Photos of these two cabinets have been floating around on our file server for quite a while and I have been meaning to put them up here as another excellent example of differences in quality between Chinese antique workshops and restoration facilities. These are both essentially the same piece but restored in a different […]
Entries Tagged as 'Home Furnishings'
Comparing apples to oranges - more on determining quality in Chinese antique furniture
May 12th, 2008 · No Comments
Tags: Chinese Furniture · Quality Concerns
Rosewood Antique Bench - value
March 12th, 2008 · 1 Comment
Recently we have installed a live-chat function, and we start to meet a lot of interesting people through that.
There was this man who possesses an antique bench from China, a masterpiece. He would like to know the value of it. Sounds like : “the antiques road show” on BBC television! (where people bring their ‘treasures’ […]
Tags: Antiques · Chinese Furniture · Cool Finds/Rare Items
Chinese Snuff Bottles: Collectible Items
February 19th, 2008 · No Comments
Probably one of the smallest, yet most sought items in Chinese antiques is called the snuff bottle. Snuff bottles were used by the Chinese during the Qing Dynasty to contain powdered tobacco. During the mid- to late-16th century the use of snuff and snuff bottles spread through the upper class, and by […]
Tags: Antiques · Chinese Culture · Fakes and Copies
Do you know what you are selling? Because your customer might not.
February 15th, 2008 · 3 Comments
I am noticing a trend where just about “everyone and anyone” is now selling so called “Chinese antique furniture” (or some variation of this) and misrepresenting it as any number of different things. Items made just yesterday (antique reproductions) are falsely labeled as genuine antiques and the real antiques are often completely misclassified. I […]
Tags: Chinese Furniture · Fakes and Copies · Selling to the customer
How to recognize Chinese antique ceramics from fakes:
February 7th, 2008 · No Comments
Another excellent youtube find.
[http://youtube.com/watch?v=742wDih0ySI]
Tags: Fakes and Copies · Porcelain/Ceramics
Art of Asia: Ceramics - Innovations in Clay
February 7th, 2008 · No Comments
There are some good youtube posting on porcelain and ceramics, starting out with this interesting eight minute long academic video overview of the history of Asian ceramics put out by the “Minneapolis Institute of Arts.“
“Ceramic production in Asia dates back many thousands of years. The Chinese have always been regarded as the undisputed masters of […]
Tags: Porcelain/Ceramics · Video Postings
Basic guide to recognizing Tibetan antique furniture - Part 1
January 29th, 2008 · No Comments
“Tibetan” style furniture is a phrase used loosely and frequently items made just yesterday are placed side by side with items 50 or 80 years old. Of course, all are claimed to be real “Tibetan Furniture.” So when it comes to so called Tibetan” items, its important to know just what is is that […]
Tags: The specialists guide to: · Tibetan
Hand carved Vs. CNC woodworking
November 19th, 2007 · No Comments
Last week we went to an exhibition of new classic Chinese furniture. There were not only factories of furniture, but also those selling frightening robot-like CNC machines… It made me wonder if hand labor is even in threat of becoming abundant even here, even in this workmanship, even in art …
Tags: Antiques · Chinese Furniture · Fakes and Copies · Reproductions · Techniques & "know-how"
This antique crackle finish is actually brand new.
November 2nd, 2007 · No Comments
I am by far not an expert and to be honest, my main advantage is simply having the opportunity to see, touch & feel different restored, un-restored pieces on regular basis. When the factory is literally right behind you and you can hang out with the workers and see the entire process, one can […]
Tags: Fakes and Copies · Lacquers & Finishes · Reproductions
Buying unrestored: Custom antique restorations means usability
October 1st, 2007 · No Comments
One of the best things about controlling your own restorations is the ability to decide what the final result will look like. This end result can sometimes be as important as the original because the “customer’s customer” is going to be thinking about where and how the piece will fit into their home. Often a […]
Tags: Antique Restorations · Antiques


