Classic Chinese Furniture: Ming and Early Qing Dynasties [Hardcover]

Shixiang Wang (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1991

Written by an authoritative furniture historian, Wang Shixiang, this book provides beautiful color plates, basic knowledge, and detailed descriptions of many important pieces.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Even though strict principles governed Chinese furniture design of the Ming and early Qing dynasties, artisans created a myriad of forms and variations within this framework. The golden age of classical Chinese furniture lasted from approximately 1520 to 1735. Wine tables, officials' low-backed armchairs, carved clothes racks placed at the end of a bed, multipaneled folding screens, incense stands and a great canopy bed with full-moon opening, carved with dragon and flower reliefs, are among the 162 pieces assembled here from public and private collections in China. What at first appears monotonous turns out to be an art of great variety and sophistication. The author, a former curator of Beijing's Palace Museum, has produced a scholarly handbook with 332 color plates. It covers construction methods, types of precious hardwoods used, stylistic variations, even the ingenious joinery techniques that have helped these pieces endure for centuries.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This beautifully illustrated volume presents examples from the "Golden Age" of Chinese furnitureMing and early Qing (1368-1735). Craftsmen of this time, building upon earlier Song traditions, using imported hardwoods, and providing for a public newly interested in fine furniture, created the finest Chinese furniture ever produced. The text clearly discusses types of woods used, joinery, uses, and decorative techniques employed. Most of the text consists of notes to the 175 gorgeous color plates. A glossary of Chinese terms is included. As there is little readily available on this subject in English, this volume will be valuable for both collectors and scholars; definitely worth it despite the price. Patricia R. Hausman, Williamsburg Regional Lib., Va.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 328 pages
• Publisher: Art Media Resources Ltd (1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1878529021
• ISBN-13: 978-1878529022
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,708,997 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A guideline to all Chinese Antique Furniture Collectors, September 27, 1999

By 

Chris Wei ([e-mail]) (Shanghai, China) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classic Chinese Furniture: Ming and Early Qing Dynasties (Hardcover)

I have read this book over and over again. Being in the Antique Furnitue business, it has helped me with all my favorite collections. I have met Mr. Wangshi Xiang before, and I do respect and appreciate his hard work for studying the topic for almost 40 years. It is my belief that this book has reinforced the wave of collection of Chinese Antique Furniture. It is really sad that there are more authentic and rare pieces despered overseas than in China now.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A true masterpiece by a true master, November 11, 2007

By 

Biffle French (Vashon, Wa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Classic Chinese Furniture: Ming and Early Qing Dynasties (Hardcover)

I first came to classical Chinese furniture through the work of Gustav Ecke, who photographed Ming and early Qing pieces in the 1930's, about the time that George Kates was living his "fat" years in Peking. As a furniture builder I was fascinated by the incredible sophistication of the genre and also by the inexplicable abilities of the cabinet makers of the time. But looking at these pieces through Ecke's work is a pale experience compared to looking at it through that of Dr. Wang. Here is a Chinese scholar, working all his life in China, having access to the most beautiful extant pieces and in possession of the taste and technical skill to select and showcase the best of the best. My copy of this work is always at hand, and whenever I plan to build a new piece it is this one I pick up first. Dr. Wang's understanding of not only the aesthetics, but also the technical details is communicated to the reader in the clearest and most pleasing way imaginable.

I visited the "Red Sandalwood Museum" which is near the classical furniture district in Beijing recently. The first thing one sees is a placard with the face and words of Dr. Wang. His imprimatur assures the visitor that these walls hold value (as indeed they do.) This book is not only fascinating and educational, but beautiful. It's expensive, but well worth the money.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Buy For The Money, August 17, 2002

By 

Connie Jordan (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classic Chinese Furniture: Ming and Early Qing Dynasties (Hardcover)

Classic Chinese Furniture has wonderful illustrations and goes into introductions of the furniture any layman can understand. Mr. Wang has given many details to the reader so that a better understanding, what to look for and and how to judge the quality of a piece can be learned. Pen drawings of the pieces help to illustrate the different parts and clearly show the reader how the piece is put together. I travel to China often and purchased this book in Shanghai. It was more expensive in the bookstore in China than what Amazon charges...