Antique Furniture: Say Goodbye to Comfort

Author: Liu Jian
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-09-01
Features: This book is a collection of works on the appreciation of ancient Chinese furniture, divided into four parts: "A Poetic Ode to Wooden Creations," "Appreciation of Fine Ancient Chinese Furniture," "Identification and Preservation of Ancient Chinese Furniture," and "Collection and Investment in Ancient Chinese Furniture." The book primarily explores modern people's nostalgia for ancient furniture. The enthusiasm for rediscovering the value of ancient furniture has become an undeniable fact, and an increasing number of consumer classes are joining the ranks of buyers of classical furniture. When writing this small book, the author hoped to help people understand it, appreciate its craftsmanship value, its extremely high artistic appreciation value, and its profound historical and cultural value. By introducing the identification and preservation of ancient furniture and its collection and investment, the book guides readers to discover and appreciate the artistic beauty of Chinese furniture. Furniture is a material product of human life, but to some extent, it carries an extremely profound cultural heritage, fully reflecting the spiritual and cultural connotations of the society at that time. Regarding early classical furniture, from the lacquered wooden furniture of the Han Dynasty, we can feel the restless atmosphere of a cultural transition period: a combination of romanticism and utilitarianism, and a coexistence of theological and rational spirit. The style of Tang Dynasty furniture reflects its sociocultural form: open, inclusive, and embracing. Song Dynasty furniture continues to bridge the past and the future, though it may not be as magnificent, it still aligns with the cultural characteristics of the Song Dynasty, which emphasized moral principles. The famous Ming Dynasty furniture is an external manifestation of the materialization of traditional Chinese literati culture, embodying a cultural core that values nature, rationality, philosophy, and Zen-like subtlety. Therefore, from its form, structure to decorative craftsmanship, Ming Dynasty furniture everywhere shows the tendency of the literati in the Ming Dynasty to (champion clarity and elegance) and (pursue artistic conception). Compared to other categories in Ming Dynasty culture, such as gardens, theater, and literature, it becomes clear that they share a great deal of consistency in cultural value orientation. Their creation is permeated with a strong sense of subjectivity, rarely constrained by popular aesthetic tastes, thus becoming truly literati furniture. The Qing Dynasty furniture reflects the transition from literati culture to aristocratic culture, making it the work of artisans under the rule of imperial taste. It is precisely because of the cultural traits of these fine ancient furniture pieces, especially Ming Dynasty furniture, that we have every reason to view them as works of art. Taking Ming Dynasty furniture as an example, its unique artistic qualities—natural, ethereal, transcendent, exquisite, subtle, and restrained—its pursuit of an inner feeling centered on spirit and momentum, and its artistic conception of "words failing to express the meaning, music beyond the strings"—all make countless people admire it. As the renowned Chinese classical furniture researcher Han Hui said, "According to modern aesthetics, the ultimate artistry, craftsmanship, design, and diverse styles of Ming Dynasty furniture still the heart today. Chinese furniture undoubtedly holds an immortal place in the history of world decoration." And how to guide people to discover and appreciate the artistic beauty of Chinese furniture is what the author hopes to achieve in writing this small book.