About the Topic
The history of China goes back to over 5,000 years, with a long-standing civilization that was created through the course of history. For thousands of years, through the different historical periods, craftsmen have created, with their ability and wisdom, characteristically styled furniture which clearly reflects the development of lifestyles, thoughts, and feelings, as well as the artistic values of the different eras.
The distinguishing feature of Chinese furniture lies in perfecting the functional uses and expressing the different artistic styles developed at specific times. In general, furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties are exquisitely crafted, artistic and has a rich and historical cultural value.
Join us as we discuss the historical development of Chinese furniture and share over 300 photographs, drawings and images of archaeological findings from the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.
Background:
Furniture of the Ming Dynasty
Ming furniture was rich in varieties and styles. It can be divided by function into six categories: stools and chairs; tables and desks; cabinets and chests; beds and couches; platforms and racks; and screens. At this time, the concept of furniture sets was formed, and complete sets of furniture appeared in hall, bedroom, and study, divided by the function of each space. They were usually arranged symmetrically, for instance one table with two chairs or four stools. Sometimes furniture was arranged freely in accordance with tow chairs of four stools. Sometimes furniture was arranged freely in accordance with the size of the room and requirements of use .
The timber used in Ming Dynasty furniture was of tough quality, high strength, beautiful color and fine grain. This contributed to the production of extremely precise, scientific tenon structures. The parts were small but of high strength; the shape was simple but could be carved and processed ornately. The frame structure developed in the Song Dynasty advanced to quit a high artistic level in the Ming Dynasty, and this structure, combined with creative new styles and ornaments on the accessory parts, gave Ming furniture a pure and simple, but elegant and delicate style, unique in its complementary use of the hard and the soft.
Furniture of the Qing Dynasty
At the beginning of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), furniture followed Ming patterns and styles. In the mid-17th century, when the Qing economy began to develop to a prosperous stage, Qing Furniture showed its own uniqueness with the absorption of western art, tt was larger in size with grandeur and pageantry.
Engraving was a popular and important means of furniture decoration. The subjects range from auspicious character patterns, to geometric patterns and scenes in nature with animals, mountains and waters, flowers and grass. Color painting, especially gold painting, was widely used.
In the interior arrangement of the furniture of the Qing Dynasty, al long table was usually set in the main hall with a square table in front of it and a wooden lounge chair on each side. The bed was placed on one side of the bedroom with a small long table on each side. Garden furniture was arranged in a symmetrical style. In the middle of the inner hall, a 'kang', or heatable brick bed, was usually used with a desk and music table on each side. Sometimes it was simply replaced with a round table and several stools.
