How to Tell an Antique Chinese Desk From a Reproduction
Buyers of antique furniture must be on guard against cleverly disguised reproduction pieces sold at antique prices. This is especially true when shopping for antique furniture purportedly from foreign lands and when these pieces are sold online. While there are many legitimate dealers for true Chinese antique desks and other furnishings, many of these companies also "specialize" in "authentic reproductions". Use your common sense and these investigative tools when shopping for antique furniture from these kinds of dealerships.
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Instructions
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Examining Desk In Person
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Examine the desk very carefully. Look for any indications that the piece was manufactured with power tools or with methods more suitable for periods before 1910. Anything made after 1910 is not an "Antique." It may be a Vintage piece (younger than 100 years) or a Collectible (special interest), however. Look for any joints or wood cuts that are modern in manufacturing method. Furniture made in China before 1910 was, more often than not, entirely hand made so there will be slight variations in the joints. If all joints and all cuts are completely consistent, that's the mark of a machine-made piece.
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Inspect the piece in terms of the type of wood used. An antique Chinese desk is not made of American or European woods (like walnut). A Chinese desk would most likely be made of elm or camphor wood. If the piece is painted, look under surfaces that are painted or inside the drawers to inspect the bare wood.
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Examine the paint job on any decorative artwork on the piece. It was common for Chinese desks to feature elaborately painted scenes on the drawer fronts in particular. Use a magnifying glass to make sure the decorations are hand painted and not decals. Look at the designs and ask yourself if the flowers or scenes look "Chinese," or "Western." An example would be if you see roses painted on the desk. Roses are not a Chinese flower motif; chrysanthemums are.
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Assess the finish of the desk by looking at it closely, and even smelling it. Chinese antique furniture usually features a very thick, glossy or matte clear coat finish that was made from animal hides and other organic products. You can smell the difference between antique and modern finishing products. Modern materials smell like petroleum products. If the piece is truly antique in age, this finish would also be yellowed. Any white paint under the finish would appear yellow. Any green paint would appear to be slightly olive in color. If the colors seem "too new," they probably are.
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Discount a "beat up" condition as a sign of authenticity. It is easy for reproductionists to distress new furniture to make it look old. But do examine the inside of any desk drawers. The wood on a 100-year-old desk should be very dry to the touch, almost brittle feeling.
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Look at any hardware on the desk. If you see any Phillips head metal screws, the piece is a clever reproduction since Phillips head screws did not come into vogue in furniture making (even in America) until the 1950s. Small brass flat-head screws will be rare on an antique Chinese desk too. Hand-hewn mortise-and-tenon joints will be more prevalent.
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Ask the seller about the history of the piece after you've inspected it and formed a preliminary conclusion. The seller should be able to identify the Period that the piece came from, such as Shanxi period (a Vintage, not Antique period). Listen carefully for "explanations" that you know aren't valid because of your close examination of the piece. If they say they have no knowledge about the piece whatsoever, go with your intuition and don't pay antique prices for this desk.
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Offer the seller a price at the end of this process that is 50% less than the price he is asking for if you are very suspicious and still want to buy. Tell the seller "No offense--I'll take it because I like the look, but I doubt it's a real antique." If the seller is willing to part with the piece at half price, your intuition was right.
Desks for Sale Online
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Contact the seller by phone or email and ask for detailed photographs and a history of the piece. Or ask for a written guarantee of authenticity.
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Ask a pop question: "Can I order two of these?" If the seller instantly says "Yes," the piece is most likely a reproduction. Few dealers have more than one of an item laying around if it is a true antique.
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Haggle for a lower price, if you are suspicious, and purchase the desk using a credit card that offers a money back guarantee, not a money order. You can get a refund from your credit card if it turns out the piece is a mere reproduction. You will have no recourse if you pay by cash in the form of a money order.
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Tips & Warnings
Everyone who buys antiques gets "burned" at some time or another. The key is to never pay a high price for a piece you suspect is a fake or a reproduction. Offer to pay what you would pay for the appearance of the item, regardless of its age or value.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit desk handle image by Joann Cooper from Fotolia.com
