How to develop an eye for old Asian furniture
MANILA, Philippines—“Exotic†denotes something that is not of local origin, or something strikingly different. Exotic wooden furniture will always be hot. Its appeal lies in the fact that people want to own something that distinguishes them from others, or they are drawn to the uncanny allure of foreign wood.
Aesthetics such as deep color tones, special grain patterns and charming surface textures have attracted discriminating customers to this genre of wood.
This is the reason for the enduring popularity of traditional Asian furniture. Chinese furniture enhances the ambience and the value of a space.
Purita “Pachot†Mapa of Old Asia has weathered several economic downturns in the 17 years of her business. To this day, her Asian pieces sell well at Rockwell and Shangri-La Plaza outlets.
Her love affair with Oriental antiques began in the mid-‘80s when her husband, Cornelio, former head of Philippine Matches and a Swedish packaging company, Akerlund & Rausing, was assigned to run a packaging factory in Thailand.
As an expat wife, Mapa kept busy by scouring antique shops. She would also frequent Hollywood Road, the strip in Hong Kong famous for antique collectibles. Whenever she returned to Manila for vacation, she’d bring home her acquisitions and furnish her home.
Friends became fascinated by her Orientalia that they started placing orders. Eventually, she was bringing in antiques in big containers.
Seeing how Mapa bought antique furniture in bulk, the merchants of Hollywood Road introduced her to suppliers in China. Since then, she has been getting her merchandise from factories in Nansha, Guandong and Zhu Hai on the border.
Popular objects are armoires, altar tables, dining tables, day beds, horseshoe chairs, lamps, mirror frames, coromandel and lacquer screens. They can be as old as 200 years old, or they are restored pieces and reproductions using antique woods.
The Rockwell store specializes in Chinese pieces. A visitor can marvel at antiques that could be used in different contexts or settings. An 18th century iron tub, originally used to store sand to put out fire, could be turned into water feature, a planter or a garden accent. Also, 18th century piedra china carved stone bases, which used to support columns, can be used as base of a table, with an addition of glass plinth or wooden slab.
Elm wood armoires, originally used to store beddings, can store audio-visual equipment, or are converted into bars. Old Elm posts with Chinese characters are turned into unusual table lamps.
Old Asia’s early clientele were Mapa’s friends. Recently, the clientele demographic is younger, many of them from the second generation who grew up surrounded by these antiques.
People are always buying for function, hence, the armoires are top sellers. Writing desks and altar tables, which can perk up a corner or serve as buffet table, are also selling briskly.
For decor, big-ticket items such as bronze Buddha from Thailand and the alabaster Buddhas are always in demand. There are also affordable pieces such as huge mirror frames from thick exotic woods and incense stands.
Asked how clients can cultivate a taste for Oriental furniture, Mapa replies, “The client has to be comfortable with you first, if you want to make suggestions. There are no hard and fast rules. You’ve got to know their preferences to see how these pieces fit in their lifestyle.â€
TIPS ON HOW TO BUY GOOD STOCK
Learn more about the woods. Beautiful furniture is appreciated for the grain or the stratification of fibers in a tree that lends the surface appearance.
Grains can be straight, irregular, wavy, curly or interlocked.
Pricey Chinese furniture found on the market are made from hardwood—Walnut, Zitan and Huanghuali.
Walnut is in high demand because of its exceptionally beautiful color, luster and figured grain. The color ranges from brown to deep chocolate that deepens with age.
Huanghuali is a honey-colored hardwood that has a translucent grain. Typical Huanghuali furniture has less decorative elements so that the color and grain come to the fore.
Zitan is a precious, reddish-purple hardwood that features very fine grain. Over time, the color gets darker because of its oxygenation. Under caring hands, the surface gets smoother. Because of its density and graceful aging, Zitan is a status symbol in Chinese tradition.
Old Asia carries a lot of furniture made of Elm, a softwood, which has a tight and refined grain.
Identify the source and origin of the piece. Get the background of the supplier. Check if the antique is certified or that the wood used in a new piece is certified. Antique Chinese furniture do not have nails.
Scrutinize the craftsmanship, hardware and fittings. Chinese furniture is appreciated for its meticulous craftsmanship and joinery. Antiques use thick copper or bronze fittings, making them sturdier.
Know the classification of the pieces. An antique or period piece is usually cleaned up. Some pieces have been stripped down, leaving hints of the original surface and color, providing the piece their own shade.
A salvaged piece is usually an architectural fragment that is converted into another object such as old posts made into lamps. The new pieces use antique wood that are more updated in style, especially in the lines.
Mapa says the beauty of the antique lies in the imperfections, such as the weathered finish which exudes the patina of time.
Taken from http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/