Book Description
A new kind of antique Chinese furniture swept onto the market in the early 1990s. It appealed to people who were sure they did not like Chinese furniture, people who were ready for new ideas about Orientalia, and people who couldn't afford the five- and six-figure prices routinely attached to classical Chinese pieces. This new variety has struck a surprisingly sympathetic chord with Western tastes, and the prices are still surprisingly low. It comes from 18th and 19th century China, the last days of the emperors, and expresses a sense of creative freedom, vigor, and visual elegance. Here are cabinets, tables, chairs, and accessories in various woods and finishes to enhance each room of your home. This book offers the first comprehensive and compelling look at Chinese country furniture from the consumer's point of view. 380 color images, some in room settings, others with great detail, bring the beautiful designs to life. A guide to pricing makes this a useful tool for collectors and dealers alike. Because of a changing political and economic landscape in China, this late-Ching furniture has flooded Western markets, giving retail customers equal footing with collectors and keeping prices reasonable, for now. Because the quality covers a wide range, it takes an informed buyer to navigate between the real and the not-quite-so-real. The information in this beautiful book will give the reader the bearings they need to make the right decisions.

About the Author
Andrea and Lynde McCormick of Boston, Massachusetts travel to China several times a year to purchase antique furniture and accessories which they sell from their website, their showroom in Boston's Back Bay, and at the finest antique shows on the East Coast.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A new kind of antique Chinese furniture swept onto the market in the early 1990s. It appealed to people who were sure they did not like Chinese furniture, people who were ready for new ideas about Orientalia, and people who couldn￯﾿ﾽt afford the five- and six-figure prices routinely attached to classical Chinese pieces. This new variety has struck a surprisingly sympathetic chord with Western tastes, and the prices are still surprisingly low. It comes from 18th and 19th century China, the last days of the emperors, and expresses a sense of creative freedom, vigor, and visual elegance. Here are cabinets, tables, chairs, and accessories in various woods and finishes to enhance each room of your home. This book offers the first comprehensive and compelling look at this Chinese country furniture from the consumer￯﾿ﾽs point of view. 380 color images, some in room settings, others with great detail, bring the beautiful designs to life. A guide to pricing makes this a useful tool for collectors and dealers alike. Because of a changing political and economic landscape in China, this late-Ching furniture has flooded Western markets, giving retail customers equal footing with collectors and keeping prices reasonable, for now. Because the quality covers a wide range, it takes an informed buyer to navigate between the real and the not-quite-so-real. The information in this beautiful book will give the reader the bearings they need to make the right decisions.

FROM THE CRITICS

Booknews

Offers a compelling look at a variety of antique furniture that emerged from the days of the last emperors of 18th and 19th century China, and expresses a sense of creative freedom, vigor, and visual elegance not normally associated with these items. Hundreds of color images of the furniture and accessories, some shown in room settings, and some with great detail, bring the beautiful designs to life. The McCormicks, who travel to China several times a year to buy furniture and accessories, also provide a guide to prices one can expect to pay and help buyers navigate betwen the real and the not-quite-so-real. Also included is a chapter on decorating with Chinese antiques. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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