History of Chinese Furniture

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=85 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Chine Antiques</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>     </B></FONT><B>|     H</B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chine Antiques"><U><B>ome</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Company History"><U>Company History</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Furniture Categories"><U>Furniture Categories</U></A>   |   History of Chinese Furniture   |   <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Request More Information"><U>Request More Information</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="References"><U>References</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Additional Locations"><U>Additional Locations</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#990033" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="12fa0a00.gif" border=0 width="160" height="160" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Showroom</B></div> <div> <B>74 Grand St</B></div> <div> <B>New York, NY 10013</B></div> <div> <B>212.274.9767 </B></div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:chineantiques@msn.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:chineantiques@msn.com"><U><B>chineantiques@msn.com</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Warehouse</B></div> <div> <B>30-70 Review Ave</B></div> <div> <B>Long Island City, NY 11101</B></div> <div> <B>718.752.0136</B></div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:chineant@msn.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:chineant@msn.com"><U><B>chineant@msn.com</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=395 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>History of Chinese Furniture</B></div> <div> Dynasties</div> <div> Chinese furniture has a rich history spanning thousands of years and many dynasties.  Each period had it's influence on the style, wood and percieved value of furniture.  The craft of furniture making was passed down from generation to generation orally rather than by written texts.  Styles popularized by one craftsman were copied by others. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Use or Purpose</div> <div> Many pieces follow a very traditional style and served a specific purpose.  </div> <bR> <div> <U>Cabinets</U> - Used primarily for storage cabinets come in many styles.  The most common are </div> <bR> <div> <U>Altar Tables</U> - Used for burning incense and holding food and drinks as offerings to ancestors.  These tables were also decorative pieces displaying flowers, vases and other ornamentals objects.</div> <bR> <div> <U>Kang Beds and Tables</U> - A Kang platform was constructed of bricks which were heated by air from the kitchen.  These platforms provided heat during cold winter months.  Beds and tables were placed upon these platforms allowing the family to eat, relax and sleep in comfort.  Since chairs were not used on the kang platform, kang tables are set lower than other tables. </div> <bR> <div> <U>Stools and Chairs</U> - Like most asian cultures early Chinese sat cross-legged on the floor.  Older furniture was therefore made to sit low to the ground (mat level).  Stools and chairs developed during the Tang dynasty and were gradually accepted into chinese culture so that by the Ming period very few Chinese sat on mats.  Stools were more common while chairs were used by officials and scholars.  Chairs thus came to imply status and would also be used in Chinese homes to honor guests.</div> <bR> <div> Many chairs have a foot rest (called a stretcher) which allows the user to keep their feet off of the cold floor.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Joinery</div> <div> The process of joining a piece of furniture is itself an art and joiners were considered almost as important as the carpenters.  The main types of joints are mortice and tenon...... There are little or no nails used in construction and </div> <div> pieces are made so that they can be taken apart and re-assembled easily.  </div> <bR> <div> Woods</div> <div> There are distinct types of woods used in the making of chinese furniture but the classification is based more upon the characteristics of the wood than its actual botanical origin.   Wood from several different trees may be classified as the same 'type' of wood.  Silimilarly wood from an individual tree may be classified differently based upon the part of the tree and the angle of it's cut.  Sap wood or the outer layer tends to be softer and less dense than the heart wood or inner rings.</div> <bR> <div> Huang Huali</div> <bR> <div> Tielimu</div> <bR> <div> Jumu</div> <bR> <div> Southern Elm</div> <bR> <div> Northern Elm</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Finishes</div> <div> The three main finishes are natural, stained and lacquered.  </div> <bR> <div> Natural finishes leave the wood color in its natural state with only a clear coating to protect the wood.  Woods typically left natural would include Elm.....</div> <bR> <div> Stained wood has an application of just the right stain which brings out the color of the wood.  A clear coat is then applied to protect the wood.  Stained woods include.....</div> <bR> <div> Lacquered pieces are usually colored Red, Black or Green.  Red pieces traditionally being given to couples on their wedding or actually being a part of a dowry.  Laquer is applied in many layers with each application needing to dry before the next layer can by applied.  This technique meant that a piece could take several months or more to complete.  </div> <bR> <div> Since the natural color and grain of lacquered wood is completely covered these pieces were typically made of less rare woods.</div> <bR> <div> Acknowlegements</div> <bR> <div> Additional Resources</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>