Shanghai Daily news

For nearly 70 years, antique Chinese furniture has been eclipsed by the popularity of ever changing modern styles. However, it is now regaining its deserved esteem and is moving back into the spotlight of the world furniture stage.
A seamless fusion of ancient Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) style and contemporary, functional simplicity is gradually being accepted by the expatriate community in Shanghai. Antique furniture, although once labeled as a stylish decoration of no practical use, is now changing its image and merging into the modern world.
There is an amazing selection in the various shops and warehouses of the city. While most antique Chinese furniture shops are simply storehouses that contain a huge number of unorganized items, Hu & Hu is a store in which hundreds of pieces of antique Chinese furniture lie throughout two well organized warehouse showrooms that cover 2,000 square meters.
Sisters-in-law, Lin Hu and Marybelle Hu, opened the showroom and warehouse in 1998 and it has since had a loyal following amongst expatriates in Shanghai, as well as foreign antique dealers.
From its inception, Hu & Hu has been dedicated to quality, personal service and honesty, a philosophy that has become the store's defining quality. The commitment to quality is such that every centimeter of every piece is meticulously and lovingly restored - even places you'll never see, such as hidden corners, drawers and the bottoms of cabinets.
With 20 years' experience in collecting and restoring antiques, Lin has a gifted eye when sourcing the most interesting furniture and antiques and restoring them to their former splendor. Her time in the business has also cultivated her interior design skills and led to a talent for putting together ensembles designed to suit her costumers' tastes.
Marybelle is equally skilled with a degree in Art History and years of experience through her work at Taipei's National Palace Museum and at Sotheby's in Los Angeles. Her keen eye enables her to find artistry in even the most raw, blemished antique.
Antiques which have been discovered and brought back from provinces across China scatter two warehouses and the yard in front.
Treasures that can be found there include Shanxi cabinets, Zhejiang canopy beds, Tibetan chests, Shandong ladies' chests and interesting sculptures of different sizes.
Each piece tells the story of old China. You can read it in the lines of an Anhui farmer's wedding bed, the wash basin of a Shandong landlord or the wine cabinet of a wealthy Fujian merchant.
Traditional Chinese furniture-making is the apogee of the art, and its ingenious craftsmanship is still unsurpassed by 21st Century technology.
The two warehouses display carefully laid out antiques which are 120 to 180 years old, recently bought in from across in the country. And in keeping with the kaleidoscope of different traditions throughout China, there are furniture styles for every taste.
Some pieces in the yard are awaiting restoration and they can be renovated to your own specifications.
"Furniture from southern China tends to be very elaborate, while northern furniture is big, heavy and grand," said Marybelle. "The classic lines of Chinese antiques blend beautifully with the design of today's contemporary interiors, adding rich accents to modern homes and offices."
She added that more and more people are becoming interested in Ming-style furniture, known for its simplicity with sparse lines and little decoration, which goes very well with contemporary furniture.
"I lived in the West for so long and I know how to mix western and eastern styles. We actually do a lot of talks to the expatriate group and teach them the culture of Chinese furniture," Marybelle said.
Well chosen oriental furniture can be the perfect match for the simple and light colors of modern sofas, walls and cushions.
Most Ming and Qing style chairs, tables and cupboards can be used rather than just being decorative. An elegant Chinese chair or table among western furniture is sure to spark interest among guests.
A textured granite bowl for pounding rice can function as an unusual flower vase. An apothecary's cabinet, each drawer marked with the character of the particular herbal remedy it contains, can hold a woman's jewelry collection.
"Nowadays, people like to buy traditional canopy beds, and use it not as a bed but as a living room piece," Marybelle said. The bed is characterized by a super structure fitted to the top of the bed, which is enclosed with panels or hung with drapes. This room within a room provides private space that is further insulated from drafty quarters.
"If you've been to Face bar, they have two canopy beds with cushions and pillows inside. Four friends can stay inside and feel very cozy," she added.
Bargaining is an essential part of buying antiques, especially in the street markets.
"Beware of fakes, there are lots around. One of the policies we started was the fixed price that was very different from other antique shops. We never overcharge rich people or foreigners," Marybelle said.
The owner's no-bargaining policy sits well with shoppers who are uncomfortable with the practice. Their furniture is priced from a 600-yuan (US$74.07) chair to a 25,000-yuan antique bed.
Some customers like the original "untouched" heavy colors of the old furniture while others prefer the lighter effect of natural wood.
Hu & Hu can customize an older piece of furniture to your modern-day needs: altar tables can become computer desks and clothing cabinets can be transformed into television cabinets. Provide your vision and Hu & Hu will customize the color, finish and design details to produce a specially suited piece of furniture for your home.
There are refreshing beers and cooling tea on offer while you browse through the huge array of furniture. There is a large enough variety of styles to ensure that you will find something to suit your home.
Address: 1685 Wuzhong Road
Tel: 3431 1212
Email: info@hu-hu.com