antique-suzhou-style-stool-made-from-chickenwing-wood-745x550 How to identify Antique Chinese Furniture using the 6 main schools. Part 1: Suzhou style.

More often than not there are six primary recognized schools of Chinese article of furniture development:

From these six master styles, Suzhou, Guangdong and Beijing styles are consideredthe three main pillars. Shanxi, Ningbo and Shanghai are thus considered as secondary styles. And recollect – its important to note that a "style" does non ever necessarily correspond to a dating, especially in the example of older styles which may have been continued to exist produced in subsequently periods.

Lets talk about the first of these: Suzhou Manner Furniture.

Suzhou Fashion

Suzhou Style piece of furniture is what most people today call up of when nosotros refer toMing Modearticle of furniture.This is why it is oftentimes said that Ming Manner furniture was born in Suzhou.

Name (English):

Suzhou Furniture

Name (Chinese):

苏式家具

Sū shì jiājù

jiangsu-province-location-on-map-in-china How to identify Antique Chinese Furniture using the 6 main schools. Part 1: Suzhou style.
Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, Cathay

In Chinese, we phone call this "苏式" style furniture. Note that the beginning character苏式 is the same character as苏州 Suzhou – in other words denoting "su style" 苏 .

Pop Forest

Particularly pop was lighter colored woods, such every bitHuanghuali (黄花梨), Rosewood/Huali(花梨木), Fe Woods (铁力木) also every bit Zitan (紫檀). To a lesser degree (and in later years), darker wood like Mahogany/hóngmù (红木) were used.  Other hardwoods such as Ebony (乌木) Chicken Wing Woods (鸡翅木), Mulberry (柞榛木) and Burl Woods (瘿木) were used at times.

More than "common" woods such as Beech/Southern Elm (榉木) and Nanmu (楠木) were worked with too, however these common woods were not used for "court furniture."

During the Ming Dynasty, furniture produced inJiangsu Province, primarily in Suzhou, Yangzhou and Songjiang expanse (including Wuxi, Changshu, Nantong, Hangzhou & Nanjing, IE areas around the Taihu lake *) were sent upward north via the Grand Culvert to Tongxian (通县/通州) exterior Beijing where it would exist sent onward, either as tribute to the imperial courtroom or dignitaries, and/or purchased by wealthy merchants.

A-ming-dynasty-beach-wood-alter-table-1024x903 How to identify Antique Chinese Furniture using the 6 main schools. Part 1: Suzhou style.
A ming dynasty embankment forest altar table

Suzhou Style furniture is what nigh people remember of today when nosotros refer to "Ming Mode" furniture.

Pieces were costly, due to both the expensive materials used and extremely high transport costs. Co-ordinate to records from that period, a pair of Huanghuali (黄花梨) tapered cabinets, could toll every bit much as a small courtyard dwelling. Despite this fact,"Suzhou Style" became popular regardless and gained a reputation for quality, composure and beauty and stocks of the favored light colored Huanghuali (黄花梨) were still plentiful enough at the time to support the market.

* Also referred to as the "Jiangnan" (江南) region.

  • chinese-antique-round-backed-iron-wood-horseshoe-chair-870x1024 How to identify Antique Chinese Furniture using the 6 main schools. Part 1: Suzhou style.
    Qing round backed "equus caballus shoe" chair made from tieli (ironwood)
  • qing-dynasty-zitan-incense-stand-828x1024 How to identify Antique Chinese Furniture using the 6 main schools. Part 1: Suzhou style.
    A qing dynasty incense stand up fabricated from zitan with burlwood inset top
  • early-qing-daybed-1024x885 How to identify Antique Chinese Furniture using the 6 main schools. Part 1: Suzhou style.
    Early qing daybed made from beech wood
  • a-qing-dynasty-beech-wood-canopy-bed-1024x975 How to identify Antique Chinese Furniture using the 6 main schools. Part 1: Suzhou style.
    A qing dynasty beech wood canopy bed
  • A-ming-dynasty-beach-wood-alter-table-1024x903 How to identify Antique Chinese Furniture using the 6 main schools. Part 1: Suzhou style.
    A ming dynasty beach woods altar tabular array
  • A-Qing-dynasty-square-corner-cabinet-made-from-chicken-wing-wood-872x1024 How to identify Antique Chinese Furniture using the 6 main schools. Part 1: Suzhou style.
    A Qing dynasty foursquare corner chiffonier fabricated from chicken wing wood
  • A-qing-dynasty-huanghuali-square-table-1024x1011 How to identify Antique Chinese Furniture using the 6 main schools. Part 1: Suzhou style.
    A qing dynasty huanghuali square table
  • antique-suzhou-style-stool-made-from-chickenwing-wood How to identify Antique Chinese Furniture using the 6 main schools. Part 1: Suzhou style.
    A pocket-sized suzhou style stool made from chicken wing forest

Stylistic Elements

With an accent on make clean lines, proportions and counterbalanced simplicity, pieces were calorie-free and airy. Carvings and inlays were limited to modest areas and then as not to be excessive. The beauty of the forest was often highlighted rather than covered.  Because of the loftier cost of the materials used, careful planning went into each piece in order to eliminate any waste material.  In contrast with craftsmen from the north and south, cuts were always fabricated halfway through material, so as non to ever expose the joints. In keeping with this mentality, smaller items were produced as well, for case small boxes, chopsticks, brush pots etc once again, so that no material would be wasted.Suzhou style connected into the middle of the Qing dynasty before gradually beingness replaced with more "ornate" designs.

a-qing-dynasty-beech-wood-canopy-bed-1024x975 How to identify Antique Chinese Furniture using the 6 main schools. Part 1: Suzhou style.
A qing dynasty beech wood canopy bed

Its important to notation that a "style" does not always correspond to dating – particularly in the case of older styles which may have been continued to be produced throughout after periods.

** Images from here

A-Qing-dynasty-square-corner-cabinet-made-from-chicken-wing-wood-872x1024 How to identify Antique Chinese Furniture using the 6 main schools. Part 1: Suzhou style.
A Qing dynasty square corner cabinet fabricated from chicken wing forest

Next up: Function 2: Cantonese (Guangdong) mode.