Ming and Qing Furniture (Volume 2)

Author: Beijing Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: Ming 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, huali wood, tilia wood, and sash wood. These woods have rich colors, beautiful grain patterns, and a hard, fine texture. The variety and design of Ming furniture are rich and diverse, with the concept of complete sets of furniture already established, featuring matching sets for different architectural spaces such as halls, bedrooms, and studies. The main characteristic of Ming furniture is its use of wooden structural designs, forming distinctive shapes with simple, elegant, and unadorned aesthetics. It emphasizes the lines and forms 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, it only features small, localized carvings 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 furniture differs greatly from that of Ming furniture. The main features of Qing furniture are first seen in its heavy use of materials, with furniture having larger sizes and dimensions compared to Ming furniture. Second, Qing furniture is ornate, with decorative techniques such as inlay, carving, and painted designs, giving a sense of grandeur, stability, and luxury, forming a sharp contrast with the simplicity, lightness, and elegance of Ming furniture. Qing 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 for Qing-style furniture are Beijing, Suzhou, and Guangzhou. Due to their distinct local styles, they are also referred to as "Jing-style," "Su-style," and "Guang-style," respectively. Jing-style and Su-style furniture preserve more of the traditional forms of Chinese classical furniture, 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 could not fully capture its essence. Additionally, there were different qualities worth admiring and discussing. These qualities were often identifiable and could be appreciated directly. Second, to point out that although the Ming and early Qing periods were the golden age of traditional furniture, not every piece was necessarily good. While it is not necessary to avoid differing opinions when discussing furniture, the best way to encourage discussion and create a lively atmosphere is to arrange an appropriate setting, display the furniture for everyone to see, and allow for appreciation and evaluation.
Historically, furniture arrangements varied depending on the room. In halls and halls, objects were arranged symmetrically, which was fixed but sometimes restrictive. In studies and living spaces, functionality was emphasized, with flexibility and variety. 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-aisled 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 precious hardwoods with dense textures, elegant colors, and beautiful grain patterns. Below, only five main varieties—huali wood, zitan wood, qiji wood, tilia wood, and wen wood—are discussed, with a brief mention of wen wood. Huali 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 "xiangxiang huatan" or "yitangmu," as wood chips soaked in water can lower blood pressure, and wood chips used as pillows can alleviate muscle pain, lower blood pressure and, with documented medicinal properties. No wonder it is highly valued by many furniture enthusiasts.
Among all hardwoods, zitan wood has the hardest texture and heaviest weight, mostly dark purple-black, with some so dark they appear lacquered, almost invisible in grain. It is less ornate than huali wood but has a solemn and ancient elegance unmatched by any other wood. Qiji wood comes in two types: new and old. New qiji wood is rough, with alternating purple and black colors and unclear grain patterns, appearing stiff and lacking rotation. The wood fibers can also easily split or crack. Old qiji wood has a dense texture with alternating shades of purple and brown, especially on the longitudinal cut, where fine, floating grain patterns shine like the feathers of a bird's neck, creating a radiant luster.
Tilia wood, also known as "tieli wood" or "tieli mu," is the tallest among several hardwood species. Wen wood is not a species name but refers to the wood from the knotted, gnarled parts of old trees where tumors form. Beijing craftsmen call it "wenzi." The wood from these knotted areas always has swirling, fine 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 maintenance and care requirements for these pieces.
Classical furniture should not be placed in direct sunlight. When placing items on furniture, use a soft cloth as a buffer, lift and move vertically with care, and use a clean, soft, and appropriately damp cloth to wipe the furniture. 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, avoiding chemical waxes like Brasso. Since the furniture surface has no lacquer, it is best to choose an oil-based wax and regularly maintain the furniture by waxing. At least once a month in dry seasons, and less frequently in humid seasons, adjusting for the season. This helps keep the furniture supple for a long time.
As time passes, a hard film 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 repair 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 with wax. However, if scratches are deep or the furniture cracks, professional repair is necessary.
The expansion and contraction of furniture are normal, especially noticeable in areas with seasonal changes. Generally, each piece of furniture stabilizes after experiencing four seasons and becomes relatively stable.