Some of the most interesting pieces of China furniture can be found during the imperial Qing Dynasty. This is the period in China's history when the country was opened up to cultural, political, economic and social interaction with the western world and has been described as "awakening sleeping giant."
With foreign trade comes foreign influences that often start language and political concepts, followed by the arts, crafts and technologies. It is in the area of arts and crafts that the China furniture we know today had its roots during the Qing dynasty.
Perfecting the art of furniture making that started during the Ming dynasty took a more interesting detour during the Qing dynasty that succeeded it. It should be noted the shift from a predominantly minimalist styling of the Ming dynasty furniture to the more elaborately festooned Wing dynasty furniture had been facilitated by the changing tastes of the home owners of the latter period. For starters, the Qing dynasty rulers were of Manchu ethnicity while the earlier Ming dynasty rulers from of Han origins. Secondly, the hard mahogany wood that was most preferred during the Ming Dynasty has given way, thanks to its natural depletion, to a smaller variety sandalwood that had a profound impact the making of China furniture during that period.
Innovation
Blending a newfound artistic styling and function-centric appeal of western thought, some of the more bizarre furniture in Chinese history can be found during the Qing dynasty. It was at this time when a bed had been designed that functioned as a complete boudoir with other accouterments that made it look more like a reclining chair with swing trays and holders of glass and plates as well as storage racks for bedroom nick knacks.
Then you have a couple of furniture oddities like a "warming chair" which accommodated a tray under the seat where hot charcoal embers could be put in to warm the seat during winter. There was also a "cooling bed" which had a water-tight layer under a thin mattress where cold water could fill it up assuring a cool restful sleep during the hot summer nights.
Embellished designs were the order of the day so that intricate woodcuts, mother of pearl and marble inlaying and other ornamentation never before seen started to define the character and distinct styling of the Qing dynasty furniture. There are still many examples of furniture of the period whose functions could not be ascertained but that has not deterred collectors from acquiring them. Afterall, antiques are never purchased for their functional value.
