Spring Schedule: Upcoming Antiques Classes & Talks

The specialists guide to Chinese antiques

online at http://www.antique-chinese-furniture.com/blog/

March 20, 2012 8:09 pm

 

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Spring Schedule: Upcoming Antiques Classes & Talks

This spring, Chris Buckley and Roger Schwendeman will continue with their popular antiques classes. These classes will offer both introductory and advanced knowledge and provide some pointers for negotiating the maze/minefield that is the Beijing antique market as well as for finding genuine items of good quality. The first sessions begin this Saturday, March 24th with a furniture related class from Roger (Chinese Furniture – understanding woods and materials).

The full list of classes is pasted below, if you would like to sign up please register online here or click on each individual class listing (below).

About Us:

	Roger Schwendeman is a furniture dealer, restorer, expert and designer. He has been working in furniture markets 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. More information about Roger can found here.
	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. To learn more about Chris Buckley please visit www.toranahouse.com

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Buying classical antiques - a look at whats in the Beijing antique markets at this moment

The specialists guide to Chinese antiques

online at http://www.antique-chinese-furniture.com/blog/

March 13, 2012 10:06 am

 

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Buying classical antiques - a look at whats in the Beijing antique markets at this moment

The  Chinese new year has passed and the weather is warming! The peasants sellers from the countryside are gradually returning and bringing with them, the years new shipments of Chinese classical and provincial antiques collected from their home towns and villages.  Some interesting things!

As always though, the field narrows and there are general trends to be aware of this year:

• Each year it gets harder and harder to find good pieces. If you didn’t buy what you wanted last year, its probably gone this year.
• Prices are rising as supply diminishes and mainland Chinese begin to purchase and appreciate their own culture as well.
• Its difficult to find original paintings anymore. Most have been repainted or retouched.
• As always, the older, more original, rarer or better quality wood, the more expensive it is!

Here are some of the items for sale which catch my eye in the antique markets at the particular moment.  For a look at the complete collection of click here to enter our image gallery (1) or here to enter the 2nd gallery.

This cedar wood painting table is a nice find. Once used for calligraphy and scroll painting, today it will likely become a console in someones home.	Though technically a softwood, its is often treated as a hardwood and as the Chinese have peaked their interest in cedar wood (known in Chinese as nan mu 楠木) prices have risen significantly. Cedar has become one of the more valued of the varies woods used in Chinese furniture.
Embossed leather trunks were cheaper and easier to find ten years ago. Now finding ones in good condition are difficult, particularly one like this. Most are damaged to the point where repair is not worth it. Good luck finding another like this!	This particular wedding trunk from Shanghai would originally have been a brighter color. Over the years exposure to sunlight and the elements have caused the lacquer to gradually turn a deep burgundy color. The dragons, butterflies and double happiness symbols give clues as to its use as a dowry gift to a newly wed couple.
Often referred to by foreigners as a “wedding cabinets,” the symbolism and black colors on this early to mid Qing dynasty armoire from Pingyao tell us otherwise. Rare to find ones of this age and in this condition.	Shanxi, Pingyao, the last walled city in China has its own unique history concerning lacquer, going back well over 1200 years to the tang dynasty. Painstaking and time consuming lacquering techniques such as “push-light lacquer (推光漆器) and “Da Qi (大漆) produce the superior smooth glossy finishes and bright colors that are often seen on Shanxi furniture.
Several hundred years have taken its toll on this table and its feet are long gone. Nevertheless this is a rare find for the antique connoisseur.	Its rare to find any easily available furniture in China these days that dates back to the Ming Dynasty, yet this table is likely to be just that; a late Ming dynasty console table.
Known in Chinese as a "work table" (工桌) a vendor would have stood behind or beside it. They are often found in places like Gansu and Mongolia. The colors and motifs on this one point less to Mongolia and more to Gansu.	Normally constructed from pine or poplar wood, the painting on this table is original and has not been painted recently. However, age is another issue and would require closer inspection to determine.

For a look at the complete collection of click here to enter our first gallery or here to enter the 2nd gallery.

Click here to continue on to our site and read the rest of this article…

Related Reading:

Many children do not use appropriate car seat restraints.(Clinical Rounds): An article from: Pediatric News

Chinese Household Furniture (History of Styles, Woods Used, Craftsmanship, Principles of Design, Furniture Arrangements and Specific Forms)

Chinese Provincial Furniture: Selections from the Late Qing Dynasty (Schiffer Book for Collectors)

 

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Private Collection sale: huanghuali, Han dynasty & Ming dynasty pottery

The specialists guide to Chinese antiques

online at http://www.antique-chinese-furniture.com/blog/

February 8, 2012 9:19 am

 

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Private Collection sale: huanghuali, Han dynasty & Ming dynasty pottery

The following Chinese antiques are for sale from a private collection.

All items were purchased during the 1990′ies from well know antique deals specializing in Asian arts and antiquities. As the original owner has passed on, the family would like to sell them. All are in excellent condition. The images below are a small sample. For the complete collection including larger, detailed images with dimensions please click here into our image gallery.  For prices please inquire below or email roger (at)  antique-chinese-furniture.com

Robed male and female Ming Dynasty tomb attendants with green glaze and red pigments	2 tiered "Huang hua li" hardwood "tihe" picnic box
Pair of Ming dynasty green glazed heavenly horses	Pair of Han dynasty painted court lady heads on acrylic stands

Complete collection of images can be found here:

http://www.antique-chinese-furniture.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=353

Click here to continue on to our site and read the rest of this article…

Related Reading:

Painting Porcelain in the Meissen Style (Schiffer Craft Book)

Hong Kong (City Guide)

The Complete Potter: Porcelain

 

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The specialists guide to Chinese antiques

January 14, 2012 8:53 am

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Join our Chinese antiques discussion group on facebook!

Connect with like minds!
Learn and Appreciate. Share knowledge.

Join us on facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/groups/Chineseantiquefurniture/

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The specialists guide to Chinese antiques

September 19, 2011 6:56 am

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New Course: learn about collecting Chinese antiques, ceramics, Tibetan art, textiles and chinese furniture.

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 email us. Please let us know your email address, number attending and a mobile phone # in case of last minute changes to arrangements, especially for field trips – thanks!

 

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

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.

 

Session	Date	Time	Location
01	Friday Sept. 23, 2011	10:30 AM – 12 – 12:30 PM	Gaobeidian
02 (repeat)	Saturday Sept. 24, 2011	10:30 AM – 12 – 12:30 PM	Gaobeidian

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.

 

Session	Date	Time	Location
Field Trip	Sunday 25 Sept 2011	10 AM	downtown Beijing (location to be advised)

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)

Click here to continue on to our site and read the rest of this article…

Related Books:

Hurray for Today!: All About Holidays (Cat in the Hat's Learning Library)

Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

The Lantern Festival (Ni Hao, Kai-lan) (Deluxe Paint Box Book)

The specialists guide to Chinese antiques

September 4, 2011 7:03 am

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Traditional chinese houses - from the countryside into the city (with million dollar profits too)

Old houses in China's countryside are being dismantled and reassembled for the nation's new rich.

Very interesting article in the China daily talking about the resale market for Ming and Qing dynasty Chinese traditional homes which are disassembled, transported, repaired and then resold to restaurants, clubs or wealthy collectors.  Now this is an interesting topic which I could easily get lost in as it just touches on so many interesting elements from Hui Zhou architecture to Chinese antique restorations to wooden architectural carvings.

The article  is basically a slimmed down version of another Chinese language article floating around the net. Its not a bad article, though it leaves out some of the more interesting details like such as how the industry works.

For example, the middlemen buyers tend to be divided up amongst two categories: those with ample capital and those who as essentially un-financed. Essentially those who are “un-financed” will buy the house and resell it right away to recoup their investment at a 20 to 30% profit margin. “Financed sellers” are those who have enough spare capital to buy the house, undertake all the repair and restoration work and then resell it in restored form at a 40 to 50 % profit.

Click here to continue on to our site and read the rest of this article…

Related Books:

Flower Garden

The Encyclopedia of Animals: A Complete Visual Guide

Celtic Symbols: 18 Rubber Stamps

The specialists guide to Chinese antiques

July 17, 2011 1:11 am

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Beautiful colors still remain on this brightly painted fo kan family shrine from Gansu used for ancestor worship

 

Been quite busy recently spreading time between Beijing, Guangdong and Hong Kong and thus have been a bit slow with blog updates.  Which is all the more reason why I enjoyed some free time hunting around of the back alleys of the antiques world with James from UK based Shimu Chinese Furniture (who by the way also a fan of Shanxi painted furniture and has a very nicely developing blog on Chinese antiques here worth a look).  Of course the “finds” are different each time and this particular visit turned up this amazing family Shrine from Gansu in western China.

Known as  ”fó kān” (佛龛) in Chinese (or sometime fo gui 佛柜), these are shrines of worship – essentially a family temple. In ancient times, Fo Kan were dug from rock much like niches or grottos as can still be seen today in many buddhist heritage sites.  Later stone, wood and other materials were used. Eventually Fo Kan evolved and began taking on architectural characteristics, modeling houses, official buildings and even palaces. In many ways they are very particular to each region, more so like architecture then furniture. This particular one is quite impressive and its owner would likely have had some level of material wealth judging by it size and grandeur.

Click here to continue on to our site and read the rest of this article…

Related Books:

Le théâtre indien (French Edition)

Succession De M. Bayer - Catalogue Des Tableaux Anciens Et Modernes - Pastels - Aquarelle - Objets D'Art & D'Ameublement - Anciennes Porcelaines De Chines [&...] Dont La Vente Par Suite Du Deces De M. Bayer Aura Lieu à Paris, Hotel Drouot- 26-27 Juin 1905

Voyage en Inde, 1754-1762: Relation de voyage en preliminaire a la traduction du Zend-Avesta (Collection Peregrinations asiatiques) (French Edition)