This fall of 2011, Roger Schwendeman and Chris Buckley, specialists in Chinese Antiques, will be conducting a unique series of classes on Chinese Antiques (course listing below). These sessions are intended to provide pointers for negotiating the maze/minefield that is the Beijing antique market and for finding genuine items of good quality. The first sessions begin on Friday 23rd September 2011 starting with antique furniture related topics.

All classes are from 10.30am to 12pm approximately. Allow longer for field trips for traveling time. Classes are limited to 12-15 people per session depending on venue. Offsite field trips are limited to 15-20. Seats are first-come first-served so if you have interest please RSVP your intention without delay.There is a fee of 200RMB per class.

If you would like to sign up for a session please click here to sign up:

http://www.antique-chinese-furniture.com/blog/events/

chrisbuckley888 (at) Hotmail.com
roger (at) antique-chinese-furniture.com  (or call 13051440767)

or contact us here

Chinese Furniture (01)  - Classroom session

Roger will introduction to buying antique furniture in Beijing, covering types of furniture, wood and surface finishes, distinguishing new from antique, “what’s hot” in the furniture market, ordering new/reproduction pieces.

Chinese Furniture (02) – Field Trip

Roger will host a guided trip to one of Beijing’s “industry only” antique furniture markets to see “furniture in the raw”, with the chance to pick out unrestored furniture for later restoration. Roger is well known for these trips and will take you to places that other furniture dealers would like to keep secret.

Tips for Collecting Antiques in China (Roger and Chris)

Roger and Chris share their experiences in collecting antiques in China, and in particular in Beijing. Topics include:

• • a brief introduction to north China (Neolithic and bronze age cultures up to the present day)
  • types of antiques available in Beijing markets
  • genuine items versus fakes
  • collecting strategies
  • prices and market trends
  • how not to get “taken for a ride”
  • exporting your antiques (exportable items and problem areas)
  • packing and shipping your antiques. (With practical examples)

Collecting and Decorating with Antique Rugs (Chris)

Types of antique rug available in Beijing, including Tibetan, Mongolian,
Xinjiang and other old rugs, distinguishing the main types, judging age and
quality, distinguishing natural and synthetic dyes, prices, spotting fakes.
Illustrated with many examples.

Minority Textiles from Southwest China (Chris)

Textiles from minority peoples in Southwestern China, including Miao, Dong,
Bouyi, Li of Hainan and other groups. An introduction to types and techniques
including batik, ikat, supplementary weft and embroidery and distinguishing
different types, judging age and quality. Illustrated with many examples.

Coming in the Spring: (schedule TBD)

• Introduction to Ceramics (1) Neolithic to Yuan
• Introduction to Ceramics (2) Ming to present day
• Chinese tea utensils
• Tibetan Art
• Chinese Furniture II
• Furniture Field Trips

About Us:

Roger Schwendeman is a furniture dealer, restorer, expert and designer. He has been working in furniture industry in Beijing and South China for the last decade and probably has more hands-on experience with old furniture than any other expat in Beijing.

Chris Buckley is the owner of the Torana Tibetan Rug Gallery in Europlaza and a weaving workshop in Lhasa. He is also a collector of textiles, porcelain and Tibetan art and author of a book on Tibetan Furniture. He has lived in China
since 1995.

Getting to Gao Bei Dian

Take the Jingtong expressway east to the Gaobeidian exit (next exit past Sihui East). Take the exit and go south at the light onward past the car dealership, the gas station and over the small bridge. You should see a reservoir and large Chinese pagoda on the right. Continue on this street for a few minutes (past the newly built Chinese style buildings on the right) until you see the Chinese archway on the left side, just before the railroad tracks. Turn left onto the Gao Bei Dian furniture street and continue to shop number 184 on the north side of the street. The Chinese name of the shop is Ming Zheng (see image below). You can also call 13051440767 for directions.

View ACF China @ GaoBeiDian Furniture Street in a larger map

This content comes from The specialists guide to Chinese antiques located at http://www.antique-chinese-furniture.com/blog/ For more articles please visit The specialists guide to Chinese antiques - A unique insiders peek at the world of Chinese antiques & reproductions, Asian culture, exotic decor and oriental-inspired design from the far east.

Related posts:

2. Books about collecting Tibetan Antiques and Tibetan furniture
4. ISB Talk – Making Your Move Go Smoothly – Roger Schwendeman explains what antiques can and cannot be take away from China
6. Learn Chinese Language Characters for Furniture

This content comes from The specialists guide to Chinese antiques located at http://www.antique-chinese-furniture.com/blog/ For more articles please visit The specialists guide to Chinese antiques - A unique insiders peek at the world of Chinese antiques & reproductions, Asian culture, exotic decor and oriental-inspired design from the far east.

Related posts:

2. ISB Talk – Making Your Move Go Smoothly – Roger Schwendeman explains what antiques can and cannot be take away from China
4. Beijing Field trip: Outdoor Wholesale Chinese Antique Market Tour
6. Insiders Guide to Chinese Antiques: A new workshop at the Beijing Hutong School

This past weekend, ACF China and  The Hutong organized a field trip for local expats here in Beijing to visit an genuine outdoor wholesale antique market, where peasants from the countryside bring un-restored antique furniture and other curios to sell to wholesalers, collectors and restorers. The trip proved a success, allowing attendees a fascinating peek directly into the hidden corners of the antiques industry. A bit dusty, a bit dirty, and situated on the far outskirts of Beijing, this market exists solely through word of mouth and is not found on any map or guidebook. Chris Buckley, owner of Torana Carpets and author of the book “Tibetan Furniture” accompanied us on our excursion and his own post about our tip on his RugDogBlog sums up our trip much better then I can:

“In years gone by furniture vendors from the countryside came right into the city to sell their furniture, but these days with increasing ground rents and lack of space in the city the trade is conducted much further out from the city, in this case about 45 minutes drive from Guo Mao. This spot is strictly a wholesale market, with unrestored items piled high in the warehouses of individual sellers from different parts of China.

In a couple of hours we were only able to scratch the surface of what is a very large market. We visited several vendors from north China (Shanxi and Inner Mongolia), though apparently there are sellers at the market from most regions. It’s been a long time since I have looked at wholesale furniture like this (the last time I looked at it seriously was back in the mid-90s) and it was reassuring to see that there is still old furniture out there! Vendors are now going a lot further afield for their old furniture than in the ’90s and many are bringing in furniture from the border regions versus the central China styles that were more common in previous years. “

Though this particular trip was not a buying trip, we will organize future excursions, buying trips and longer outings, so check back here regularly and/or on  The Hutong‘s Website for upcoming dates.  Thanks to Chris Buckley for tagging along and for providing the wonderful group photos shown here.

This content comes from The specialists guide to Chinese antiques located at http://www.antique-chinese-furniture.com/blog/ For more articles please visit The specialists guide to Chinese antiques - A unique insiders peek at the world of Chinese antiques & reproductions, Asian culture, exotic decor and oriental-inspired design from the far east.

Related posts:

2. Beijing Field trip: Outdoor Wholesale Chinese Antique Market Tour
4. ACF China appears on China Central Television’s “Culture Express” program
6. Guide to Chinese Furniture – Part 1) What is considered an antique?

ACF China and the The Hutong will be co-organizing a field trip this Saturday morning to visit a outdoor wholesale market where peasants from the countryside bring antique furniture to sell to wholesalers, specialists and restorers. This is an extremely rare opportunity to see where antique furniture comes from and what it looks like in its original un-restored form. 100% wholesale only, this market exists only through word of mouth and cannot be found in any guidebook or map. ACF’s Roger Schwendeman will be accompanying the group as a specialists and guide as well as to answer questions about styles, origins and history.

Estimated time (including travel) will be approximately 2.5 hours total (including 20 minutes each direction of travel time). The group will meet in front of the China World Trade Center (in front of Starbucks across from HSBC) at 10 AM sharp.
View Larger Map

Space is limited for this trip and we can accommodate up to ten people only which means you MUST pre-register. Cost will include transportation. Please wear comfortable clothing which can get dirty as this market is extremely dusty.

This content comes from The specialists guide to Chinese antiques located at http://www.antique-chinese-furniture.com/blog/ For more articles please visit The specialists guide to Chinese antiques - A unique insiders peek at the world of Chinese antiques & reproductions, Asian culture, exotic decor and oriental-inspired design from the far east.

Related posts:

2. Weekend shopping at the PanJiaYuan antique market in Beijing
4. Insiders Guide to Chinese Antiques: A new workshop at the Beijing Hutong School
6. Antique Shopping in Beijing, China

When people hear the word “antiques,” they often relate it to something their grandmother might enjoy – in other words old-world – musty – boring! Which is why we will be starting a new course on Chinese antiques at The Beijing Hutong School. We want to be able to share some of the rich textures, colors and wonderful materials which we come across in our daily quest for the the cool, the unusual, the unique and the beautiful.

Insiders Guide to
Chinese Antique Furniture

From finding and restoring antique furniture to collecting and integrating into your home. An informal, non-stuffy and hands-on, insiders look at the world of Chinese antique furniture. Some of the topics we will cover will include:

1. Intro to Periods and styles including regional styles
2. Field trips to un-restored antique furniture market to see where antiques are collected from
3. Construction, repairing, restoring and joinery
4. Lacquers and finishes
5. Woods and materials from stone to rare woods to brass hardware.
6. Collecting and buying.
7. Fakes and authenticating
8. Field trip to furniture factory

For more information on these workshops including class dates and times, costs and how to reserve your spot, please visit The Hutong website directly at:

http://www.the-hutong.com

This content comes from The specialists guide to Chinese antiques located at http://www.antique-chinese-furniture.com/blog/ For more articles please visit The specialists guide to Chinese antiques - A unique insiders peek at the world of Chinese antiques & reproductions, Asian culture, exotic decor and oriental-inspired design from the far east.

Related posts:

2. Guide to Chinese Furniture – Part 2) “Converted” antiques
4. Guide to buying Chinese Antiques on eBay
6. Guide to relic inspection certificates, customs documents and export requirements for antiques