Chinese furniture is treasured for its wonderful craftsmanship in both design and structure and lends itself to almost any setting. Although China experiences a very high humidity rate most of the year it is also characterized by periodic dry spells, which can be problematic for wooden items. As a direct result of this most furniture pieces are made with a ‘floating panel’ on tops, sides and doors which allows room for expansion/contraction depending on the level of humidity. The ideal humidity level for furniture is between 30-50% and a temperature of 50-80 degrees Fahrenheit. It is important to keep furniture out of direct sunlight as this will dry out the furniture and can cause the finish to fade.

A dry or slightly damp cloth will work well to clean furniture. A soft brush will work wonders on carved areas. Do not use spray polish of any kind on furniture as it will dull the finish. Usually a high quality paste wax (we recommend Carnauba wax) will work well in maintaining a good luster and will help seal the wood against potential stains.

Maintained properly your Chinese furniture will give you pleasure for years to come. Any changes in the wood structure will only add character and not affect the integrity of the furniture.