Qing Dynasty furniture, developed innovatively on the foundation of Song, Yuan, and Ming furniture, eventually formed a strongly representative national style and historical characteristic known as “Qing-style furniture.” The varieties of Qing-style furniture are very rich. The main types preserved today include beds, cabinets, stools, chairs, tables, stands, and screens. They often use hardwoods such as zitan, huanghuali, rosewood, chicken wing wood, and ironwood, as well as nanmu, camphor, walnut, elm, and other mixed woods, with zitan (scientifically known as Pterocarpus santalinus) and huanghuali yielding the best results.
Zitan is widely regarded as one of the finest materials for furniture making, but it was during the Ming and Qing dynasties that its qualities were fully exploited. Judging from the number of surviving exquisite pieces and their artistic value, the two golden eras of traditional furniture were the period from Ming Jiajing and Wanli to the early Qing Kangxi for huanghuali furniture (Ming-style furniture) and the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong periods for zitan furniture (Qing-style furniture). During the Qing Dynasty, zitan was further elevated as the preferred material for imperial furniture. Officials were dispatched across the country to oversee its procurement, and material selection became very meticulous. The requirement was for uniformity in the wood used, without mixing different types, and ideally, using wood from the same tree with no knots or blemishes. If the material did not meet these standards, it was discarded. To ensure uniform color and texture and structural solidity, small materials were not used for joining; instead, large, solid pieces were used, giving the finished pieces a broad, thick, and sturdy appearance. Zitan wood, already valuable, became even more precious when used in large quantities, making the zitan furniture of the Ming and Qing imperial courts true national treasures.
Qing-style furniture can be broadly categorized into three stages based on stylistic features: Early Qing, which retained Ming-style influences; the three Qing reigns, characterized by the elegant Qing-style; and Late Qing, which struggled to maintain the Qing legacy.
Before the Kangxi reign, zitan furniture largely retained Ming-style characteristics, making it difficult to determine their exact period today. At that time, zitan was not yet scarce, and most furniture was still made from it. The Su-style, known worldwide for its Ming-style features, became relatively conservative and increasingly unable to meet the needs of the ruling class and social trends, necessitating the introduction of new styles of furniture.
By the late Kangxi period, especially during the Yongzheng reign, the zitan furniture industry saw the emergence of many master craftsmen, marking a significant period of creative activity. Some of the existing Qing zitan furniture, with its meticulous structure, carefully selected materials, exquisite craftsmanship, and varied decoration, exemplifies the highest artistic value of the Qing Dynasty. During the Qianlong reign, particularly imperial furniture, the use of materials and craftsmanship reached unprecedented levels, with a focus on innovation and integration with various crafts, such as gold, silver, jade, gemstones, coral, ivory, and enamels. Records show that Emperor Qianlong greatly valued and loved zitan, actively participating in the design, production, restoration, style, and size modifications of the furniture made in the imperial workshops. The furniture produced during this time reflected his aesthetic preferences, leaving a lasting impression on each piece.
However, in the later years of Qianlong’s reign, the pursuit of zitan furniture became overly extravagant, leading to the addition of excessive non-functional decorative elements, which detracted from the overall effect. Each stage of Qing-style furniture reflects the socio-political and economic context of the time and the characteristics and temperament of the upper class.
Qing-style and Ming-style furniture differ significantly in their artistic styles. Qing-style furniture is characterized by luxurious and intricate designs, with solid and robust frameworks, more straight forms compared to the curved designs of the Ming Dynasty. The subject matter varied, sometimes featuring plain, solid structures with detailed carvings, differing significantly from previous designs. Qing-style furniture also boldly innovated in appearance, transforming simplicity into grandeur. While Ming-style emphasized artistic conception influenced by the humanistic environment, Qing-style focused on form, presenting a different stylistic thought of the Qing Dynasty, each with its own beauty.
Qing-style furniture was heavily influenced by foreign cultures. The zitan furniture in the Summer Palace is a clear example of this foreign influence, though the craftsmen of the time struggled to fully assimilate the essence of foreign art, resulting in somewhat cluttered compositions.
The decline of zitan furniture paralleled the rise and fall of the Qing Dynasty. By the late Qing period, zitan had become extremely scarce, but the imperial court’s extravagant pursuit of zitan remained unchanged. The Guangzhou style was still used in furniture production, exhausting the materials. The burning of the Old Summer Palace and numerous upheavals led to the destruction of much Qing zitan furniture, making the surviving pieces especially valuable in the international market. This explains why a piece of Qing zitan furniture always fetches astronomical prices at world-class auctions, coveted and collected by collectors.
Additional Information
Regional Variations: While zitan furniture is often associated with Beijing and the imperial workshops, other regions such as Suzhou and Guangzhou also produced high-quality zitan furniture, each with distinct regional styles.
Influence on Later Periods: Qing-style furniture significantly influenced later Chinese furniture designs and even modern reproductions, maintaining its legacy as a symbol of Chinese cultural heritage.
Preservation and Restoration: Efforts to preserve and restore Qing-style furniture are ongoing, with many pieces housed in museums and private collections worldwide, highlighting the importance of this craftsmanship in Chinese cultural history.
Investment Value: As noted, Qing zitan furniture is highly valued in the international market, often fetching high prices at auctions due to its rarity, craftsmanship, and historical significance. This has made it not only a cultural treasure but also a valuable investment.
