The specialists guide to Chinese antiques. » Cool Finds/Rare Items

Reduced prices – Sale of gorgeous antique walnut alter tables, armoire, benches from Gansu province.

Roger — Tue, 11 May 2010 15:16:03 +0000

One of ACF’s local “inside suppliers” wishes to liquidate his existing stock of restored antique walnut furniture from Gansu at reduced prices, as he is now dealing only in un-restored antiques. As an “inside supplier” this restorer does not normally sell directly to overseas customers and instead local furniture factories buy from him to then resell in their own warehouse at a premium. As he is one of the few people who specializes primarily in walnut furniture from Gansu province (halfway between Beijing and Tibet), this is an very unusual and rare opportunity to see such a large volume of walnut pieces in one single location. Normally factories will only have a few such pieces (which they likely purchased from him).

While not as costly as rosewood or Huali, walnut furniture is generally more expensive them Elm, Pine or Poplar and are generally sold at a higher premium. Availability has dropped and prices for walnut furniture have risen significantly over the past few years. Walnut is a much harder wood, more durable and longer lasting with a rich deep copper or caramel brown color with a nice grain and wonderful texture. Restorers also tend to use better brass hardware for walnut as the two colors compliment each other. Mostly from Western Gansu, styles are often understated, well balanced and elegant in their own right.

A few other things to know about this lot:

ALL these pieces are antique (there are no vintage or reproduction pieces in this batch).
Quality is quite good and all pieces are restored and ready to ship.
With a very few exceptions 90% of the pieces are walnut and from Gansu.
Not all items are pictured here (there is at least a 40 foot container).
He also has a few rare items that are not seen very often.
Sizes and proportions are very practical and usable.
The flash on the camera tends to give everything more contrast and more yellow (note this).

Larger photos of the complete lot can be seen online at this address:

http://www.antique-chinese-furniture.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=254

Or go to http://www.antique-chinese-furniture.com/gallery/

then navigate to

Customer Orders > General Sourcing > walnut 05-04-2010

For price list/additional details email me at roger at antique-chinese-furniture.com

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Mystery: Are these Chinese oracle bones inscriptions carved on a tortoise shells?

Roger — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 09:54:53 +0000

Interesting recent find… The question is “what is it?” Are these oracle bones ( 甲骨 jiǎgǔ) ? And if so, why is it not cracked? Or was this particular one simply used for practicing carving inscriptions? Or maybe even record keeping? Is this pictographs indeed an example of jiăgŭwén (oracle script) or is it seal script (小篆 Xiaozhuan /大篆Dazhuan)? What about clerical script (Li shu 隸書)?

According to the I-Ching, tortoise divination is one of the best method for making sense of the events. So, the very symbolism of the tortoise shell itself, would lead credence to the idea that this was used for some form of divination. Most popular and known for during the Shang dynasty, documented cases show this practice continued up until the Qing Dynasty though less frequently. Personally I would guess this example is Ming. But as I said, your guess is as good as mine…

If anyone wants to dig-in to what it says, Harmen Mesker’s website has some fascinating Chinese character analysis topics.

A pair of late 18th to early 19th century Qing dynasty Chinese Nanmu compound cabinets

Roger — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:59:13 +0000

Item: A pair of late 18th to early 19th century Qing period Chinese compound cabinets
Region: Shanxi Province in Northern China
Materials: Nanmu (楠木 – Phoebe) and Chicken Wing wood (鸡翅木) *
Price: 60,000 to 80,000 Chinese RMB (SOLD) **
Condition: Purchased un-restored. Minimal restoration. New hardware. Carvings likely replaced after being defaced during the cultural revolution.

* Nanmu is a very durable medium density Chinese softwood which is extremely stable and excellent for furniture making due to its resistance to expansion, cracking caused by climate changes or humidity. Chicken Wing wood is called as such do to the pattern of its grain resembling that of a chicken wing.

** Price in China as of 2009

Cool Finds: A look at some 2000 year old, Han Dynasty earthenwares

Roger — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:49:18 +0000

A 2000 year old, Han dynasty earthenware jar with swirling cloud patterns

A set of Han earthenware painted jugs

Note: All images are clickable.

During our treks and travels, we come across all sorts of rare, unusual and interesting things. Like this 300 year old temple table we stumbled across this past summer. Or this Chinese ancestor painting which eventually wound up permanently wall-mounted in a friends living room. But this cache of Han Dynasty earthenware, which we recently found surely deserves a mention. Now, normally our blog is encompassing of all topics pertaining to antiques, but in this case, these Han dynasty burial items are best described in terms of antiquities and archeology. And though by no means, am I an archeologist, I must say I understand that there just something really cool about holding an object in your hands made over 2000 years ago (Or for that matter, owning something that can found in museums or at Christies Auction house).

First, a quick lesson in history. Lasting almost 400 years, the Han dynasty (Han Dynasty, 206 B.C- 220 A.D) consisted of two main periods referred to as “Western Han” (Chang’ an) and “Eastern Han” (Luo yang) which is why you will see Han burial items often referred to in this manner ( Its worthy to note that there does indeed exist a third and very short in between dynasty named “xin” or “Wang Man”). To put that much time into perspective, lets just say, this was during the same period as the Roman Empire, the silk road and the birth and death of Christ.

Coccon shaped Han dynasty "hu" jar similar to the one in the Kimbell Art Museam

A closer look at the mouth of the above Han dynasty jug

So what are they? Since the afterlife was considered an extension of life for the people of Han, Ming Qi or “brilliant artifacts,” like these funerary jars and other grave furnishings were buried along side the deceased and were intended to provide the departed with all the necessary daily objects needed for the after life. Not only vases, pots and animal figurines, but water wells, cooking ovens and even entire models of farms where known to been buried with the deceased. The unusual Cocoon shaped jars are called “Hu” which basically means wine vessel or water container and this design is most commonly found in tombs from the Western Han periods.

Items from this period, were typically un-glazed black, gray or painted earthenware as glazing did not exist yet in early Han and/or was in its earliest experimental phases.

Han earthenware "ding" vessels

Large Han dynasty wine "hu" jug

If you want to learn a bit more about Ming Qi there are a few good sources of information I can recommend:

The Vibrant Role of Mingqi in Early Chinese Burial (This is a short but very good introduction from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.)
The forums (here and here) on the Asian Art website have some lively discussions and though mostly centered on jade and porcelain authentication there are discussions on pottery and earthenware as well.
Ancient China From the Neolithic Period to the Han Dynasty: This is a PDF file which I have included here, from the Asian Art Museum Education Department and includes quite a lot of info not only on Han but also other dynasties and covers bronze and jade as well. The additional Powerpoint slides are here (includes the color images).
The Mingqi Pottery Buildings of Han Dynasty China: This book is available here on Amazon.
A Guide to the Tomb and Shrine Art of the Han Dynasty: This book is also available here on Amazon.

a closer look at the rich painted colors

Examples in Museums:

A few amazing examples from Museums around the world…

Kimbell Art Museam:

Chinese Cocoon-Shaped Jar with Cloud-Scroll Design

Late 2nd or early 1st century B.C.
China, possibly Luoyang, Henan province, Western Han dynasty (206 B.C.–A.D. 9)
Earthenware with painted polychrome decoration
11-1/2 x 13-1/8 x 9-1/4 in. (29.2 x 33.3 x 23.5 cm)

The National Palace Museum, Taipei

Pottery cocoon-shaped Hu vessel

Creation Date:
Warring States Period to Western Han Dynasty
Start Year Date:
B.C.481
End Year Date:
A.D.9

Krannert Art Museum – University of Illinois

Hu vessel (2nd century CE)

Chinese, Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE)
Ceramic: earthenware with red, black and white slip
diam: 8″ x 5 1/2″

Collection:
National Palace English
Work ID:
M01D00015
Title:
Pottery cocoon-shaped Hu vessel
Creation Date:
Warring States Period to Western Han Dynasty
Start Year Date:
B.C.481
End Year Date:
A.D.9

The real deal: Looking back a few hundred years at an authentic chinese alter table

Roger — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 07:57:10 +0000

This enormous solid wood console (over two meters) which probably dates back to the Ming Dynasty, originally made its home in a temple in Shanxi province before being stumbled upon by us in the far off, dusty dirty corners of the antiques trade. Known in Chinese as a “Gong An,” or roughly a”temple table” the name alludes to its former use and one can’t help but imagine monks keeping quarters with this table. Modestly estimated to be approximately 300 years old, there are several clues to look that allude to its age starting with the wood below the hardware worn to the bone from endless contact over the years.

Note: All images are clickable.

A common feature on many genuine antiques is defacement from the cultural revolution or “Wénhuà Dà Gémìng,” a period of great political and social turmoil in China’s recent history. From roughly 1966 to 1976 Mao Zedong launched a massive campaign to destroy the “four olds”, namely old ideas, old culture, old customs, and old habits. During this time, Red Guards burned antique books, ransacked architecture, shattered old porcelain and destroyed or defaced carvings and even whole pieces of furniture. On the table below, the faces have been rudely hacked away.

The “chao tou” or wing-like swooping edges of the table are carved from a single large log with no visual seams or joints; a practice rarely used in contemporary times.

A second clue to its age and origin is the thin layer or coarse horse hair mesh, between the wood and the lacquer. Not quite refined enough to be considered fabric, this rough layer of hair allows the wood below some freedom to expand and contract according the climate and humidity without cracking the lacquer above.

And then there is the original finish, crackled beautifully through the endless passing of time.

Needless to say, this amazing piece of furniture will not be showing up on ebay anytime soon.

Chinese wardrobe with erotica paintings on the front.

Roger — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 16:01:02 +0000

I came across this in 2005 and have not seen anything like it again ever since. At best, the painting has been retouched and at worst, the finish was completely new. The cabinet itself looks old though. Regardless, it would have made a great conversation piece in my living room…. While india has had the “Kama Sutra“, China has had erotic art and literature for quite some time now. Famous Chinese erotic classics include The Carnal Prayer Mat and The Golden Lotus.

Chinese Ancestor Painting

Roger — Mon, 18 Apr 2005 15:52:19 +0000

A while back, I took a friend of mine out to check out some unrestored antiques. A week or so later he went back to the same peasant vendor and picked up this amazing antique chinese ancestor painting. Its a little hard to see from the photos (apologies – they were snapped with my Palm Pilot) but there are more then ten generations recorded there. And quote large too. It was rolled up in bundle in the back of the warehouse…

After much poundering and experimenting he decided to have it mounted into the wall in his living room behind a sheet of glass. This was quite a challenge as much of it, especially the sides (which were hidden by folding them back) are in pretty bad condition. Some sections has completely disintigrated where the paint used in later generations to rouch up certain areas has eaten through the fabric completely. Its really one of the best examples I have seen so far…

We picked one up ourselves but its not nearly as stunning as that one. (below)