Asian Antiques & Furniture
Byobu - Japanese Screen
Byobu, Japanese folding screens, are both pieces of furniture and works of art. This glossary-style article defines and illustrates the byobu, an ancient Japanese folding screen.
Chinoiserie - Asian Influenced Decor
Chinoiserie isn't just about Chinese -- it reflects Europeans' interest in all things Asian as far back as the 1600s. Learn what chinoiserie means in antique furniture with this well-illustrated, glossary style article.
Elephant-trunk Leg
You can never forget the elephant-trunk leg once you see it. This glossary-style article defines the elephant-trunk leg, a characteristic style in Chinese furniture. Learn what an elephant-trunk leg looks like in this illustrated article.
Jizai - Japanese Metal Sculpture
Forbidden to make weapons, Japanese arms makers turned to creating jizai in the 19th century -- realistic, articulated animal sculptures. This glossary-style article defines jizai, with an illustrated example of this Japanese craft.
Hanakago - Japanese Flower Basket
Hanakago, or Japanese flower baskets, are one of the oldest of Japanese antiques. This glossary-style article defines and describes the hanakago, with several photos. Learn all about the different types of Japanese flower baskets, the hanakago, also known as ikebana baskets.
Kang Table - Chinese
Learn what a kang table is, when and where it originated, and what it looks like. This glossary-style article defines the kang table, an ancient Chinese furniture form.
Kodansu - Tiny Japanese Box
An introduction to kodansu – miniature chests, with tiny doors and drawers, used by the Japanese to store their valuable keepsakes for centuries.
Kyodai - Japanese Mirror
No carefully coiffed Japanese lady could survive without her kyodai, a mirrored dressing stand. Learn how to recognize a kyodai, an antique that dates back to the 1600s, with an ingenious design. This glossary-style article defines a kyodai, and shows how the dressing stand's design evolved over time.
Ryoshibako - Japanese Stationery Box
A ryoshibako is one of loveliest examples of Japanese crafts. A ryoshibako is a Japanese box with a hidden surprise. This glossary style article defines and illustrates the ryoshibako.
Suzuribako - Japanese Writing Box
What's a suzuribako? Everything you always wanted to know about the suzuribako, a Japanese writing kit in a box. This illustrated article defines and depicts several types of suzuribako, inside and out.
Tansu - Japanese Chest
Any antique-furniture lover who believes in form following function can t help but appreciate Japanese tansu. Meant to be moved, these ingenious storage devices were stripped to their essentials no extraneous features, not even legs, to impede their portability. But, while always functional, they still made a statement, says Dane Owen, owner of Shibui, an Asian antiques store in Brooklyn, NY a d…
Tebako - Japanese Box
Learn the basics of Japanese antiques by learning what a tebako is. Illustrated with photos, this article defines and describes the tebako box.
Tsuitate - Japanese Screen
The tsuitate is one of the oldest forms Japanese screens. Learn the origins of tsuitate with this glossary-style article, which defines and depicts this ancient Japanese screen. Everything you always wanted to know about the tsuitate, a combination of practical furniture and art form.