What is considered an antique? #
What are the basic criteria for an item to be considered to be antique? There are a few criteria with one of them (obviously) being of the utmost importance: the age of the piece itself.
Lets look at the main criteria.
Antiques are at least 100 years old: #
- Antique pieces usually must meet a minimum age before being considered an antique – generally 100 years or more. This is a generally accepted standard in the antiques world and is not exclusive to the Asian antiques world.
- There are some rare exceptions. For example, in the case of Tibetan furniture many dealers and collectors consider 70 years to already be antique.
Antiques are used, aged & worn: #
- In most cases, an antique should possess some degree of wear/tear due to time/age and use and if it doesn’t this can be an indicator that it is in fact new. Although there are exceptions such as instances when the piece was stored and handled impeccably although this is rare.
Antiques are unique: #
- Each piece should be unusual and unique as most Chinese antiques were hand-made and before highly standardized mass manufacturing. Particularly in the case of furniture, rarely are any two pieces identical. And even though there are exceptions in the case of items made in batches, wear and tear and subtle differences in materials and craftsmanship should still be distinguishable.
If there are large batches available of identical items with no wear and tear, this is generally cause for concern. Even porcelain (which was made in batches) often has signs of usage, discoloration and other variations.
What you need to know #
If you are a collector, have a piece you want to research or are a reseller who wants to deal in antiques, here are the main points you must consider (in contrast to new reproductions which are more predictable and standardized)
KNOWLEDGE: Requires a comprehensive understanding of
- Historical periods
- Regional styles
- Local handcraft construction techniques
- Price points
- Authentication techniques
Useful Resources to help you identify your Chinese antique #
Here are a few different resources that will help you to better understand things like regional styles as well as other useful points to consider.
Blurring The Line Further: How To Tell If Your Chinese “antique Furniture” Is Actually A Genuine Antique? #
With This Chinese Noodle Cabinet-scholar Cabinet, Appearances Can Be Deceiving! #
How To Identify Antique Chinese Furniture Using The 6 Main Schools. Part 1: Suzhou Style #
Its important to note that many items on the market today which are being promoted as antiques are in fact either converted antiques (at best) or outright fakes or copies. #
For dealers, retailers or professional buyer/sellers #
Specifically there are a few other things you must be aware of.
- OPTIONS: If you are business seller you must recognize that as antiques, these are unlike a manufactured recent product. In other words, there are no specific options, only generalized choices following patterns, motifs, periods and styles.
- ORDERING: The purchasing process is generally unsophisticated and inexact as items are one off and items can never be exactly re-ordered. Similar pieces may or may not be able to be located.
- TIME REQUIRED: Because production & finishing techniques vary extensively between workshops during that pieces time period, it is therefore difficult to find exact same piece again. Even finding somewhat similar pieces require time and patience.
- AGE/PRICE: The piece’s age and overall condition is a key consideration in price.
- SUPPLY/PRICING: Supply will constantly decrease over time and consequently price will steadily increase. Pricing can also vary significantly depending on the piece’s age, style, historical significance, condition etc.
- TYPES: You must understand the different types of items ie Antique/Vintage (Under 50 can be considered “Vintage”), Country vs Classical and Restored/unrestored etc
2 Responses
There is no such thing as a 50 year old antique, this is a bunch of BS! Industry standard is 90 years, and should really be at least 100 years! 50 year old pieces are ONLY considered vintage, not antique, PERIOD! So, this is misinformation, not “professional” information, used to manipulate the public into sales for all the wrong reasons! You need to be more far credible that this with your statements please!
Hey there cowboy – how about you slow down a little bit with the language! ; You are reading quite an old post – one that definitely could use an update. In “Chinese terms” (which this post is written from) porcelain is barely an antique even if its 100 years old. Tibetan pieces are easily considered antique if they are over 60-80 years old. And furniture is considered as “old” if its over 50 years – antique if its earlier then the 1920ies. (There really is no term in Chinese for antique except gudong which implies much much much older then a hundred years). No term that I know used to say “vintage” – though I tend to call it 2nd hand. Might also want to pay attention to the red notice at the bottom that says “Its important to note that most items on the market today which are being promoted as antiques are in fact either converted antiques (at best) or outright fakes & copies.”