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| Antique
imported furniture: Antique Chinese Furniture General Info |
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Antique Chinese Furniture General Info
 By
the 12th century seating on the floor was rare in China, unlike in other Asian
countries where the custom continued, and the chair or more commonly the stool
was used in the vast majority of houses throughout the country. Over the next
few centuries furniture design and construction continued to be refined, leading
up to the late Ming period (1368 - 1644), which is considered by most to be the
golden age of Chinese furniture. By this time China had become extremely
prosperous, particularly its coastal cities, and demand for luxury items
including fine furniture had grown.
The furniture of this time displayed simple, elegant lines, beautiful curves and
superb craftsmanship. The quality and accuracy of joinery was so precise that
nails and glue were used only as supplements. Metalwork such as handles, hinges
and lock plates were designed to complement the graceful lines of each piece.
These were no longer simply functional items of furniture but had become objects
of beauty, and their timeless simplicity means that they still grace even the
most modern home.
Many of the designs that first appeared during this period remained unchanged,
in some cases for hundreds of years. Drawings on paper were rare. Instead verbal
descriptions of types' of furniture were passed down from generation to
generation, along with the skills and craftsmanship to continue the tradition.
In many ways the artisans that produced the beautiful pieces of this time were
far more advanced than their European counterparts. One simple example of their
technical superiority is the appearance early on in China of the curved
backrest, designed to both please the eye and to increase a chair's comfort.
This same feature did not appear in European furniture making until centuries
later.
The majority of Ming furniture was made of timber from indigenous trees such as
pine, elm and zelkova (known as southern elm'). However, the lifting of a ban
on imports in 1567 and the subsequent increase in maritime trade also saw the
use of tropical hardwoods, mostly imported from South East Asia. These included
the dense, precious hardwoods Zitan and Huang-Huali.
Although few examples of the originals remain today, a wide range of finishes
were used for furniture of the Ming period. These included heavy carved lacquer,
sometimes inlaid with mother of pearl or agate; plainer red or black lacquer;
and a more natural finish, allowing the grain to stand out and the beauty of the
wood to be the main focus of the piece. Contrary to the image often held in
Western minds of opulent painted and lacquered items, evidence suggests that the
elite scholars and officials of the time preferred a more refined and restrained
finish.
Furniture produced during the early Qing period (1644 - 1911) was similar to
Ming and continued to display classic, simple lines. However a change in style
gradually appeared, and by the end of the 18th century the purity of Ming
furniture had been replaced by angular forms and overly ornate carvings.
The designs that came out of China during the Ming dynasty were much admired by
the Europeans and have had a major influence on Western interior design. The
timeless simplicity and perfect proportions of Ming furniture allow these pieces
to grace even the most modern home.
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