How furniture was made in ancient China

The most widely used furniture in ancient China began more than 1,000 years ago in the Tang Dynasty, and was further developed in the Five Dynasties. Into the Song Dynasty, furniture from the type, shape, production and materials have been further improved to form a simple, simple features. Ming Dynasty furniture is a representative of ancient Chinese furniture, from the selection of materials, craftsmanship, functionality and decorative arts have reached the highest level in history, and still has an unceasing reputation, won people's high appreciation and reminiscence.

Ming Dynasty furniture with rosewood, pear, pear and other hardwoods, but also with nan, camphor, walnut, elm and other hardwoods. These materials are not only solid and flexible, and brown eye fine, clear texture, soft color. Processing of the surface and more wax without paint, more revealing the beauty of the simple "texture", showing light, upright, simple features.

The early Qing Dynasty furniture basically inherited the Ming Dynasty tradition, but due to the extreme pursuit of decorative effect of the court at the time of the fashion, so that the Qing Dynasty furniture, especially in the Forbidden City in Beijing, the furniture, increasingly tends to be more and more elaborate. Too much carving destroyed the overall shape of the furniture, but also weakened the practical function of the furniture. The progress and achievements of the furniture of the Qing dynasty is mainly manifested in the carving of lacquer, lacquer and gold furniture, these processes are new creations and developments. At this time, the furniture with the building room has a closer link, the general hall, bedroom, study have a supporting common furniture. Ming Dynasty folk furniture to more practical and economic direction.

Generally speaking, Ming furniture is often specified and pre-Ching (Qing Kangxi, Yongzheng period) made furniture. Because the early Qing Dynasty furniture in the form of still inherited the Ming style, in the structure is not much difference, so collectively referred to as "Ming-style furniture". Qing-style furniture refers to the furniture made after the Qianlong Qing Dynasty. Ming and Qing dynasties in the furniture production style, modeling structure, decorative techniques, materials used are different, these factors are important criteria for determining the age of furniture.

Ming Dynasty is the golden age in the history of Chinese furniture, Ming furniture largely retained the traditional decorative style of Chinese furniture and production methods, is the peak of the development of Chinese classical furniture, generally simple and simple modeling, knife method sparse and bright, not carving. In the art of modeling, craftsmanship and practical function, have reached a perfect situation, with elegant, simple era characteristics.

Today, the Ming and Qing Dynasty antique furniture has become a major museums in the West competing for the collection of works of art, is China's calligraphy and painting, ceramics, after the third major art collection hot spots. These furniture simple lines, elegant shape, a perfect blend of art, culture and practical functions, is considered by Western scholars is now China's "bronze, jade, calligraphy, painting, ceramics, another national treasure in history.