Chinese Furniture
The term Oriental furniture is a type of furniture that is originated from the Asian continent. Sometimes, people also think of Oriental furniture as a style of furniture that has Asian accents. With assimilation with western culture the term can also expand to modern Asian furniture. Because Asia is the largest continent in the world, the term is limited to countries from Far East Asia such as Chinese furniture and Japanese furniture, which is usually characterized with bamboo, or red color with some Asian characters or symbols on it.
China is one of the longest standing major civilizations in the world today. The familiar Asian minimalist aesthetic so often associated with Japan had its origins in China as far back as 1500 BC. The Oriental furniture present in some of the early artwork from that period shows woven mats, sometimes accompanied by arm rests, as providing seating accompanied by low tables. At this early time both unadorned and intricately engraved and painted pieces were developing a distinctive look for Chinese furniture.
Some of the styles now widely regarded as Chinese furniture began appearing more prominently in the Tang Dynasty. It is here that evidence of early versions of the round and yoke back chairs are found. By the Song Dynasty the use of varying types of Oriental furniture, including chairs, benches, stools and tables as well as certain technical developments in woodworking, had made huge progress and were now commonly found throughout Chinese society. Two particular developments were recessed legs and waisted tables. Newer and more complex designs were generally limited to official and higher class use, but like with many such things, all it would take was time and progress for these designs to filter through to the rest of society.
It was from this basis that Chinese furniture developed its distinguishing characteristics. Use of thick lacquer finish and detailed engravings and paintings as well as pragmatic design elements would continue to flourish and advance on a uniquely Chinese path. Significant foreign influence would not be felt until the (relatively recent) intrusion of the West. At various points in history Chinese were forbidden from traveling abroad to trade and countries seeking to trade with China had to do so through official channels as an exchange of tribute for gifts. In these trades the Chinese normally gave more than they received as a way of impressing smaller states with their awesome power, and were officially considered tribute missions despite the trades made. Oriental furniture was typically included in these exchanges.
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties the ban on imports was lifted, allowing for much larger quantities and varieties of woods to be brought in. The use of denser wood let much finer work be done, including more elaborate styles of joinery, used in many Oriental furniture designs still in use today. This was in part spurred by the rapid rise of the merchant class; a class that according to the traditional hierarchies should be the bottom rung, classically stratified as Scholars, Peasants, Artisans then Merchants. This new market fueled a return to some more traditional designs as well as technological innovations, further reinforcing a distinctive Chinese furniture style.
