Ming and Qing Furniture (Part 1)

Author: Tian Xiao
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-03-01
Features: Ming Dynasty furniture is generally referred to as "Ming-style furniture." Ming-style furniture primarily uses precious hardwoods from India, Myanmar, and Southeast Asia, such as zitan wood, huili wood, tie-li wood, and suanzhi wood. These woods have rich colors, beautiful grain patterns, and a hard, fine texture. The variety and style of Ming Dynasty furniture are rich and diverse, with the concept of complete sets of furniture already established, featuring matching furniture for different architectural spaces such as halls, bedrooms, and studies. The main characteristic of Ming Dynasty furniture is its use of wooden frame construction, creating a unique form with simple, elegant, and unadorned designs. It emphasizes the lines and shapes of the furniture, reflecting a bright and fresh artistic style. At the same time, Ming-style furniture fully showcases the beauty of hardwoods' colors and grain patterns, avoiding excessive carving. To highlight the elegance of the lines, small-scale carvings are only applied locally without compromising the overall effect. The structure is rational, and the design is beautiful, fully reflecting the outstanding level of "Ming-style" furniture.
The artistic style of Qing Dynasty furniture is entirely different from that of the Ming Dynasty. The main feature of Qing-style furniture is its heavy use of materials, with furniture being wider and larger in size compared to the Ming style. Another feature is its elaborate decoration, using techniques such as inlay, carving, and painting, creating a majestic, stable, and luxurious feel, which contrasts sharply with the simplicity, lightness, and elegance of Ming-style furniture. Qing-style furniture primarily uses zitan and hongmu wood, combined with various craftsmanship techniques, forming a unique style known as "Qing-style furniture." The main production centers of Qing-style furniture are Beijing, Suzhou, and Guangzhou, each with its own regional style, hence they are also referred to as "Jing-style," "Su-style," and "Guang-style." Jing-style and Su-style furniture retain more traditional Chinese classical forms, while Guang-style furniture, influenced by Western culture, has developed a unique style.
The appreciation of furniture is often distinguished by the "Sixteen Qualities" and "Eight Deficiencies" to assess whether a piece is good or bad, beautiful or ugly. The purpose was twofold: first, to explain the simplicity and rustic charm of Ming-style furniture, which was widely praised but did not fully capture its essence. Additionally, there were different qualities worth appreciating and discussing. These qualities are often identifiable, and one does not need to seek them beyond the visible, making them universally admired. Second, to point out that although the Ming and early Qing periods were the golden age of traditional furniture, not every piece was good. While it is not necessary to avoid differing opinions when discussing furniture, the best way to engage in lively discussion is to arrange an appropriate setting, display the furniture for everyone to see, and allow for appreciation and critique.
Furniture arrangement in previous eras varied depending on the room. In halls and halls, objects were arranged symmetrically, which was fixed but sometimes rigid. Study rooms and living spaces emphasized practicality, being flexible and varied. This created a contrast between symmetry and asymmetry, fixed and flexible arrangements. Contrast is better than monotony, as it makes relative qualities more prominent. Moreover, the presence of contrast itself implies variation rather than uniformity. While it is hard to imagine three or five-arched halls in modern life, it is still possible to consciously combine symmetric and flexible arrangements, as both can be seen in contrast and variation.
The high level of Ming and early Qing furniture was achieved due to the use of hard, dense, elegant-colored, and beautifully grained precious woods. Below, only five main varieties—huili wood, zitan wood, ji-chi wood, tie-li wood, and yingmu—are discussed, with yingmu mentioned briefly. Huili wood has a color that is neither too dull nor too flashy, with grain patterns that are subtle yet dynamic. It is also known as "xiang-xiang huang-tan" (fragrant yellow) or "yao-xiang mu" (hypotensive wood), as wood chips soaked in water can lower blood pressure, and wood chips used as pillows can promote blood circulation, lower blood pressure and, with documented medicinal properties. No wonder it is cherished by many furniture enthusiasts.
Among all hardwoods, zitan wood has the hardest texture and heaviest weight, mostly dark purple-black, with some so black they are almost invisible in grain. It is less ornate than huili wood but has a solemn and ancient elegance unmatched by any other wood. Ji-chi wood comes in two types: new and old. New ji-chi wood has a rough texture, alternating purple and black, with unclear grain patterns, rigid and lacking rotation, and fibers that are prone to splitting. Old ji-chi wood has a dense texture, with varying shades of purple and brown forming patterns, especially on the longitudinal section, where fine, floating grain patterns shine like the feathers of birds' necks. Tie-li wood, also known as "tie-li mu" or "tie-li li mu," grows to be the tallest among hardwoods.
Yingmu is not a species name but refers to the wood from the knotted growths on old trees, where the wood is dense and twisted, often called "yingzi" by Beijing craftsmen. The wood from these growths always has fine, swirling grain patterns. Classical furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties is all solid wood with mortise and tenon construction, so the properties of the wood determine the care and maintenance requirements. Classical furniture should not be placed in direct sunlight. When placing items on furniture, use a soft pad to protect the surface. Lift and move furniture gently in a vertical direction. The cloth used for cleaning should be clean, soft, and at an appropriate temperature to avoid leaving water droplets or streaks. Avoid using wet cloths for daily cleaning, and when placing cups, use a coaster to prevent water marks. If stains or water marks occur, apply a small amount of wax—preferably a natural oil-based wax, not chemical-based ones like Pledge. Since the furniture surface has no lacquer, it is best to choose an oil-based wax and regularly maintain the furniture by applying wax. At least once a month in dry seasons and less frequently in humid seasons, adjusting for the season. This helps keep the furniture supple.
Over time, a hard layer may form on the furniture surface, gradually reducing the frequency of waxing. Classical furniture should be maintained regularly, with a waxing every quarter under normal conditions. If the furniture is old, professional restoration may be needed to protect its material and structural integrity. Avoid strong sunlight exposure to prevent changes in the wood's natural color. If small scratches appear, they can be removed by waxing. However, if scratches are deep or cracks occur, professional repair is necessary.
The expansion and contraction of furniture are normal, especially noticeable in regions with four distinct seasons. Generally, each piece of furniture stabilizes after undergoing four seasonal changes and remains relatively stable.