Antique - Furniture & Art
China’s Golden Age of cabinet making came during the Ming and early Qing Dynasties (c1400 – 1735) and the furniture of this era are greatly appreciated for both their technical and artistic qualities. Original pieces from these dynasties are rare and extremely expensive.
Furniture
From the middle of the Qing Dynasty traditional craftsmen, in their efforts to please their patrons began to produce furniture of a more varied design although still being aesthetically pleasing and incorporating styles and influences from both dynasties. In doing so the strict principles which had governed furniture design were abandoned.
Many items of furniture would have originally formed part of a bride’s dowry and then passed down from one generation to the next. However, many of the younger generation now have different values. New and imported furniture with a Western influence has become more popular, and not the furnishings of their ancestors.
Art
Ancestral Portrait Paintings also formed an integral part of ancient Chinese art and culture. These impressive, formal paintings were used during ritual and ceremonial family worship. An important element of the portrait was the Mandarin Square or Insignia Badge which indicated the status and rank of the wearer.
In recent years there has been an increased interest from the West now that China has adopted a more ‘open door policy’. Accordingly, the West is striving to learn more about the ancient cultures of China and in contrast seems to have a greater appreciation of the artefacts from this country.
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