Brief History of Chinese Furniture

As in most other Asian cultures, the custom in ancient Chinese homes was to kneel or sit cross-legged on floor level mats. Furnishings were restricted to low level tables, armrests and decorative screens, with simplicity and minimalism the overriding themes.
Tang dynasty (618 - 907 AD) higher seats first started to appear amongst the Chinese elite and their usage soon spread to all levels of society. Evidence as to why this move to higher seating took place is scarce, although the elevated status associated with being raised off the floor is likely to have been a major factor. 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.

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. The craftsmen were far more advanced than their European counterparts. Ming furniture was generally made of timber from indigenous trees such as pine, elm and zelkova (known as ‘southern elm’).

Types of finishes used in furniture during the Ming period included heavily carved lacquer, sometimes inlaid with mother of pearl or agate; 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.

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 with angular forms and overly ornate carvings. However, furniture produced for the general population in China’s towns and villages remained simpler in style, often lacquered in red or black and decorated with landscape scenes or auspicious symbols. This type of furniture continued to be made into the early 20th century, with distinct styles visible in different regions of China.

Chinese cabinets from the Ming period are commonly classed today as either ‘square cornered’ or ‘round cornered’ cabinets some included removable doors with wooden pivots at each end. Doors could then be slotted directly into the frame of the cabinet, resulting in a design with extremely clean lines. Most cabinets included shelves that could be removed, and often a concealed storage area at the bottom, covered by removable boards

Both types of Chinese cabinet were normally made in matching pairs, placed either side by side or symmetrically to balance the interior layout of a room.