The ACF China Co - Millstone Trading

17 August 2006

Types of Chinese Furniture

Posted by Roger under: Moved! To the new blog! .

MOVED! 

ANTIQUE
Antique pieces are aged and usually must meet a minimum age before being considered an antique -
generally 50 years or more. Should possess some degree of wear/tear due to time/age and use. Each
piece is unusual and unique.

1. KNOWLEDGE: Requires a comprehensive historical understanding of periods, regions, and
   styles as well local handcraft construction techniques, price points, authentication techniques
   etc.
2. OPTIONS: There are no options, only generalized choices following patterns, motifs, periods
   and styles. The piece’s age and overall condition is a key consideration.
3. ORDERING: The purchasing (not ordering) ordering process is generally unsophisticated and
   inexact. Items cannot be exactly re-ordered. Similar pieces may or may not be able to be
   located. Requires time. Because production & finishing techniques varied exensively from
   factory to factory during that time period, it is therefore difficult to find exact same piece again.
4. SUPPLY/PRICING: Supply will constantly decrease over time and consequently price will
   steadily increase. Pricing can also vary significantly depending on the piece’s age, style,
   historical significance, condition etc.
5. TYPES: Antique/Vintage (Under 50 can be considered “Vintage”), Country vs Classical and
   Restored/unrestored.

CONVERTED
Converted items are both antique & reproduction at the same time. Because of this the materials
and/or construction should possess a very slight degree of wear/tear due to age/use. The main overall
design of a converted piece may remain the same or similr but heavy modifications are made including
structural, finishes etc

1. KNOWLEDGE: Basic an understanding of periods, regions, and styles as well local handcraft
   construction techniques.
2. OPTIONS: Converted pieces are opportunistic in nature based on available, original core
   pieces and the buyer generally has little to no choice over its design.
3. ORDERING: The purchasing (not ordering) ordering process is generally unsophisticated and
   inexact. Items cannot be exactly re-ordered but similar pieces may be able to be located.
4. SUPPLY/PRICING: As supply will slowly decrease over time and consequently price will rise
   as haphazard conversions (as opposed to full restorations) will become a less useful/common
   occurrence. Conversions are sometimes is cheaper then “new,” since there is no purchase of
   new raw materials.

FAKE/REPLICATION
New, handcrafted pieces using natural materials (May use older or aged materials). Produced in a
workshop or “cottage industry” environment and based on actual antiques with extra effort put into
each piece for it to be made to look unique. Like antiques items can be very similar though no two will
be exactly alike. Pieces will possess little to no real wear/tear except “faked” wear/tear

1. KNOWLEDGE: Requires a basic historical understanding of periods, regions, and styles as
   well local handcraft construction techniques.
2. OPTIONS: Very similar to antiques in that there are no options, only generalized choices
   following patterns, motifs, periods and styles.
3. ORDERING: Pieces are often created in villages (cottage industry) and purchasing (not
   ordering) is typically through a middleman (distributor) often from the same town/village/area.
4. SUPPLY/PRICING: Available in larger quantities then antiques and supply can remain
   constant as long as the regional techniques are passed on and continued. Price can remain
   semi-constant is usually negotiated on a per piece basis in limited quantities.

CUSTOM
Custom items are “one of a kind” items built to spec in limited, often one off quantities. Custom items
sometimes may be used as a template to make more - thus known as a SAMPLE or PROTOTYPE.

1. KNOWLEDGE: Requires extensive understanding of design, testing, materials, quality,
   construction techniques and factories
2. OPTIONS: Options are extremely flexible which both complicates the process significantly and
   simultaneously is the core advantage.
3. ORDERING: A standardized but time consuming process requiring careful selection and
   evaluation of materials, and construction/finishing techniques. A research and design phase is
   usually necessary and quoting must occur before ordering.
4. SUPPLY/PRICING: Cost is often high due to limited or limited or no economies of scale/reuse
   potential, indirect costs and the additional required attention to the product.
5. TYPES: Samples, a part of the research and design process and may be used as a template
   for additional items. Also, “custom” which is a single one off item.

MANUFACTURED
New items characterized by standardization of materials, construction, specifications, process and
assembly. Manufactured items usually use modern construction techniques & materials as well as
complex machinery in a normal production line environment an as a result parts are
interchangeable/replaceable

1. KNOWLEDGE: No special knowledge required to purchase, other then of common styles and
   an ability to recognize quality in regards to price..
2. OPTIONS: Set options according to manufacturers pre-set colors, sizes or feature sets.
   Usually follows pre-set product lines.
3. ORDERING: There are usually significant minimum quantities requirements, and the ordering
   process is very standard, sophisticated and business like. Items can be re-ordered within
   exact specifications.
4. SUPPLY/PRICING: Pricing is typically stable and organized according to
   a structured price list based on quantities and chosen options. Supply is limited only by market
   conditions such as raw materials cost and production capacity
5. TYPES: Highly technical/Non-technical and Sample (see custom)

REPRODUCTION
New items which employ natural materials and handcrafted construction techniques often in use for
many generations. Generally occurs in a workshop environment with mostly hand tools and limited use
of modern machinery. Designs are based on traditional deigns modified slightly according to the times.
Items can be very similar but no two are exactly alike as a result of the hand-crafting processError!
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1. KNOWLEDGE: Basic understanding of periods, regions, and styles as well local handcraft
   construction techniques. Ability to recognize quality in regards to price.
2. OPTIONS: Typically only colors and finishes can be controlled. Choice and selection of
   materials is limited.
3. ORDERING: There are usually no or fairly low minimum quantities, though the ordering
   process is generally unsophisticated and inexact. Items can be re-ordered but because
   production & finishing techniques are non-standardized, the resulting product will ary from
   factory to factory.
4. SUPPLY/PRICING: Pricing is often based on limited quantities of semi unique items as most
   factories are unable to produce in regular larger quantities. Supply is limited only by market
   conditions, available materials and each workshops factory capacity.
5. TYPES: Converted, which uses salvaged old components such as an old cabinet which is then
   converted into a new item. Is sometimes cheaper then new since there is no purchase of new
   raw materials, though this may change over time. If using salvaged componnts overall sizes
   and shapes of the final product may vary to some extent. New, which uses completely raw
   materials as opposed to salvaged components.

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Related posts:

1. Low Cost vs. Low Quality?
2. Hand carved Vs. CNC woodworking
3. Ningbo/Shanghai Factories
4. Buying unrestored: Custom antique restorations means usability
5. China feels pressures on pricing

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