Studio scenes

"I can see that it's the most important book that Flacks has ever worked on. He put all his lifelong knowledge of collecting into it," says Zhu.

In fact, there has never been a book dedicated to such a specific category of wooden objects released in China. Priced at 1,580 yuan ($246) a copy - higher than most Chinese art books - more than 300 copies were sold online in the first two days of release, according to Zhu.

"Chinese buyers have higher expectations for art books with their burgeoning wallets," he concludes, noting, "they really place a value on traditional culture."