Chinese wooden chairs and table sets A and B

Since they have come up in posts once or twice, and I just received my B set at last (it was sold out or perhaps simply unavailable when I originally tried to order it months ago), here is a mini review of the sixth-scale chairs and table sets A and B, available from various sellers on eBay. These are listed as unbranded, but the listings are sometimes titled Hot Figure Toys -- I don't know whether that is supposed to be the name of a company, or just an attempt to get noticed on searches for Hot Toys action figures.

Each set includes two chairs and a table. Example eBay listing: HERE New link HERE.

Style A is a what I would consider a more traditional Chinese style, with more rectangular and horizontal shapes and intricate woodwork on the chair's back and armrests and the lower surface of the table. On the whole it is more elaborate and detailed than style B.



Style B seems a bit simpler and more modern to me, with a curved one-piece back and armrest to the chair. I cannot be certain that these are made of real wood, but they do look like miniaturizes wooden furniture.



The tables are both just over 8.5 cm (3.33 in) tall and about 6 x 6 cm (2.36 in) wide. The seat of both types of chairs is at 6.5 cm (2.56 in) from the bottom; the chairs from set A are 13 cm (5.12 in) tall and 7 x 8 cm (2.75 x 3.15 in) wide; the chairs from set B are 13.5 cm (5.3 in) tall and about 6 x 7.5 cm (2.36 x 2.95 in) wide.



Although a little bit short and a little bit narrow, the chairs and table work pretty well with most sixth-scale action figures. Particularly muscular or tall bodies would have a harder time sitting naturally in them.



The options for sixth-scale furniture are not endless, especially considering the variety of furniture types that could be made or desired. These can work nicely, even if they (especially set A) clearly represent a particular style. I think they make a useful addition to my collection.

I hope you found this useful.

#furniture #wood #diorama #chair #table

Nice set. I honestly prefer the more ornate set, it adds a certain class to a setting. If you had other Asian elements it could be a theme room.

Stryker2011 wrote:Nice set. I honestly prefer the more ornate set, it adds a certain class to a setting. If younhad other Asian elements it could be a theme room.

Agreed. At first look I thought I would like B better, as it is more usable in non-specifically Asian scenes, but now that I have both, A does seem a bit better. It also happens to look similar to the chair that came with the Hot Toys Mandarin figure; mine (like the other figures I used here) is reconstituted from loose parts and I didn't feel like spending big money on the chair -- which works out ok now that I have this very similar one. And of course Chinese furniture, vases, carpets etc, even traditional looking, are often found even in western settings. I actually have some carpets but forgot to use them.

I ordered the second set from two different sellers and neither of them turned up. I had to get Paypal to refund my money from both vendors.

shazzdan wrote:I ordered the second set from two different sellers and neither of them turned up. I had to get Paypal to refund my money from both vendors.

The one that I linked to came through for me. The first time around he didn't have B, so offered me either A instead or a refund.

I spent a few weeks bidding on the ones that came up for auction and ended up with a couple of sets for less than $15. I'm thinking that the sellers decided that the final bids weren't high enough so they simply didn't didn't follow through with the transaction.

shazzdan wrote:I spent a few weeks bidding on the ones that came up for auction and ended up with a couple of sets for less than $15. I'm thinking that the sellers decided that the final bids weren't high enough so they simply didn't didn't follow through with the transaction.

Well, I can't promise you such a deal (although I saw another seller had it for slightly less). As I wrote above, I originally just wanted B but more than one seller said "sorry, out of stock." I took the refund from the first and set A instead from the one I linked; months passed and I tried it again with him, and this time the item came in no problem, and well ahead of time. I didn't bid -- just did "buy now."

shazzdan wrote:I spent a few weeks bidding on the ones that came up for auction and ended up with a couple of sets for less than $15. I'm thinking that the sellers decided that the final bids weren't high enough so they simply didn't didn't follow through with the transaction.

That sucks. What a crappy way to do business.

I've been trying to get one of these at a decent price. Would be a good addition to the background of an Asian or Victorian themed set.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hand-carved-Chinese-Boxwood-Sculpture-Folding-Screen-N9/352298908722



I've won three auctions so far from different vendors for less than $20 and none of them have turned up. These sellers refuse to honour the auction if they don't get enough money.

If that is indeed what's going on, it is a serious problem and they should be reported to eBay. I like these screens too, but didn't find them at a decent price. As for the chairs, the two or three sellers I've dealt with were honest and upfront -- at the time (when I was first looking) they were all out of set B and all offered me either set A instead, or a full refund. That was an altogether different situation.

At the very least, the seller should set a minimum bid, instead of screwing over the winning bidder. As the Guv said, I’d report these a-holes and get them blocked from selling. Unscrupulous to say the least.

Stryker2011 wrote:At the very least, the seller should set a minimum bid.

They do: $0.01. They do this so that they appear at the top of the list of search results.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hand-carved-Chinese-Boxwood-Sculpture-Folding-Screen/153017747555

shazzdan wrote:I've been trying to get one of these at a decent price. Would be a good addition to the background of an Asian or Victorian themed set.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hand-carved-Chinese-Boxwood-Sculpture-Folding-Screen-N9/352298908722



I've won three auctions so far from different vendors for less than $20 and none of them have turned up. These sellers refuse to honour the auction if they don't get enough money.

I've been bidding off and on since the beginning of the year and finally scored one of these screens a couple of weeks ago. It cost me $24 but at least it actually turned up.

Congratulations. It was about time it worked.

shazzdan wrote:

Stryker2011 wrote:At the very least, the seller should set a minimum bid.

They do: $0.01. They do this so that they appear at the top of the list of search results.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hand-carved-Chinese-Boxwood-Sculpture-Folding-Screen/153017747555

Precisely...

But that’s actually a superb price for that item, I’d say.  I’ve seen them in various scales and they all seem to sell quite well, at what some would consider exorbitant prices.  

They’re beautiful enough to be tempting at any cost, nonetheless...  


And then I’d thought; why not simply make my own…  






It seems that eBay sellers have lately become much more predatory, and the reasons aren’t difficult to imagine.  But what you’re describing is clearly against eBay policy; unscrupulous sellers often cancel winning bids that are less than profitable in order to circumvent reserve fees.  

Good grab, Shazz.


PS: Those tables and chairs displayed above are fine pieces, Guv.

Thanks, PureEnergy, very nice screen. And, I've been meaning to say, nice avatars, though they keep changing so quickly.

There are cheaper ones. Ebay has a range of about 20 different painted ones that look pretty cool - there is a different scene on the front and back. Two sizes: you need the larger one for 1:6 projects. Buy it now price is $20-25 but I've won a few auctions at $10-$12. Here is a sample.

GubernatorFan wrote:Thanks, PureEnergy, very nice screen. And, I've been meaning to say, nice avatars, though they keep changing so quickly.

Thank you, Guv.  It had been a scratch-build that took very little to accomplish.  Best of all, of course, is the cost.
 
With regard to my avatars, my sincerest gratitude.  I change my signature daily, so my avatars, comparatively, tend to enjoy relative longevity.  LOL.  (But I will eventually compile these photos, and more, into a single post once I've reached a certain point in the process).

I am in motion, sir...  



Thanks again for your kind comments, and excellent finds for both you and Shazz.

Man GubernatorFan, I really do dig those chairs.  I remember seeing them for sale before, but seeing them with figures really sells me for them.  May consider going after a set or 2 after seeing yours.

Shazzdan, that 1st wooden screen is so rad looking.  But I have to ask, how does it look with figures as far as scale?  Looking at any I see on Ebay, it look like they're around 9" tall, which is about 4.5' in 1:1.  Any 1:1 screens like that seem like they're about 6'.  So, is yours taller, or are the real ones sometimes smaller than 6'?  I really like the idea of these, so I do want them to work.

PureEnergy, your custom ones are looking tight as hell.  What are the dimensions on yours?  And tips on what you used?

Modern screens are full height. Older ones were often shorter. People used to change clothes behind these screens and their head was higher than the top of the screen. Around shoulder height seems to have been typical for Victorian, Georgian, and Edwardian screens, but they could vary between 1 and 2.5 meters. Here are some examples:
https://www.carters.com.au/index.cfm/index/1068-screens-folding/

shazzdan wrote:Modern screens are full height. Older ones are shorter. People used to change clothes behind these screens and their head was higher than the top of the screen. Around shoulder height seems to have been typical for Victorian and Edwardian screens, but they could vary from anywhere from 1 to 2.5 meters. Here are some examples:
https://www.carters.com.au/index.cfm/index/1068-screens-folding/

You know you're totally right.  Right after you said that, I found this pic:



Also, whose day is isn't better with a photo of Brigitte Bardot, so you know, you're all welcome.

IMO that is more sexy than a full nude shot.

ReverendSpooky wrote:PureEnergy, your custom ones are looking tight as hell.  What are the dimensions on yours?  And tips on what you used?

I used an electronic die-cutting machine to design and cut the frames, layered them for structure with the hinges inbetween, and applied the peacocks and the flowery images onto textured paper with various ink stamps.  Embossing powder medium for the metallic appearance, heated to a sheen - which results in a plastic-like finish.  Finally, I weathered it with acrylic paints, and inks.    

It’s actually very simple, although, I must admit that my lady did much of the initial design work (she’s an artist / designer).  

The one shown here was done a while ago for a smaller scale (it’s just about 5” in height) - but I can produce these at any size via the same procedure.

I appreciate the appreciation, Spooks.

ReverendSpooky wrote:Man GubernatorFan, I really do dig those chairs.  I remember seeing them for sale before, but seeing them with figures really sells me for them.  May consider going after a set or 2 after seeing yours.

Glad you liked them. I haven't done too much with them yet, but I bet they'll come in useful.

shazzdan wrote:IMO that is more sexy than a full nude shot.

Yeah, that pic is absolutely stunning.  I was just looking for photos of people by folding screens for a size reference, but running into that pic of her was a pleasant surprise.

PureEnergy wrote:

ReverendSpooky wrote:PureEnergy, your custom ones are looking tight as hell.  What are the dimensions on yours?  And tips on what you used?

I used an electronic die-cutting machine to design and cut the frames, layered them for structure with the hinges inbetween, and applied the peacocks and the flowery images onto textured paper with various ink stamps.  Embossing powder medium for the metallic appearance, heated to a sheen - which results in a plastic-like finish.  Finally, I weathered it with acrylic paints, and inks.    

It’s actually very simple, although, I must admit that my lady did much of the initial design work (she’s an artist / designer).  

The one shown here was done a while ago for a smaller scale (it’s just about 5” in height) - but I can produce these at any size via the same procedure.

I appreciate the appreciation, Spooks.

Oh man, that's some cool business.  I often think maybe a die-cutting machine would be a good investment, but it's somewhere behind a good airbrush, compresser, and pressure/vacuum chamber on my list of big ticket toys for projects.  But this is definitely another great example of what can be done with them.

GubernatorFan wrote:

ReverendSpooky wrote:Man GubernatorFan, I really do dig those chairs.  I remember seeing them for sale before, but seeing them with figures really sells me for them.  May consider going after a set or 2 after seeing yours.

Glad you liked them. I haven't done too much with them yet, but I bet they'll come in useful.

Yeah, I have absolutely no plans for them either, outside of your pics making me want a set.