject, “Wooden Wonders; Tibetan Furniture in Secular and Religious life”, written by David Kaminsky, published in 2004, will generate the interest in Tibetan furniture that it deserves.
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The piece of furniture featured in this post demonstrates the simple form of a typical Tibetan chest. It is painted with vegetable-based paint, which has faded to a lovely patina. The sides of the cabinet are typically left plain because they were viewed as unimportant. The piece opens in the front and, as with most Tibetan pieces, the door openings are hidden within the construction. This piece, with its beautiful floral design, typical coloration and adequate storage space, would make a stunning entryway statement but could also be used in a variety of other settings.

If you are interested in this or other Tibetan pieces, please call us for a special price. We love Tibetan furniture and unfortunately it is becoming more difficult to find good pieces.

Medicine Chests

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Medicine chests represent a unique and interesting category of antique Chinese furniture. These pieces were used throughout China by physicians who were mostly trained in “traditional” Chinese medicine. This entailed the use of numerous herbs and mixtures totally unfamiliar to Western practitioners. In their original state, all of these medicine chests would have labels pasted on the outside of the drawers indicating the contents of that drawer or set of drawers. Most of the drawers are divided into small spaces to hold the various herbs. These labels are often quite graphically interesting and add to the beauty of the individual piece.

Although we most often maintain as much of the original state of our furniture as possible, we have just started asking our China warehouse to remove the dividers in the drawers of these pieces so that they can actually be used in contemporary fashion. Medicine cabinets come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. They make wonderful conversation pieces and can be integrated in any style of design.

Chinese collecting Chinese; the impact on the US market

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The Chinese have, for centuries, collected porcelain and jade but furniture, pottery, bronzes and decorative arts were usually considered unimportant and rarely collected. During the Cultural Revolution, a massive amount of valuable material, along with anything deemed a remnant of the past, was destroyed and for many years after that reign ended, China and it’s people were too poor to think about such things.

Times are changing.  The dramatic growth in China’s economy has created many millionaires and even billionaires in China. With this increase in wealth comes the desire to have what others have and the Chinese are seeing the West’s hunger for things Chinese.  This has awakened a thirst for Chinese antiquities in China and as a result, the market for Chinese antiquities is booming in China.  China is becoming a market and not just a source for things Chinese.

Added to this increased interest in antiquities is the fact that the Chinese government has recently removed the “peg” between the RMB, China’s currency, and the US dollar. This has to date, increased the value of the RMB just a few percentage points but that could change dramatically over the next few years resulting in a significant increase in the future cost of things Chinese.

Where does that leave those of us who are collectors and dealers? In certain areas of the Chinese antique market, Chinese buyers are pushing up prices in a number of areas including furniture made from huganhuali and blackwood.  Our supplier tells us that his blackwood pieces are literally being snapped up by his Chinese customers and that he is having a much more difficult time obtaining good quality pieces including those made from softwoods.

We intend to continue to buy and to sell only the best pieces we are able to find and to attempt to keep prices reasonable. Nonetheless, we may be paying more and working harder to find the kinds of items we consider worthy of purchase. The good news is that the State Department seems to have tabled the request from China to place an embargo on almost all Chinese antiquities. At least we should be able to import what we do find.

How to determine the value of antique furniture

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Antique furniture has always been a good investment. The reason I like it is that I know I am buying something that has a value that will increase with time. But how do you know what is really good? Here are some tips to keep in mind.

  1. AGE
    The older the piece is, the more valuable it is likely to be. Determining age in Chinese furniture is difficult because there were no famous workshops and pieces were rarely signed. Typically, Chinese furniture is classified as early, mid or late 18th or 19th century. The ability to determine the age of a piece comes with practice.  There is no litmus test and so it is important to trust the dealer from whom you are buying.
  2. MATERIALS
    China deforested itself centuries ago. The types of woods used for Chinese furniture are divided into softwoods and hardwoods and furniture from hardwoods, such as Blackwood, are always more expensive. However, softwoods are becoming more appreciated and collectable. Most of the woods used have no Western counterpart.
  3. OVERALL CONDITION
    The better the overall original condition of the piece, the more valuable it will be. It is very desirable for the original patina to be in good condition and for the piece to have it’s original hardware.
  4. RARITY
    This is a matter of supply and demand. If a certain type of piece or a certain style is widely appreciated but not easily available, the value will be relatively higher. This extends to furniture made from certain types of woods as well as to items such as folding chairs, traveling tables or simple household items such as iceboxes.