How can I tell if my Chinese furniture is antique? #
Would you be surprised to find out that most of the “antique Chinese furniture” we see on the market today has been modified in some way or another? So when answering the question of “how can I tell if my Chinese furniture is antique,” we must also consider the directly related question of “how can I tell if my furniture is original?”
This list is designed to offers a snapshot of some of the more common modifications that may have occurred when the piece was restored addressing the question of “just how antique is my piece?” Each of these areas is discussed briefly with some examples.
- Antique (but new finish)
- New carvings
- Reduced Height/Reduced depth
- Sets that are not actually sets.
- Sets that are sold as individual pieces
- New Paintings
- Doors added
- Large pieces split into smaller into smaller units
- New stands
- Old piece / New inlay work
- Rebuilt / Refashioned
- New stone tops on old pieces
Adjustments like these are generally either for practical reasons (such as resizing to make it fit in the modern home) or financial reasons (such as making the piece more attractive or sellable in larger quantities).
This list is in no way comprehensive. I could add countless more examples if time allowed.
Also, these modifications are 100% unrelated to if the piece is hardwood, softwood, provincial or classical. It could be Pinewood or Huanghuali. It doesn’t matter.
And finally not all of these modifications are for nefarious reasons. Some are simply salvaging damaged old material or merely the nature of the industry.
Antique (but new finish) #
This happens more frequently then one might realize. In this example, the finish is a bright green, so one might assume this chair is a reproduction. However in reality it is actually almost 100 years old and comes from Yunnan province. There can be a number of reasons for this but in most cases its because the original finish was deemed unattractive. This makes it particular troublesome for the uninitiated to answer the question of “how can I tell if my Chinese furniture is antique.”
New carvings #
Often times these are carvings in places where there originally was no carving. For example a cheaper chest can be turned into a more expensive piece via the addition of carvings. This is a perfect example of how answering the question of “how can I tell if my Chinese furniture is antique?” can be a bit tricky, as the piece itself may indeed be old even if the carvings are a recent addition.
Reduced Height/Reduced depth #
This Chinese “coffee table” is actually a desk that has been cut down to size. In its original form its the wrong size for the western home and the footrest gets in the way. Cut down to size it makes a perfect “antique Chinese coffee table” – an impossible situation as coffee tables do not exist in Chinese antiques.
Depth is another area that is often addressed. This platform bed from Xinjiang (shown from behind) has been cut by almost half to be turned into a sideboard.
Sets that are not actually sets. #
This was a famous auction house in Hong Kong. This set of huanghuali horseshoe chairs costs a small fortune. And rightly so considering how valuable the material is. However are the actually an original set? Hard to say. On close inspection the carvings on the back splat are not a match. This means either they are not actual original pair or it means one of the back splats was replaced (with a new carving added). The back splat is usually not something you replace on a chair like this. Something is off here.
Sets that are sold as individual pieces #
What most people today think of as individual standalone units were in fact originally sets. Chests were originally on stands. Cabinets were in sets of two. Trunks were part of a larger unit. For the commerce minded antique dealer the temptation to split these items up is often too great to pass up on. Three items are often easier to sell than one and will sell for a combined higher price than one.
With that said, there are also historical reasons in China’s turbulent past that sets might have been split up.
New Paintings #
This is one of the most important elements when trying to answer that question of “How can I tell if my Chinese furniture is antique?” Because painted pieces can sometimes sell better, as they can feel more “authentic.” And we expect paintings to often be touched up as some are heavily damaged. But what’s more surprising, is how many pieces have new paintings added to them, despite not having them in the first place. Cabinet surfaces, old boxes, old doors, just about anything. And again, this occurs before restoration so they can be “aged” during restoration.
Of course, just to throw you for a loop, this can also happen in reverse where old or vintage painted panels are salvaged to be used as replacements on old or new new pieces.
Doors added #
This happens most frequently with sideboards but its not exclusive to them (some forms of sideboards opened from the top originally). Generally what happens is tops are sealed up and doors are cut into the front. It also occurs with new drawers being added. Even old original doors are sometimes modified as well.
Large pieces split into smaller into smaller units #
How can I tell if my Chinese furniture is antique when I don’t even know if it was even once a single piece?
Large pieces like medicine cabinets are heavy, expensive and difficult to sell for this reason. Splitting them up into smaller, more practical units makes sense from a commercial standpoint. One large medicine cabinet can be turned into 4 smaller ones.
This large antique Buddha cabinet from Gansu was split apart and turned into two cabinets. The top section was inverted and turned into a base for the new set.
It can also go in the other direction; like this bench, created by combining parts of two old chairs. Its easier to spot in “unrestored” form but once it has been cleaned, retouched, stained and given some slight “aging” it will be much harder for the uninitiated to spot the problem. Many will accept it as genuine.
Don't make the mistake of thinking this occurs with softwoods only #
A large percentage of the “priceless Huanghuali furniture” that exists on the market today (including some pieces found in major auction houses) are in fact rebuilt from salvaged components.
New stands #
Adding a stand is not uncommon but depending on how well done the stand is, those with an untrained eye may not even realize that, one part is new and the other old. In the example below, a bit more aging on the stand would fool all but the very best. “How can I tell if my Chinese furniture is antique?” may end up meaning “its antique but the stand supporting it is not.”
This stunning Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Wanli period (1573-1620) chest is in the collection of the Museum of Fine arts in Montreal. It’s actually the top of a compound cabinet and thus originally part of a set. Look closely and you will see the base is a later addition.
Old piece / New inlay work #
This is a kind of “enhancement.” So while the piece is old, the inlay work is a new “upgrade.” It’s fine if its known to buyers and sellers. The issue is, this is not always the case.
Rebuilt/Refashioned #
Some pieces are so heavily rebuilt, that it is hard to decide if they are antique or not. Instead it becomes a question of “how much is antique and what percentage is new.”
The first is a new cabinet built around an old set of doors. This is not actually a traditional Chinese antique form but rather a contemporary interpretation. The second example however, is a recreation of an original antique style with the new frame built around original doors.
New stone tops on old pieces #
This is another kind of “enhancement.” Sometimes even old stone tops are recycled onto other old frames, making both elements antique but not actually contemporary to each other. Occasionally this can also happen in reverse with new frames or stands being build around old stone.
More Reading on this topic #
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2 Responses
i have a metal tobacco box, how do i know if it is new or old
Would need to see a photo in order to say more.