A Chinese antique may seem a good souvenir to bring back from Taiwan. Furniture from the late Ming and Ching dynasties may seem an obvious choice. But these bulky and expensive items certainly don't suit everyone, quite apart from the fact that a large quantity of what you see in the stores is imported from China -- which rather defeats the purpose if you are looking for a memento of a stay in Taiwan.
But there are many alternatives for people who want something authentically Taiwanese, although rooting through the jumbled stock of many "ku-tung" (古董) stores can cause its own share of confusion. "Ku-tung" is conventionally translated as "antique," but this depends very much on your own definition of antique. The issue is further confused by the fact that many ku-tung stores also sell fang-ku (仿古) -- or imitation antiques -- which are also immensely popular in Taiwan.
Knowing your history
Antiques in Taiwan are usually sold by dynasty, so it is best to learn a little history before going shopping. Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasty items represent the old imperial age, with prices rising steeply with age. Somewhat cheaper are items from the period of the Japanese occupation (1895-1945), while everything later than that is often referred to as being post Retrocession.
For those not confident about the authenticity or age of a piece, occasional collector Jonathan Wardle suggests: "Ask yourself, do I like this enough to spend this amount of money even if it is a copy." Good quality replica items are often skillfully made according to traditional methods and can be aesthetically appealing without costing the earth.
It is also worthwhile to check for damage, some items have been subject to repairs to make them more appealing. Hsieh Ching-wen (謝清文), a Taipei museum worker and amateur collector, recommends looking beneath the surface.
Speaking about selecting carvings or furniture, he advises: "Always examine the back ten minutes for each minute you admire the front."
Bearing these rules of thumb in mind, and remembering that bargaining is not just possible, but expected, the following are ten items that may appeal to overseas visitors to Taiwan.
Straw raincoats
Given Taiwan's historical role as an agricultural exporter, it is very easy to find a wide range of traditional farming tools. One of the most popular is the suo-yi (簑衣), a raincoat made of coir or straw. While a new one will cost around NT$18,000 today, a two-piece (cloak and skirt) original dating back a few decades can be found for as little as NT$ 1,500-2,000.
Embroidery
In traditional Taiwanese society, a girl's eligibility for marriage depended on her needlework skills as much as on her looks or social skills. Antique shops therefore abound with small items of embroidery that can be purchased for very little. Of particular interest are items made for her new in-laws as proof of her skills, or items of personal decoration such as the tu-tou (
Alter cloths
Larger embroidered items include the pa-hsian-tsai (八仙彩) or Eight Immortals Clotsh, originally hung from an altar or above a doorway. Even if slightly damaged, they are popular as tablecloths, protected from further wear by a layer of glass. Richly embroidered, they depict the Eight Immortals of Taoist mythology, each recognizable by his or her respective symbol, against a red background. For circular tables, finely embroidered "cloud capes" (雲肩), originally used to protect clothing from hair oil, are popular.
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