Traditional Asian furniture can provide inspiration for Western homes.
Asian furniture, including Chinese and Japanese furniture, is coveted by many Westerners. Understanding the history and variety of Chinese furniture and the traditional Japanese room decorating style is a good place to begin when considering decorating in this style. Does this Spark an idea?
Early Chinese Furniture
Cultural and economic changes in China influenced the development of Chinese furniture from the simple to the intricate, according to Antique Chinese Furnitures.com. The Chinese mostly sat on straw mats on the floor in early antiquity, but beds and couches came into widespread use after 221 A.D. Western-style chairs and other seating began to enter China during the Wei-Chin (220-420 A.D.) and Northern and Southern dynasties (420-589 A.D.), and straw mats came to be used as coverings for beds and couches.
Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties
Chinese furniture attained a high level of development in the Ming and Ch'ing dynasties, and consequently most Chinese furniture design today follows in the tradition of these periods. Ming furniture has simple, smooth, flowing lines and plain, elegant ornamentation. In contrast, Ch'ing dynasty furniture, influenced by burgeoning foreign trade and advances in craftsmanship techniques, features rich and intricate ornamentation and coordinated engraved designs.
Types of Chinese Wood Furniture
Wood is the principal material used in the creation of Chinese furniture, and lacquered furniture and hardwood furniture are the two main types of wood furniture. Lacquered furniture, used in palaces, temples and well-to-do homes, includes the types t'i-hung (carved lacquer style), t'ien-chi' (where carved lacquer is used to fill in an engraved design and then rubbed flat), miao-chi'i (outlined lacquer style) and luo-tien (furniture inlaid with mother-of-pearl). More than one method can be combined in one piece. Hardwood furniture was associated with the homes of officials and nobles. Red sandalwood is the most valued hardwood used in Chinese furniture making.
Other Materials
Bamboo and rattan are other materials important to Chinese furniture. Bamboo is common in Asia and the bamboo industry is particularly developed in Taiwan. Bamboo can be used in common with other materials, including rattan, wood and ceramic material.
Japanese Furniture
The traditional Japanese home is based on the concept of Ma, the balance between space and objects, according to BBC Homes. The dimensions of traditional Japanese rooms are measured in tatami mats, made of woven rice straw and measuring about 180cm by 90cm. A doorway should equal the height of two mats and be one mat wide. Tatami mats are used for seating, flooring and sleeping. Remove your footwear (slippers, in Japanese tradition) when stepping on a tatami mat to avoid damaging it, advises Japan Guide.com. Tatami rooms have an alcove (tokonoma) where the occupant displays a hanging scroll (kakjiku) and a flower arrangement (ikebana) or a piece of pottery. Sliding paper doors (fusuma) and sliding paper screens (shoji) provide the entrances to the room. Shoji slide on wooden tracks and can be removed completely.
Tags: Chinese furniture, Chinese furniture, traditional Japanese, Asian furniture, beds couches, carved lacquer, lacquer style