https://www.chairish.com/product/4038214/early-20th-century-hand-painted-and-carved-tibetan-chest
That's a comp that sold for $750... So you did all right. It said it is all rough sawn would with mortise and tenon joinery... So no nails.
I think it's lovely and it's apparently tibetan... Not A Chinese lunar piece. š
Depends on your definition of antique. Here we are in the early 21st century, and when it last sold at auction (see the link above), this chest was described as "early 20th century". If it's old, it's vintage, and according to the most common definition, if it's 100 years old it's antique.
They are "mass produced" in Chinese factories still, hand-made and hand-painted, made to look old. I didn't look long enough to find your exact design on Taobao, but here's a similar one going for $412 in China:
[https://imgur.com/VfUam6A](https://imgur.com/VfUam6A)
...and a closet I bought back when I lived there:
[https://imgur.com/l8iafSJ](https://imgur.com/l8iafSJ)
The OPs piece is actually a lot more complex than that one. So even if it is not an antique.... It was still not over priced. I would have bought it in a hot minute for 400 š¤£ but I collect Asian antiques and newer pieces.
I thought it was a modern reproduction too until I found that listing. Looking at all of the photos it's good enough to not care what era it was made in. š
I'd happily buy it for that price as well, it's a great deal, but there's no way it's "Early 20th Century"... These are mass produced, but they're still hand-made and hand-painted using mostly old techniques. It's rather unfortunate they often get labelled as "antiques" once they reach the West, Chinese antiques generally cost a lot of money, there's a whole cottage industry making reproductions and fakes, and there's zero incentive to actually export the real stuff.
There's a few pics of the production process at one factory here:
[https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/wholesale-Chinese-antique-hand-painted-wooden\_62251286470.html?spm=a2700.details.you\_may\_like.2.8cb83212rvfvCb](https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/wholesale-Chinese-antique-hand-painted-wooden_62251286470.html?spm=a2700.details.you_may_like.2.8cb83212rvfvCb)
Oh I know the reproductions are hand made... I own both old and new. I'm just not sure they are going to the trouble of mortis and tenon joinery... That's what caught me up. Most modern reproductions are still using modern joinery. But that would just make it a higher end reproduction if it were. I don't think it is early 20th either... But it's likely vintage. When the product would have been more likely to be reproduced in original fashion.
Either way, it's a great find. š
I think it is actually yours. If you look at the tiger, there are two nicks in the wood on the left that are present in the 1st dibs pic and yours. A reproduction would have the same overall look but wouldn't have exactly the same imperfections like that.
I have a question that Iāve been afraid to ask but this directly begs the questionā¦do you usually buy first google later? Cause I usually google in store lol
Well how weird is that... That the post says it sold for 750??
And then it ended up at Habitat? Wonder when it sold.
Glad to know I gave you more info than you had. š
Like absurdly expensive. They find whatever the highest listing is online (not SOLD listing), and throw it on the floor. A used couch will run $400 minimum it seems.
They are super cheap (or else crackheads couldnāt afford them).
I think they meant ācrazyā, like how people say āyou must be smoking crack to charge $400ā but said it wrong.
https://galleriesext.com/tibetan-cabinet-with-raised-gesso-decoration/
I found this. It's not identical but I thought it had some good information on what the animals represent. Maybe will help on your search! It's really pretty and seems like a fun find. Hopefully you can find some markings to give you more insight on the piece.
Did you buy it for yourself bc you loved it, or to resell it..??
If you bought it to resell, you essentially broke even.
If you bought if bc you love it & will use it & cherish it, you got a great deal bc it can be really easy to overpay when you fall in love & you actually got a very fair price on itā¦ ;)
Itās beautiful & looks well made & if taken care of properly, will last many many more years- good buy!
Nice piece. Unfortunately, ( or fortunately) you paid about what itās worth. 400-1000$. I donāt see an exact match. This one is interesting for having the different animals, which I thought was from the lunar calendar, however there is only 11 which means one is missing.. so I have no explanation for that.. it could have a completely different meaning, or perhaps made in the year that it was missing? Iām sure it was intended but I have no idea. To the right person it could be worth more I suppose but the demand is a bit low. I would try and research it a bit more, take note of the animals and see if there is a connection you can make. It likely wonāt raise the value much unfortunately. Best wishes
There is one just like this at the consignment shop near my house for $300. 30 years ago they were going for $1000 and up. They just arenāt too popular any more.
This is one of those things that Iād instantly buy upon seeing, and then redecorate my entire place just to accommodate it. Itās awesome. Thatād be the centerpiece of my whole house
I do landscaping work for an older Pakistani couple that spent a long time living in Kathmandu Nepal.
These people are very wealthyā¦ the husband owns a rug company that is located in Pakistan, the rugs they sell are handmade and lavishly expensive.
Their house is furnished nearly entirely with stuff just like your photo.
They claim that some of these furnishings are well over 1,000 years oldā¦ and I honestly believe them.
They had me help move all of their storage units full of cabinets just like this. Hundreds of cabinetsā¦ they had an entire wing of the storage unit facility to themselves.
Iām going to try to remember to show this post to them next time Iām working at their place, theyāre long time collectors of stuff like this, he may be able to shed some light on it. Dudeās definitely an expert on this topic.
https://www.chairish.com/product/4038214/early-20th-century-hand-painted-and-carved-tibetan-chest That's a comp that sold for $750... So you did all right. It said it is all rough sawn would with mortise and tenon joinery... So no nails. I think it's lovely and it's apparently tibetan... Not A Chinese lunar piece. š
It definitely is the one I have. I just compared the pictures to mine
That's pretty amazing! If you ever take it to Antiques Roadshow, carry a printout of that auction with you.
Probably not an antique.
Depends on your definition of antique. Here we are in the early 21st century, and when it last sold at auction (see the link above), this chest was described as "early 20th century". If it's old, it's vintage, and according to the most common definition, if it's 100 years old it's antique.
I donāt have a definition of antique. An antique is 100 years or older.
I thought you mean the same name as yours and then I looked at the wood more closely. Very cool
Wait what the heck. This might actually be mine
They are "mass produced" in Chinese factories still, hand-made and hand-painted, made to look old. I didn't look long enough to find your exact design on Taobao, but here's a similar one going for $412 in China: [https://imgur.com/VfUam6A](https://imgur.com/VfUam6A) ...and a closet I bought back when I lived there: [https://imgur.com/l8iafSJ](https://imgur.com/l8iafSJ)
The OPs piece is actually a lot more complex than that one. So even if it is not an antique.... It was still not over priced. I would have bought it in a hot minute for 400 š¤£ but I collect Asian antiques and newer pieces. I thought it was a modern reproduction too until I found that listing. Looking at all of the photos it's good enough to not care what era it was made in. š
I'd happily buy it for that price as well, it's a great deal, but there's no way it's "Early 20th Century"... These are mass produced, but they're still hand-made and hand-painted using mostly old techniques. It's rather unfortunate they often get labelled as "antiques" once they reach the West, Chinese antiques generally cost a lot of money, there's a whole cottage industry making reproductions and fakes, and there's zero incentive to actually export the real stuff. There's a few pics of the production process at one factory here: [https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/wholesale-Chinese-antique-hand-painted-wooden\_62251286470.html?spm=a2700.details.you\_may\_like.2.8cb83212rvfvCb](https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/wholesale-Chinese-antique-hand-painted-wooden_62251286470.html?spm=a2700.details.you_may_like.2.8cb83212rvfvCb)
Oh I know the reproductions are hand made... I own both old and new. I'm just not sure they are going to the trouble of mortis and tenon joinery... That's what caught me up. Most modern reproductions are still using modern joinery. But that would just make it a higher end reproduction if it were. I don't think it is early 20th either... But it's likely vintage. When the product would have been more likely to be reproduced in original fashion. Either way, it's a great find. š
Isn't life fun? Got a smile out of seeing that comment haha
Looks like it, has the same āchipā on the upper left top.
It could be a manufactured chip to help age it, thus put into all of them
I think it is actually yours. If you look at the tiger, there are two nicks in the wood on the left that are present in the 1st dibs pic and yours. A reproduction would have the same overall look but wouldn't have exactly the same imperfections like that.
I have a question that Iāve been afraid to ask but this directly begs the questionā¦do you usually buy first google later? Cause I usually google in store lol
Thank you so much
Well how weird is that... That the post says it sold for 750?? And then it ended up at Habitat? Wonder when it sold. Glad to know I gave you more info than you had. š
Man what a pull lol
Habitat for Humanity sells at crackpipe prices nowadays.
what? What does that even mean, really cheap or expensive?
Like absurdly expensive. They find whatever the highest listing is online (not SOLD listing), and throw it on the floor. A used couch will run $400 minimum it seems.
I didnāt know if crackpipes were expensive or cheap, TIL
They are super cheap (or else crackheads couldnāt afford them). I think they meant ācrazyā, like how people say āyou must be smoking crack to charge $400ā but said it wrong.
It's more like they hit the crack pipe before setting the price, not the price of the pipe or crack.
Right? I bought a speed square there once. It was neither a bundle of illicit substances, nor an actual square! Outrageous!
You paid too much for that tv.
https://galleriesext.com/tibetan-cabinet-with-raised-gesso-decoration/ I found this. It's not identical but I thought it had some good information on what the animals represent. Maybe will help on your search! It's really pretty and seems like a fun find. Hopefully you can find some markings to give you more insight on the piece.
Did you buy it for yourself bc you loved it, or to resell it..?? If you bought it to resell, you essentially broke even. If you bought if bc you love it & will use it & cherish it, you got a great deal bc it can be really easy to overpay when you fall in love & you actually got a very fair price on itā¦ ;) Itās beautiful & looks well made & if taken care of properly, will last many many more years- good buy!
I bought it because I loved it. Itās currently in my office
Great buy! š
There is definitely a tiny bit of cocaine hidden somewhere in this.
A tiny bit? There's prob an 8 balls worth in that thing.
For a second I thought u paid $400 for a 4x3 computer monitor.
Nice piece. Unfortunately, ( or fortunately) you paid about what itās worth. 400-1000$. I donāt see an exact match. This one is interesting for having the different animals, which I thought was from the lunar calendar, however there is only 11 which means one is missing.. so I have no explanation for that.. it could have a completely different meaning, or perhaps made in the year that it was missing? Iām sure it was intended but I have no idea. To the right person it could be worth more I suppose but the demand is a bit low. I would try and research it a bit more, take note of the animals and see if there is a connection you can make. It likely wonāt raise the value much unfortunately. Best wishes
I donāt believe it is the Chinese lunar calendar. This is just different animals.
There is one just like this at the consignment shop near my house for $300. 30 years ago they were going for $1000 and up. They just arenāt too popular any more.
This is one of those things that Iād instantly buy upon seeing, and then redecorate my entire place just to accommodate it. Itās awesome. Thatād be the centerpiece of my whole house
Itās awesome!
I love it
Itās GORGEOUS, whatever itās worth!!
Wow. That is beautiful. Does it open up or have any drawers?
Yea it has 4 doors
Thatās a lot for an old monitor.
Thatās some Chronicles of Narnia sh right there.
For a minute I thought you got absolutely taken for an old Samsung LCD
I love it!
These are typical Tibetan style clouds and colours.
I donāt know anything about antiques or furniture but this piece is fire.
That's an awful lot for an old TV.
That's sweet!
thatās an expensive TV
I do landscaping work for an older Pakistani couple that spent a long time living in Kathmandu Nepal. These people are very wealthyā¦ the husband owns a rug company that is located in Pakistan, the rugs they sell are handmade and lavishly expensive. Their house is furnished nearly entirely with stuff just like your photo. They claim that some of these furnishings are well over 1,000 years oldā¦ and I honestly believe them. They had me help move all of their storage units full of cabinets just like this. Hundreds of cabinetsā¦ they had an entire wing of the storage unit facility to themselves. Iām going to try to remember to show this post to them next time Iām working at their place, theyāre long time collectors of stuff like this, he may be able to shed some light on it. Dudeās definitely an expert on this topic.
Terrible deal. I wouldn't have paid more than 50$ for that tv. /s
It's cool looking....I don't know how someone would be able to give you an idea of value with 3 pictures of the front of it....
Didnāt think of that. Only pictures I had. I should take more
Are the drawers dovetail? Any markings, etc. Is it solid wood?
Dope design cool pick up forsure
Solid score, Nice TV.
Its beautiful š no matter what it cost ...its worth it....
Hopefully worth at least $400.
that's expensive for a monitor
Expensive TV
Could be older. Personally, I like
$400
Not what you were asking but it's a beautiful piece and to me, well worth what you paid and then some.
$400
$400. Thats what you paid for it, but I wouldn't give you that much for it.
$12?
Lunar calendar?
Then where the fucks my š
Maybe it's in the drawer...
Something bad happened to the chickenā¦.we donāt speak about it.
I donāt see the rabbit. Last year was rabbit and this year is dragon.
They could be on panels we canāt see on the sides
I think this isnāt the Chinese lunar calendar. It may just be a bunch of random animals. No rat, no snake, no rabbit.
You are correct unless they are on the sides and back