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Shop For Classic-Style Chinese Furniture In Beijing
Chinese furniture has a unique style of its own. It is admired the world over for its exquisite aesthetic form and excellent practical function. Developed for over 4,000 years independent of western influence, Chinese furniture is liked and sought after by both Chinese and overseas shoppers who are fascinated by its charming beauty and profound cultural values.
Even though archaeological evidence suggests the Chinese started making furniture items as early as the Neolithic period, classic-style Chinese furniture did not come into being until the Tang dynasty. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, furniture was perfected and became a cultured, highly sophisticated decorative art.
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: Chinese furniture developed to an unprecedented level of exquisiteness and sophistication during this time. A flourishing furniture industry increased the number of new items, refined the decorative patterns, and improved furniture-making techniques.
Furniture items made in these two dynasties were similar in basic style and construction but had a major difference in design and decoration. Ming dynasty furniture was considered to be more elegant, have a pure form, and generally conform to the scholars’ standard of taste. Qing dynasty furniture, on the other hand, was ostentatious in decoration, and focused on grandiose designs. It came to be the epitome of lavish beauty. In Chinese markets nowadays, most antique furniture items are from these two dynasties.
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.
Chinese furniture is usually made of wood. Depending on the quality and rarity of the wood, the price of a piece of furniture can go from a few hundred to millions of dollars. Furniture dealers in China rank the quality of different types of wood in this way: “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” refers to Zitan wood, or Purple Incense wood, the second most sought-after wood in China.
“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” means a number of white woods that are inexpensive and widely used. They include Namu wood, beech tree wood, camphorwood, and pine.
While it might only require book knowledge to judge the quality of wood, it requires experience and a deep understanding of Chinese culture to judge the craftsmanship of a piece of Chinese furniture. Profound concepts like the unity of man and heaven, the peace between man and nature, and the inner and outer beauty of things are all integrated in great pieces of Chinese furniture. A trained expert examining the craftsmanship of any piece can know not only the technical skill of the person who made it, but the meaning of the design.
In many of Beijing’s local shops, there are beautiful, unique Chinese furniture items for sale. When you are in Beijing, make sure to pay a visit to one of those shops. You won’t regret the experience. Find a personal shopper if you don’t know how to get to these shops or identify quality items.
Tags: ancient, Art, Arts, artwork, chinese furniture, classic items, culture, decoration, furniture, handicrafts, local product, local shop, shopper, woodcarving