- Welcome to Forbidden City
- Fine Oriental Furniture and Artefacts
Chinese furniture as we know it did not come into existence until the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD). Before this time Chinese knelt or sat cross-legged on woven mats surrounded by sparse, low-level furnishings. Chairs, stools and tables are believed to have been introduced from neighbouring countries, with furniture design and carpentry becovming firmly established during the late years of the Song dynasty (960-1279). However, it was in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) that furniture became a true art form and accordingly the finest Ming examples are celebrations of classic line and understated elegance.
The Qing period was the last dynasty in China’s long, long history of rule by emperors, and it represents the end of a cultural continuity that lasted uninterrupted for thousands of years. It was this final dynasty that bought a new cultural dynamic to China as it was under the Qing emperors that the Westerners first brought their influence to Asia and as their influence grew, their ideas and tastes mixed with those of the locals. The furniture that marked this late-Qing period is both colourful and creative. It is painted with scenery and designs and in this respect differentiates itself from the classic Ming, natural wood finish.
One of the best examples of the sumptuous Qianlong period and the shift of taste to more opulent ornamentation is the emperor’s rosewood throne, now in the T.T. Tsui Gallery of London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. This red lacquered throne displays minute carvings of cloud-like emblems and historical personages.
It was the great Ming and Qing designers and craftsmen who transformed furniture into an art form and these opposing styles are of equal style and elegance. Many Western connoisseurs have a preference for lacquered furniture of a more colourful and elaborate design however, relatively plain hardwood products have also found favour. Forbidden City source all types of influence and our furniture ranges from elegant Ming inspired pieces to the more elaborate Qing items.
Lacquer
Chinese craftsmen are masters of layering different colours to produce a desired tone and depth of finish that achieves a real warmth and glow. It is a multi-step process of layering traditional Chinese lacquer (a natural product made from the sap of the lacquer tree) on the surface of the wood. Various layers are applied in block colour, which together will form the desired shade of red or give a degree of warmth to a black effect. The correct number of coats, the requisite amount of rubbing and sanding in between coats to create a seamless effect, is very difficult and is a technique handed down among generations of furniture makers. It provides a gloss finish that protects the wood against water, wear and fading.
Wood
The range of woods used and the quality with which these items are produced is very impressive. Forbidden City offer pieces created in a variety of woods and also items that have a less “finished” appearance, the mottled, textured appearances remain and keep the pieces interesting. A piece with this finish would feel just as comfortable next to a modern, clean item of furniture but the finishes would complement each other by contrast rather than similarity.