Oriental furniture refers to the furniture that features style and design that originated from a wide range of countries and cultures from the Asian region including China, Japan, Korea and Thailand. Although the basic designs that emanated from these countries are somewhat the same, each has distinctive elements and a unique style of their own. Many people are passionate about collecting oriental furniture either because it is their hobby or they are emotionally attached to that era or geographical area.
Antique Oriental Furniture
Generally oriental furniture features unique designs and construction techniques including lacquering to provide a smooth and shiny finish and chinoiserie which represents incredible and imaginative motifs and designs.
Oriental furniture from South Asia is an emerging trend in interior design and home decor.People love collecting oriental furniture as the beauty and intricacy of designs not only appeals to them but also it adds a richness and a sense of aesthetic appeal to their homes.
There are many antique furniture dealers that specialise in oriental furniture. Oriental furniture is considered to be very collectable these days. The most popular types of antique oriental furniture being collected are Chinese and Japanese pieces.
Chinese furniture is typically fabricated from uncarved bamboo or wood with a heavy lacquer used to create various unique styles. Japanese furniture is identified by its extensive use of wood to implement elaborate, decorative work and intricate craftsmanship.
Apart from specialist dealers, the internet is also a reliable source to buy and collect even the most rare of oriental furniture pieces.
Collecting oriental furniture is considered by many to be a worthwhile investment. However in order to know whether the piece you are buying is worth the price being asked, it is advisable to develop some knowledge in this specialist field before buying for investment purposes. Many people develop their initial experience by acquiring antique oriental furniture for their own pleasure before moving on to acquiring for investment return.
Great information here! I just wanted to add that with globalization, Southeast Asian furniture such as Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Javanese, and Balinese furniture, is now becoming recognized and appreciated. Other Oriental furniture from South Asia and India are becoming a popular trend in interior decorating. A subset of this south Asian furniture is the colonial furniture made for the British during their rule in Asia, which includes furniture mostly from India and Burma (now already antique) and their reproductions. And now, Tibetan furniture is coming into vogue, appreciated for its bright colors and whimsical styling.
Japanese or Oriental furniture refers to furniture in styles that originated on the Asia continent. Sometimes, people also think of oriental furniture as a style of furniture that has Asian accents. Good information and history here
I love the Japanese furniture that is made of bamboo, and is the kind that is usually red in color, with Asian characters or symbols. I am a collector of Japanese furniture and have been collecting for decades.
Interestingly, Japanese (or Oriental) furniture construction style, although historically rooted in pieces made from bamboo, later saw many pieces made from hardwood with patterning to imitate the look of bamboo, or simply in the style of previous pieces made from bamboo. Oriental furniture is usually popular (in my opinion) because of its beautiful styling and solid construction.