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How do you identify antique Chinese furniture?

1 Answer
How do you identify antique Chinese furniture?
To identify antique Chinese furniture, look carefully at its details. Chinese craftsmen often built furniture using mortise and tenon joinery, eliminating the need for nails and screws. If you see this type of hardware, your piece is likely not at least 100 years old, especially if the hardware still looks new and shiny. Since antique furniture was handmade, you will normally see slight imperfections, such as tool marks or slight variations in carvings. Pieces that appear completely uniform and pristine are less often genuine antiques.

When present, maker's marks can also be helpful. Research the marks to learn more about when the maker was active and producing pieces like yours. Alternatively, you can have a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer evaluate your furniture for you.

Shop an assortment of antique Chinese furniture.
1stDibs ExpertNovember 4, 2024
Shop for Chinese Furniture on 1stDibs
Richard Avedon Immortal Portraits of Aging, 1951–2004
Located in New York, NY
An unflinching exploration of aging from one of the twentieth century’s most influential photographers For more than half a century, Richard Avedon sought to represent advancing age in the faces of the people he photographed. From his earliest years at Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue through to the twenty...
Category

2010s Chinese Books

Materials

Paper

Chinese Famille Rose Butterflies Porcelain Vases
Located in Long Island City, NY
A pair of antique Chinese Famille Rose porcelain vases. Each vase has an urn shaped body with a fluted mouth. The exteriors are brightly enamelled with the Hundred Butterflies patter...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Jumu Square Low Table / Coffee Table with Canned Top
Located in Greenwich, CT
refined ju mu wood square low table with woven cane top, beautiful wood grain, walnut finish
Category

Vintage 1920s Chinese Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

9 x 12 Navy Blue Antique Art Deco Chinese Wool Rug With Classic Design
Located in Norwalk, CT
This antique Chinese Art Deco rug is hand-knotted from high-quality wool and features a deep navy blue background with a tan floral design, elegantly framed by a matching tan border....
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Art Deco Chinese and East Asian Rugs

Materials

Wool

Small round cinnabar box, c. 1950
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Traditional cinnabar covered round box with black lacquered interior. China, Republic period, circa 1950. Dimensions: 3" W x 1-1/4" H
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Decorative Boxes

Materials

Lacquer

Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Blue & White Porcelain Mantel Vase Urn 17"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 19th century Chinese Qing Dynasty baluster shaped vase / jar / urn - made of white Kaolin clay / porcelain with a pale cobalt bluish-green hue, hand painted with a scene of a...
Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Urns

Materials

Porcelain

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