* Well-seasoned woods because improperly cured wood cracks and warps. * Heavier hardwoods when buying older furniture. Try lifting them if you can. Pine wood is lighter and a common substitute for antique wood. * Lacquered furniture that is made of old wood in spite of heaving a new laquer finish. * Good dealer * Wood furniture that shows its age naturally by getting stained, bleached by the sun, and worn in areas of heavy use. Natural wear is usually uneven, whereas faked wear and tear looks almost contrived and uniform. * Most important thing "common sense".

Asian furniture has been existing in a humid climate since its original construction, so transitioning it to a different climate can be difficult.

Celadon pottery was first made in China, where potters from the Northern and Southern Dynasties discovered that when ash landed on ceramic works being fired in kilns at a high temperature, the result was a wonderful blue coat. The ash formed from burning wood chemically reacted with the clay to create a natural glaze which hardened into a beautiful bluish finish when baked at 1300° Celsius inside the kilns. The technique of celadon making was refined during the Tang Dynasty but was elevated to the zenith of its artistry during the Sung Dynasty in the 12th century. Celadon glaze refers to a family of transparent, crackle glazes, produced in a wide variety of colors, generally used on porcelain or stoneware clay bodies. Celadon glazes have such popularity and impact that pieces made with it are often referred to as "celadon." Celadon glazes can be produced in a variety of colors, including white, grey, blue and yellow, depending on the thickness of the applied glaze and the type of clay to which it is applied. However, the most famous shades range in color from a very pale green crackle to deep intense green, often meaning to mimic the green shades of jade. The color is produced by iron oxide in the glaze recipe or clay body. Celadon potteries are usually fired in a reducing atmosphere kiln. As with most glazes, crazing (a glaze defect) can occur in the glaze and, if the characteristic is desirable, is referred to as crackle glaze.