The Simplicity of Ming-Dynasty Furniture

Constructed from precious woods by ingenious craftsmen 400 or more year ago, these pieces represent the apex of Chinese furniture production, says International Senior Specialist Marco Almeida.

‘The Ming dynasty is very much seen as the golden age of furniture production in China,’ says Marco Almeida, International Senior Specialist in Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. ‘When you look at a piece of Ming furniture, the first thing that strikes you is its simplicity. Their designs are not divorced from function: Ming pieces were made with a purpose, and their clean lines celebrate the material used.

‘The artisans who produced these pieces used the wood in very clever ways,’ Almeida continues. They sometimes used the grain to ‘give an idea of design,’ the specialist explains, ‘but it’s all very natural. You do find playful details, mostly dragons, and a lot of inspiration from the natural world.’

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