It's true that many pieces have a similar look about them, but the trained eye looks beyond that in judging the worth of a piece - Chinese antique furniture should be judged by the workmanship involved in its origin creation, and its design.

Carpenters were constrained by the rules and convention dictated in the "lu ban jin" (the classic manual for carpentry, as well as architecture). Their challenge was to create a piece using the manual, but yet distinguishable by his own personal trademarks using styles of the times.

The original construction of pieces did not include nails or pins - carpenters used different forms of tongues, groves, or mortise and tenon constructions - complete restoration is possible without causing any damage to the wood.

Most of the furniture we find has been in use for well over one hundred years without any regular maintenance or restoration. If a piece is restored without using the proper tools and techniques, the patina (the natural texture and graininess of wood that evolves naturally through years of use) of the wood can be destroyed.

Oriental furniture art occupy an important status in the world furniture history, it has the essence of the Asian furniture art. The artistic element of Asian antique furniture has the characters as following:

Chinese elements in oriental furniture: Luo Tian mosaics, carved furniture
The development of Chinese furniture reached its clamix of Chinese art in Ming Dynasty , traditional Chinese furniture has been displayed with aesthetic feeling dramatically. China influenced Aisan culture deeply since long time ago, and its Chinese furniture has been the mainstream in Aisan antique furniture.

Elements of oriental furniture in Japan and South Korea : simplicity, rigorous, texture Plain Jane
Traditional Japanese furniture are mainly natural wood production and gives simple, robust, texture Plain Jane's feeling. This is another feature of Asian antique art. .

Elements oriental furniture in the Southeast Asian: plant design, rattan furniture grass
Rurniture design in southeast Asia are mainly created by by using rattan grass for cool and comfortable . And the full integration with natural characteristics is another Asian art style.