Chinese Furniture

In addition to being unique in style, Chinese furniture has been praised for its strong, durable structure and elegant lines. As a representative of the oriental arts, Chinese furniture ranges from simple pieces that display natural wood textures to magnificent pieces adorned with lavish carvings, lacquer, or precious stones and metals. A classic piece embodies the artistry and craftsmanship of the finest traditional Chinese furniture. As with Asian works of art, antique Chinese furniture is often crafted from rare, exotic, and even extinct woods that reflect a natural design aesthetic. There is a wide variety of Chinese furniture styles, from elaborately carved pieces to simple and rustic pieces almost bare of ornamentation. 

Chinese antique furniture holds the lead in the world's antique furniture market. The refined production process, elegantly simple design, graceful sculpting, mortise-and-tenon structure, and smooth lines contribute to its enduring artistic charm. Antique Chinese furniture has a high appreciation value in auction houses such as Bidsquare due to its elaborate structure, skillful lacquer pattern, and multi-functional design. The value and desirability of antiques depend on their age, rarity, condition, and provenance. 

Chinese classical furniture generally refers to a range of pieces made between the end of the 14th century and the beginning of the 20th century during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It includes all types of furnishings used in the home, such as chairs, stools, tables, cabinets, and bed frames, among others. Many pieces of furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties were handcrafted from padauk, rosewood, and other hardwoods. Collectors enjoy pieces made of rosewood and bamboo manufactured at the turn of the century. Several rare kinds of wood are incredibly scarce and therefore extremely sought after, such as Huanghuali used during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Huanghuali is a characteristically grained and sweet-scented member of the rosewood family, and it was often used for chairs, tables, and other decorative objects.  In the worldwide furniture market, it is considered the most valuable wood. In Chinese furniture, the pieces are generally held together through a complex network of joints rather than adhesives or nails.

A few exemplary collections can be found worldwide, including those at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Bidsquare offers a selection of the finest Classical Chinese furniture for sale at online auction that dates back to the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Quick Facts about Chinese Furniture

• Chinese furniture is usually symmetrical, regardless of its style or layout. It implies balance and stability with a sense of harmony, unity, and seriousness. 
• Ancient Chinese philosophies are also reflected in Chinese furniture. As in Daoism, yin and yang are in equilibrium, while tenons (yang) and mortises (yin) are complementary and integrated into tenon-mortise connections.