by Andy Lao
Unique, beautiful Chinese furniture is admired by furniture lovers the world over. Developed over 4,000 years ago, Chinese furniture has evolved into a sophisticated art form over the last couple hundred years. Although its enchanting beauty attracts most, it is also praised for its excellent practical functions. Both Chinese and overseas shoppers enjoy buying Chinese furniture to beautify their homes.
Ancient Chinese started making furniture in the Neolithic period. But the items they made back then were very different from the classic-style Chinese furniture we see nowadays. The classic style began to develop during the Tang dynasty, and reached a high level of sophistication during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Chinese furniture developed through three main periods: the pre-Tang period, the Tang and Song dynasty period, and the Ming and Qing dynasty period.
Pre-Tang Period: Before the Tang dynasty, Chinese people had a tradition of sitting on woven mats, much like the Japanese tradition of sitting on a “tatami.” Furniture items in the house were normally arranged around the mat, and all furniture was simple and minimal. Wealthy people could afford furniture that was made of bronze or painted with lacquer, and these pieces often had elaborate decorations.
Tang and Song Dynasty Period: Chinese furniture that is popular today was developed in the Tang dynasty. Many paintings and wall murals made in this period show scenes where people of the upper class sit on chairs instead of mats. In the Song dynasty, the classic style was accepted by most people and became widely used. Buddhism and the nomadic tribes living in northern China contributed greatly to this development.
Ming and Qing Dynasty Period: During this time, the Chinese furniture industry reached its peak and achieved an unprecedented level of beauty and sophistication, thanks to the advancements both in the decorative patterns and furniture-making techniques. A huge variety of new items was invented.
Though similar in style and construction, the furniture made in these two dynasties had an important difference. Ming dynasty furniture emphasized creating an elegant, pure form that showed scholarly taste. Qing dynasty furniture, on the other hand, focused on refining the decorations. These decorations came to be the epitome of ostentatious beauty and grandiose design. Now, most antique furniture items in Chinese markets are from this period.
The quality of a piece of Chinese furniture is determined by its material and the craftsmanship. It takes years of experience for anyone to become an expert in judging the quality of a piece of furniture.
Since most Chinese furniture items are made of wood, their prices vary greatly depending on the quality and rarity of the wood. While items made of most ordinary wood only costs a few hundred dollars, items made of some extremely rare wood can have price tags of millions of dollars. Chinese furniture dealers have a unique way of ranking the quality of different types of wood: “One yellow, two black, three red, and four white.”
“One yellow” refers to the most precious wood of all – Huanghuali wood, or Yellow Pear wood.
“Two black” means Zitan wood, or Purple Incense wood, the second most revered kind of Chinese furniture.
“Three red” refers to redwood, the most well-known, popular type of wood among Chinese furniture fans. The four main types of redwood are: old redwood, Chicken’s Wing wood, Tieli wood, and Huali wood.
“Four white” refers to several types of white wood that includes Nanmu wood, beech tree wood, camphorwood, and pine.
The craftsmanship of a piece of Chinese furniture not only demonstrates the technical skill of the artisan who made it, but, more importantly, how well he understands the profound concepts of Chinese culture. The harmony of man and nature, the unity of heart and mind, and the inner spirit of things are all deeply integrated concepts in many great furniture items. It is said that only trained experts with years of experience and a discernable eye can quickly grasp the meaning of a design and know whether or not it is a masterful piece of work.
There are many excellent shops in Beijing that offer unique, beautiful Chinese furniture. When you are in Beijing, be sure to check out these shops. If you don’t know how to find them, get a personal shopper to help you.
Tags: Arts & Entertainment by Andy Lao
No Comments »
