Ming Dynasty Furniture

Posted by Michele | Filed under Artwalk, Furniture, Random

Ming Dynasty Style Sofa

Today, I want to go back a few years in time to the furniture style from the Ming Dynasty. It is beautiful and timeless. The Ming Dynasty was the last Chinese dynasty to rule the empire. It spanned almost three centuries between the fall of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368) and the rise of the Manchu Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). The Mongol rule lost it’s effectiveness after the civil war whereby Zhu Yuanzhang became the eminent leader. After elimimating his rivals, Zhu established the Ming Dynasty which reunited China Proper.

The Ming period was the Chinese most productive years and most stable due to the population numbered some 100 million. It was an age of expansion and prosperity when decorative arts flourished. As for the artistic achievements of Chinese Furniture, it has had a great impact on many Eastern and Western countries and plays an important role in world furniture. This was the age of expansion and prosperity when decorative arts and it’s furniture is characterized by it’s soft curves. It combined round and square, wide and narrow, thick and thin patterns and lines for contrast and thus formed the unique structure of Ming Dynasty furniture. The furniture is light and simple and conveys a sense of stability.

Floor sitting was widely practiced, traditional Chinese furniture is generally arrange in symmetrical suites or sets. Chairs were common furniture items arranged in symmetrical suites or sets. Craftsmen took the furniture traditions from the Song Dynasty and formed the Ming Dynasty style of furniture.

Collecting antiques can add monetary and spiritual value to your home. If you are looking for the real thing, below you will find some distinctions to look for.

  • Characteristics - Beautifully shaped, light but conveys a sense of stability. Decorations are mainly engraved, circular carving, ivory and diamond inlays in designs of landscapes, flowers and birds or small bronze or silver ornamentation
  • Woods - Rare fine timbers such as red sandalwood, elm camphor, beech, fir, boxwood, cypress, burl, chicken wing, walnut, ebony, birch, huanghuali, nanmu, rosewood, teak, Chinese catalpa, pine, poplar, locust, willow, oak Tieli . The Luohan bed above with the three panel screens is made of this Tieli wood.

Additional wood details -Fine grains and very deep colors with natural beauty, looking durable, smooth, plain and clean or elegant and ornate, resistant to decay

  • Finish - Lacquered (found common in palaces and homes of the wealthy), includes ti-hung or carved lacquer style t”ien-chi’l ( lacquer isused to fill in engraving. Luo-tien is inlaid with mother of pearl.
  • Construction - No visible joints, mortise and tenon joints, tongue and groove. Joinery should be consistent and construction logical. If it is not there is a good possibility the object is a copy or that it has been altered.

How would you decorate with this style of furniture? You can go all the way with Asian influences everywhere in the home or you can easily add a single chair to add charm. When you have eclectic taste such as mine, there are no rules but there must be a sense of some rhyme and some reason. If you have a contemporary home, it is very possible to mix this sofa above in to the mix. Can you imagine it with a bright fabric on it such as orange or red? You could add a variety of accent pillows. Or, you could use a beautiful monotone beige and cream balance of fabrics. That would give it a dressy look, more elegant. A contemporary rug design that mimics the frame work of the sofa would be terrific. Support large piece of glass with solid blocks of wood to create a simple but modern coffee table.

Use your creativity to add the elements of any cultural influence in your home. Spatter about your travels of the world to remind you of all those wonderful times. You’ll add value to your home as well as have a spiritual environment.

For more information about the beauty of this era, you can travel to Shanghai to and see the museum or search on line such as Rain Dragon Antiquities.

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Permalink | May 19th, 2008

2 Responses to “Ming Dynasty Furniture”

  1. Roger Says:
    May 23rd, 2008 at 5:38 am

    Nice piece. The great thing about these day beds is, whether its antique or not, when you add a custom-made bottom cushion, and some throw pillows it always looks classy.

  2. dc Says:
    May 23rd, 2008 at 8:02 am

    Thanks Roger. This post seems meager compared to your site. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

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