Collecting guide: 10 things to know about classical Chinese furniture(2/2)

6. What about classical Chinese tables?

Recessed-leg table 

The recessed-leg table is amongst the most well-known and immediately recognisable forms found in classical Chinese furniture. Tables of this elegant and restrained form, with the graceful splay of the legs, trace their origins to furniture design of the Song dynasty. The basic proportions were adapted to make large painting tables, smaller tables, benches and stools. The form is also referred to in the Classic of Lu Ban as a ‘character one’ table due to its similarity in profile to the single horizontal stroke of the Chinese character for ‘one’.

Painting table 

A painting table must have a broad enough surface to accommodate a large painting and accoutrements such as ink, ink stones, brushes and washers. Wang Shixiang, the distinguished scholar of Chinese furniture, defines a painting table as any table measuring 76 centimetres or 30 inches or more in depth. 

Kang table 

Kang tables were typically used atop a platform, a couch-bed or daybed. The kang table was used to hold tea, food or objects to be used while the sitter rested on the bed.

7.What other forms should I look out for?

Sloping-stile cabinet 

The sloping-stile, tapered cabinet is among the most beautiful and elegant Chinese furniture designs. The very subtle splay of the legs lends a sense of stability and balance to the form while retaining a graceful and pleasing profile. The form was widely used in cabinetmaking throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Compound cabinet and hatchest 

Compound cabinets and hatchests combine a large square-corner cabinet with a small upper cabinet and were often made in pairs. Garments and large items would have been stored in the lower cabinets, while smaller items would have been kept in the top chests, often requiring the use of a ladder due to their massive size.

8.What are the qualities new collectors should look for when purchasing Chinese furniture?

When approaching a piece of Chinese furniture, step back and take in the whole object. How does it interact with the space around it? Look at the silhouette and profile, the splay of the legs, the movement of the arms, the textured planes of the cabinet doors. Consistency of form is the first indicator of quality and condition.

Condition is an important determining factor when it comes to value and also aesthetics. Given that Chinese furniture was used in daily life, it’s likely that even the most exceptional pieces have been restored, often in the form of patches to the wood, repairs to legs or arms, or reinforced joints. 

Don’t be afraid to look underneath a piece of furniture. To preserve the look of a piece, restoration is often concealed on its underside. The best way to understand what has been done is to turn it over.

9.How should classical Chinese furniture be cared for?

Chinese furniture is made from organic materials that react to their environment. In humid weather, wood expands, and in cold weather, it shrinks. Subjecting wood to unstable environmental conditions can lead to cracking panels and movement in the joints, among other problems.

Serious collectors install humidifiers and other forms of climate control in their homes. Maintaining the ideal humidity and temperature for the furniture will prevent damage and ensure that you will enjoy the pieces for years to come. 

Regular polishing by a trusted furniture restorer will help furnishings look their very best. Waxing the furniture not only gives the works their famed lustre; it also prevents the wood from becoming dry and brittle.

10.How do I fit classical Chinese furniture into my lifestyle?

Classical Chinese furniture can rhyme with almost any interior design or style. Its minimalist lines and architectural forms can be the striking counterpoint to a modern painting or contemporary room. Place a bold piece of sculpture on an incense stand. Position a daybed as a bench at the end of your bed. Center a kang table in front of a sofa.