apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I actually have a reporo that was made in China of old Chinese elm. Unfortunately I can no longer keep it (space) and am in the processing of finding it a new home. If you'd like to see it, check out:http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/fur/154070300.html

I swear, except for the little railing this thing in the picture looks so much like something that called itself (and functioned beautiful for me as) an antique coffee table, which I eventually found out had been some kind of shinto altar or something, which I got on eBay for about $99 or so when I lived in old, tiny studio apartment. It was perfect. Because the way my old Murphy Bed came down, there was like a couple of inches clearance between the top of the coffee table and the bottom of the bed. It was perfect.

So, I'm saying... look on eBay and you might find an antique one at a reproduction price.

New York's Chinatown has many furniture stores that carry current reproductions of antique Chinese furniture. If they don't have the bed you seek in stock, they could surely find one for you, especially if you beought them a picture.

Of course! Pearl River, for instance probably has such a thing.

I don't know what the proportions are that you are looking for, but West Elm has a similar bed.

http://ww2.westelm.com/cat/pip.cfm?template=8grid&pkey=cfrnbed&gids=p054&cid=frnbed&area=shp

Crain's NY is reporting this afternoon that Pearl River has just taken on an additional 10,000 sq ft lease and is going to be adding a third story to their store in SoHo, to carry an expanded selection of bed linens and reproduction furniture.

Doug - I am SO there! I love that store. I've been shopping there for so many years now and have tons of their stuff in my apt. Did the article say WHEN?

I'm not sure if they have that exact item, but if that's the style you are going for, then look at greenteadesign.com

Love it.

I WISH Pearl River had items of this scale! The news from Crains is excellent. Thanks!

I finally discovered Pearl River myself this Christmas when I was looking for a sake and sushi set to give as a gift. I can't wait to get back to fill my own cupboards!

Here's a link to the article. It says the new space will offer more big ticket items such as bed sets and antique replicas as well as wholesale goods. The owners apparently already have a lot of the products in storage and are just waiting for the new space to be ready this summer.

http://newyorkbusiness.com/news.cms?newsId=12650

Even though Pearl River's prices are low they used to be much lower when the were on the 2nd and 3rd floor of Canal @ B'way. The store that is there now is called The Great Wall and is like Pearl River and their prices are lower than PR.

There's a DC-based store called Muleh (www.muleh.com) that carries Indonesian teak stuff...some of it antiquey, some of it not..it might be worth checking out and I assume they ship.

Try Pesca in Nashville. Some of the Chinese furniture ABC Carpet sells is actually from Pesca--ABC sells stuff for them so they can fetch some serious NYC cash. Buy from Pesca directly and even with shipping the prices come out pretty good. I bought a partially-antique (the front panels are quite old) cabinet from them for, I think, about $400 or $500. And shipping was around $200 or so. They had some beds here and there when I was in there a year ago. I bet they would email you pictures if you call.

Thank you for the advices. Chinese antique furniture usually comes with spirits of the previous owners. That is why there is such a LARGE reproduction of Chinese antique furniture market in China. Reproduction furniture is more expensive than antique furniture in China because hiring an exorcist can cost more than the furniture itself. (Over a thousand U.S. dollars if you can find one in NYC)


I tried a few so call antique stores in Chinatown; one shop keeper didn't know what an "Opium Bed" is. Another antique store carried semi reproduction furniture (old wood, modern style). Several pieces of furniture in that store were made from a wood that is extinct in China. I was skeptical about the piece because I suspect that particular wood was used for coffins for rich people in China. A friend who knows Chinese antique furniture confirmed my suspicion after she saw the piece. The price of the piece dropped more than half after we show our suspicion.

I have tried eBay for several months without luck. I heard there are furniture craftsman in Canada that makes reproduction Chinese furniture. Does anyone know a source?

Thanks again for all the recommendation.


I tried a few so call antique store in Chinatown, One shop keeper didn't know what an "Opium Bed" is. Another antique store carried a semi reproduction furniture (old wood, modern style). Several pieces of furniture in that store were made from a wood that Chinese is extince. I was skeptical about the piece because I suspect that particular wood is usually use for coffins for rich people in China. first A friend who knows Chinese antique furniture confirm that

Hi. Does anyone know of any cool stores with opium beds (antique or repro) in Los Angeles? Thanks,
Carol

I am looking for a black lacquer trunk with a white inlay design or simply with a painted white design. I want to use it as a coffee table; I'd like the dimensions to be about 40-44inches in width; 24-27 inches in depth, and most importantly, only 16-18 inches in height.
It doesn't have to be a trunk, but I definitely don't want legs on the table. I'm not looking for an antique, especially. I have searched the net- can't find a thing

any suggestions.

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we are wholesaler of chinese antique furnitures.
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Delivery is available anywhere in the world for confirmed orders. Our Company carefully packages your items in our warehouse complex. We love to discuss Chinese antiquities with our customers and to share our knowledge with you. We believe that the exquisite design and fine workmanship found in Chinese furniture is a special part of our culture and long history. You are welcome to visit us in Beijing or to purchase from us on line.
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East Corner Company on carmine street in the west village is excellent. They have a studio in china that custom makes artisanal furniture with almost any type of wood you can imagine. The prices aren't cheap and the owners are art historians. They have a lovely lo-han bed reproduction made of a rare hardwood that is absolutely fabulous--- i would have bought it but already have one.

I sell Vietnamese daybeds, chairs, benches tables - pretty cool,unique looking and different! Let me know if you want to see photos. I am located here in the U.S..
Talk soon!

Here are all the beds you want they are actually called chinese wedding beds

http://www.blackzebra.com/beds.htm

I have a wholesale and retail business in Weihai, Shandong, China. I deal in antiques and reproductions. I have just located 5 antique Qing Dynasty Beds in a small villiage in Fujian Province. Even my reproductions are hand-carved from the same village. If you want more information please call me at 86-13869083707. My name is Thomas.

I am in the process of selling an opium bed which we have been using as a coffee table. It originated from Bangkok and we have cherished and cared for it for some years now. The bed is quite large being just under 6' long x 2'2 wide x 19" high. The patina has given the wood a gloriously golden hue and it is in beautiful condition with understated handcrafted design. It is a wonderful piece, quite heavy and beautifully made. If anyone would like to have a look I can let you have a picture. I am based in the UK and I am unsure what the shipping costs would be for an item of this size and weight to the USA.

The bed in the photo is a nice example of a reproduction Chinese opium bed. Bed's are funny things in that, Chinese tend not to buy antique beds due to superstitions (namely that someone probably died in them and therefore the bed is probably haunted). Consequently antique canopy beds can be often cheaper then reproductions. The low opium beds however may or not follow this rule - sometimes reproductions can be had at a good price - other times decent antique ones are available. You can check our own antique furniture blog if you like - we quite a lot of information there on Chinese antique furniture.