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Ming Dynasty desk and chairs displayed in the Summer
Palace |
With a time-honored history, the handicraft of
furniture formed its unique characteristics in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Furniture of the Ming Dynasty Style refers to the ones from the Ming Dynasty to
the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). An important feature of Ming Dynasty
furniture is that the items are beautifully shaped. The furniture is simple and
conveys a sense of stability. The size and proportion of the different parts
adhere to aesthetic principles but take practical use into consideration. It
combines aesthetics, mechanics and practical use into one integral
whole.
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Pear wood dressing table of the Ming Dynasty
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Ming Dynasty furniture was made with consummate skill.
It combined round and square, wide and narrow, thick and thin patterns and lines
in sharp contrast and thus formed the unique structure of Ming Dynasty
furniture. All parts of the furniture were pieced together without visible
joins. The outline is natura1 and fluid. The surface was polished with wax to
make it look bright, smooth and clean and to reveal its natural beauty.
The Ming Dynasty Style Furniture is also
well known for its exquisite shapes. The S-shaped chair back is unique in
appearance, at the same time fit to the physiological nature of humans. The
different combinations of lines and planes at various proportions can produce
different artistic flavor.
The decorations are mainly engraved lines
and small areas of circular carving and embossment. There may, however, also be
wood, ivory and diamond inlays in the patterns of landscapes, flowers and birds
or small bronze and silver ornamentation. The refined ornamentation in small
areas forms a sharp contrast with the furniture's overall clean and simple
appearance. The line of the edges of the piece is shaped in different lengths
and widths depending on the grain of the timber to create a true, harmonious
effect, so that the piece looks natural and balanced. Generally, carvings are
only conducted in a small area, which can attract more attention to its delicate
decoration.