Carol presented a wealth of information about antique Chinese furniture and her philosophy in collecting the pieces she's brought back from China

On July 23rd, 2009, Asian Treasures celebrated the  grand opening of its new expanded space at The Collection.

Touring Asian Treasure's new space at The Collection in Denver

Attendees were spellbound

About 50 clients and friends enjoyed wine and tasty nibbles while browsing the beautiful selection of authentic 18th and 19th century Chinese furniture and accessories. Ten percent of all sales for the week was donated to the Asian Art Association of the Denver Art Museum. Enjoy these photographs and come see for yourself. The Collection is open from 10-6 Monday – Friday and 10-5 on Saturday during the summer.

Carol presented 2 sessions of comments on the pieces at the Collection

Most Tibetan furniture was originally produced by monks and used in monasteries to store religious items. The pieces have a uniquely spiritual quality but are usually of a fairly crude construction. Typically, the furniture is painted using beautiful, colorful and meaningfully symbolic decorations such as flaming pears or eternal knots.

Favorite colors included gold, red and green. Fortunately, Tibetan furniture is increasingly being integrated into many different styles of home décor. While you may not want a room full of it, a piece or two can bring color and interest into any room.

19th century Tibetan chest

The piece of furniture featured here demonstrates the simple form of a typical Tibetan chest. It is painted with vegetable-based paint, which has faded to a lovely patina. The sides of the cabinet are typically left plain because they were viewed as unimportant. The piece opens in the front and, as with most Tibetan pieces, the door openings are hidden within the construction. This piece, with its beautiful floral design, typical coloration and adequate storage space, would make a stunning entryway statement but could also be used in a variety of other settings.

I love Tibetan furniture and unfortunately it is becoming more difficult to find good pieces. If you are interested in this or other Tibetan pieces, please visit The Collection at 899 Broadway in Denver. There are several very special pieces on view.

A Brief Look at Woods Used in Antique Chinese Furniture.

China deforested itself centuries ago. Anyone who has been there can tell you that forests are few and far between. The woods used to make furniture in the 18th and 19th centuries were imported from various other South East Asian countries such as Burma and Thailand. Though the woods used to make Chinese furniture are different from woods used in the West, they are grouped into the same two categories; hardwoods and softwoods.

Furniture made from hardwood is typically expensive and valuable. However, pieces constructed from the various softwoods are gaining recognition and increasing in value. The only furniture made of hardwood that I occasionally have are pieces constructed from blackwood, sometimes referred to as Chinese ebony which was never indigenous to China. Its name is deceptive as it is not always black. Furniture made from blackwood is becoming rare and prices are rapidly increasing because the Chinese themselves are beginning to appreciate it.

Early 19th century juwood spindle book cabinet

Most of the furniture I import is made from various softwoods such as Juwood, Nanwood, Elmwood, Camphor and Bamboo. These names may seem strange but before long, if you see enough furniture, they will become familiar.

Juwood is related to the family known in the West as elm. It was a popular material and used extensively for making furniture. Pieces made of juwood are usually dark brown or black. Namwood, a nice, light, even colored wood, is similar to a large evergreen and grows in Yunan and parts of Sichuan province. It was also commonly used for furniture construction during the 19th century.

19th century namwood altar coffer available at Asian Village in Edwards, CO

Camphor wood was used predominantly for making trunks and chests because the Chinese discovered that it’s odor repels pests, similarly to our cedar. It is pleasant looking but quite soft. Denver’s low-humidity climate creates many problems with camphor pieces cracking and splitting.

Bamboo is a versatile wood, available in a variety of colors, that once grew in many parts of China and was therefore easily available to furniture craftsmen. It was always admired because it is so flexible and can be molded so easily.

19th century bamboo document chest

There are several less important woods, such as one related to western pine, which were available to the Chinese in the 18th and 19th centuries. Most do not have an English name. These materials were used to construct the parts of furniture that were hidden and for many articles of daily use such as baby baths.

*You can find more information about the woods used to craft antique Chinese furniture in the following publications:

Shixiang, Wang. Classic Chinese Furniture; Ming and early Qing Dynasties. 1988, Joint Publishing (H.K.) Co., Ltd. Hong Kong.

Kates, George N. Chinese Household Furniture. 1948. Dover Publications, Inc. New York.

Altar Table

People are always asking me if it is becoming more difficult to find good quality furniture and is my supplier running out of merchandise? The answer is that while it is certainly becoming harder to find the stunning antiques my clients appreciate, they are still available. The prices are steadily rising, mainly because the Chinese themselves have started to appreciate their own furniture. However, China is a big country. The beautiful vernacular furniture I import is still available, though, I admit, I am often unable to find specific items with certainty on every trip. For example, on my last trip, I could only find one baby-minder while a few years ago, I had my choice of six or eight. Barber stools and wedding baskets are also becoming scarce. Nonetheless, I am confident that I will still be able to obtain outstanding pieces of quality furniture for the foreseeable future. Because this furniture holds its value over time, it is a good investment as well as a source of aesthetic pleasure.

Asian Treasures, Denver, Colorado
Carol Goldstein, Ph.D.

Cbgoldstein8@comcast.net
www.Asiantreasuresonline.com