The specialists guide to Chinese antiques

Blurring the line further… How to tell if its a genuine antique?

If you read my previous post “blurring the line” you know how difficult it is to honestly decide whether or not an item should be considered an “genuine Chinese antique.” Answering this question becomes even more difficult when you consider the awkward journey a piece my take as it travels through the “antique-reproduction” supply chain. Consider this attractive low table, we purchase and restored for a customer in Italy. The first picture (upper left) is what it looked like when we purchased it BEFORE restoration. The last two on the bottom are the final result AFTER restoration.

The cabinet itself is a antique. It was collected from a peasant on a farm by a “materials collector” who then sold it to what we would consider to be a wholesale antiques flea market far off in Shanxi province, to the west of Beijing. From there is was bought (in bulk along with many, many other pieces) by a local furniture factory who re-laquered the front and completely retouched (actually repainted) the beautiful gold painting you see on the front of the piece. Or what DID the front look like in the first place? Maybe there never was any red lacquer and the peice was just a common wood color. So while the delicate gold “miao jin” paintings and trim look old, they are in fact completely new. Why is this?

Read the rest of this entry »

Chinese Cracked Lacquer Finish

A large sheet of fabric (often a course, light cotton) is laid out on top of a flat even surface such as a large sheet of plywood or a tabletop. A even coating of “Nizi” – a kind of adhesive, is spread evenly over the surface of the material. The adhesive is then let to air dry for a short period of time. Lacquer is then brushed over-top the layer of “nizi” – usually at least five or six times depending on the desired thickness desired. This is then left to air dry for at least two or three days. Drying time depends on the humidy.After a few days when the lacquer has dried completely fine sandpaper is used to smooth out and polish the surface. The hardened, but fragile lacquer-coated fabric is then taken by one end of the fabric and lifted up, causing cracks in the surface of the lacquer as it is pulled up. Pieces are then cut to fit the surface of the furniture and the varies sheets placed on the sides of the piece. A coat of clear laquer is then applied to protect it.

Blurring the line – Is it an antique or a reproduction?

Determing whats antique and whats reproduction is getting harder and harder. Sometimes this is a deliberate attempt to pass off a reproduction as antique with the idea that customer would be willing to pay more for the antique. But other times, the line between whats antique and whats reproduction is simply just blurry. In the example shown here, this reproduction coffee table built to size and stained to a particular color is obviously new. But the carvings inset into the top face of the table are in fact antiques. Is it antique? Is it reproduction? What if its actually both?

The problem of “Chaobuduo” (and how it effects reproduction furnitures)

Chinese workers love to use the phrase ¨cha bu duo¨ (pronounced “Cha Boo Daul) which directly translates to ¨not very far off (meaning approximately or roughly)¨ Unfortunately, in almost all case it usually works out to be not even close, in otherwords, ”cha tai duo” (meaning way too far off). Workers see no need for exact matches and approximations are always seen as “close enough.”

In fact, at times it almost seems like Chinese workers pride themselves on their ability to do things as ”cha ba duo” as humanly possible – as if there is some secret, unspoken competition to see just how far you can go while still getting away with it. Will they accept 80% correct? 70%? What about close but not exact?

Some real world effects of “Chaobuduo” on our industry:

The stool, bench or chair, which does will not balance evenly on the floor (probably when you were pointing this out at the factory, you were told “don’t worry, its not the chairs feet but the rough floor of the factory which is uneven.)

Read the rest of this entry »

Guide to Chinese Furniture – Part 4) New Reproductions

REPRODUCTION

New items which employ natural materials and handcrafted construction techniques often in use for
many generations. Generally occurs in a workshop environment with mostly hand tools and limited use
of modern machinery. Designs are based on traditional deigns modified slightly according to the times.
Items can be very similar but no two are exactly alike as a result of the hand-crafting processError!
Bookmark not defined.

1. KNOWLEDGE: Basic understanding of periods, regions, and styles as well local handcraft
construction techniques. Ability to recognize quality in regards to price.
2. OPTIONS: Typically only colors and finishes can be controlled. Choice and selection of
materials is limited.
3. ORDERING: There are usually no or fairly low minimum quantities, though the ordering
process is generally unsophisticated and inexact. Items can be re-ordered but because
production & finishing techniques are non-standardized, the resulting product will ary from
factory to factory.
4. SUPPLY/PRICING: Pricing is often based on limited quantities of semi unique items as most
factories are unable to produce in regular larger quantities. Supply is limited only by market
conditions, available materials and each workshops factory capacity.
5. TYPES: Converted, which uses salvaged old components such as an old cabinet which is then
converted into a new item. Is sometimes cheaper then new since there is no purchase of new
raw materials, though this may change over time. If using salvaged componnts overall sizes
and shapes of the final product may vary to some extent. New, which uses completely raw
materials as opposed to salvaged components.

Guide to Chinese Furniture – Part 2) “Converted” antiques

CONVERTED
Converted items are both antique & reproduction at the same time. Because of this the materials
and/or construction should possess a very slight degree of wear/tear due to age/use. The main overall
design of a converted piece may remain the same or similr but heavy modifications are made including
structural, finishes etc

KNOWLEDGE: Basic an understanding of periods, regions, and styles as well local handcraft
construction techniques.
OPTIONS: Converted pieces are opportunistic in nature based on available, original core
pieces and the buyer generally has little to no choice over its design.
ORDERING: The purchasing (not ordering) ordering process is generally unsophisticated and
inexact. Items cannot be exactly re-ordered but similar pieces may be able to be located.
SUPPLY/PRICING: As supply will slowly decrease over time and consequently price will rise
as haphazard conversions (as opposed to full restorations) will become a less useful/common
occurrence. Conversions are sometimes is cheaper then “new,” since there is no purchase of
new raw materials.