Saturday, January 5, 2013

Introduction to Chinese Antique Furniture


Chinese antique furniture is a distinct conventional Chinese furnishing that bears oriental design. In contrast to classic Oriental furniture that are designed and built from hard wood, Chinese antique fittings are constructed from softwood and are remarkable illustration of Chinese arts. Just some of the softwoods that are used to create Chinese antique furniture include elm, oak, walnut, camphor, cypress, pine, fir and beech. Based on historians, the history of Chinese household furniture can be traced back to as early as one thousand BC. Chinese antique furniture increased in popularity during the Ming dynasty and is today coming in different designs and builds, for example, chairs, bed, cabinet, stools, doorways, benches, desks, Chinese room divider and tables. But how can you differentiate classic Chinese furniture from antique Oriental furniture? Listed below, are simple methods to identify antique Chinese furniture:



Get in touch with a professional in Chinese antiques in your area. You can find one by visiting your local furniture museum or even neighbouring art store. If there are considerable pieces of antique Chinese furniture items in the museum, chances are that you will find a specialist in Chinese antiques. However, in case the museum has not employed an expert in Chinese antiques, it will be able to direct you to a location where you will find a specialist in Chinese antiques. Nowadays, most museums hold special events ever month where art collectors and antique dealers are invited to seek advice from antique experts for a small amount of money.

Educate yourself on Chinese antique furniture. There are many online resources that you can utilize to acquaint yourself with Chinese antiques furniture. Alternatively, you can visit your local antiques dealer then request him to educate you on a little bit about antique Chinese furniture. Visit your local library and search for books and literature on Chinese antiques. Museums are also good places to learn more about Chinese history, this includes antique furniture.

In case it is your first time to purchase antique Chinese pieces, the information available out there may be overwhelming. As such, you need to concentrate your training on particular forms of Chinese antique house furniture that interest you most, for example, desks, tables, seats or cabinets. Ask as many questions as possible and cultivate an approach of assessing likely antique furniture. Learn to identify particular marks and or features on the furniture you are looking for. Note that, every antique fitting is unique. Consequently, there are features which may indicate to you if the piece is classic or antique. A number of antique Chinese furniture display manufacturers’ signatures. These are often used as icons of authenticity. Then again, just because Chinese furniture bears the manufacturer’s signature does not mean it is authentic. At times, the kind of material utilized in creating the furniture can suggest to you whether it is antique or not.

The differences that exist between Chinese antique furniture to classic Chinese furnishings are slight. Therefore, it is better to invest a little bit of time and money in learning the differences between the two types of furniture so as to ensure a worthwhile investment.