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By Douglas Habecker
It is a poorly-kept secret that
the best way to own a piece of China's past, make a fashionable
decorative statement and keep a souvenir of one's time in
Asia is to simply buy some antique furniture. As any
Chinese antique furniture dealer between Shanghai and New
York will readily testify, their wares have been flying out
of showrooms and warehouses almost faster than pieces can
be found and restored.
The West's recent fascination for all things Asian has only
led to an acceleration in the popularity of Chinese furniture
among non-Asians. However, for nostalgic, historical,
investment or decorative reasons, Asians themselves are increasingly
seeing the value of old chairs, tables, cupboards, beds and
other pieces that previously would have been thrown onto the
trash heap.
Taichung is no exception to this trend as Westerners and
Taiwanese alike have snapped up such items. This means
that such businesses have continued to thrive here.
Where are the best places to shop? In a city filled
with furniture stores, it can be surprisingly difficult to
find trustworthy ones that deal in genuine antiques.
This has led to the popularity of a handful of stores which
are increasingly considered THE places to shop in Taichung.
Leading this small pack are Blue Field &
Wah Sang Art Center and Miracles of the Orient Antique Furniture
& Arts. Both have good reputations among shoppers
and deal exclusively in mainland Chinese items, shipping dozens
of containers from China each year. Both have showrooms
and stores in the West and are comfortable dealing with non-Chinese
customers and shipping overseas.
Both stores readily admit that--given the enormous demand--most
antiques they sell average about a half-century in age (a
mere hiccup by Chinese historical standards), unless one wants
to fork over very sizable sums for Ching dynasty or older
items. Dealers note that the furniture will keep its
value and even represents an investment of sorts, with average
prices in the West two to three times higher.
With three stores in Taichung, one store in
Taipei and a show room in Irvine, California, Blue Field has
developed a very successful business which imports about 25
40-foot containers of furniture from China per year. According
to Mr. Liu, the general manager, buyers cover China looking
for good pieces, which are restored in China with the advice
of experts in Hong Kong. Liu said that Blue Field also
sold new-made replica antique furniture, mainly for Taiwanese
customers who--traditionally--do not like buying used products
like foreigners do.
Blue Field's largest Taichung store, on Chungming South Road
less than 100 meters from Taichung Kang Road, carries hundreds
of pieces at any given time in second-floor and basement show
rooms, which are divided into hard-wood and soft-wood furniture
displays. This includes everything from large tables
and cabinets to traditional baskets, wooden chests and mirrors.
As Liu notes, hard wood is more durable than soft wood and,
thus, more expensive, although soft wood will last a very
long time without problem.
Liu also encourages customers to visit its
newest show room along the popular Art Street near Tunghai
University. Very significant discounts are offered on
most items in addition to some free furniture modifications,
so inquire when shopping. Keep in mind, too, that overseas
shipping generally costs about 40 percent of the sales price.
Liu said that the store often cooperated with interior decorators
to pick out proper pieces, adding that he had been very impressed
by the care, artistic vision and taste that most foreign buyers
showed without any extra assistance.
Blue Field's three branches are open daily from 10 a.m. to
8 p.m. and are located at: B1-2F, 16, Chung Ming South Rd.
(tel. 2322-9138); 12F, Sogo II Department Store (tel. 2319-6026);
and 86, Tunghai Yishu (Art) St., Lungching Hsiang, Taichung
County (tel. 2652-8128), 121-21, AnHe Rd, Xitun Dist. (04)2350-3388.
The owners of Miracles of the Orient have decades of experience
in their field and, not long ago, were actually involved with
Blue Field. However, Christine Chang and her husband
are very happy to have opened their own company, as business
has been outstanding, both in Taichung and at other dealerships
in Brisbane, Australia and Los Angeles.
The Taichung store, located on Shih Cheng Road between Li
Ming Street and the new Taichung-Changhua elevated expressway,
has a basement and three floors of antique furniture--hard-wood
and soft-wood--scoured from across China and carefully restored
at factories in Guangdong and Guangxi. In the relatively
short time since the store has been open, it has become a
very popular stopping point for customers, including many
foreigners who enjoy items like chairs, side tables and Chinese
medicine cabinets. The store also sells some Chinese
paintings, as well as other non-furniture items.
Chang emphasizes that big discounts of up to 70 percent off
listed prices are regularly available. Each day, a special
on-sale item is offered for even cheaper discounts.
Free services to customers include local delivery, furniture
pads (to protect furniture legs and home floors), and packing
for overseas shipping.
The Chang's friendly shop is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
daily and is located at 608, Shih Cheng Road (tel. 2255-6898)
which is easily reached via Wenhsin Road, section 2 or Honan
Road. |
