Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties: The Complete Collection of the Treasures of the Palace Museum

by Palace Museum

The first ever of its kind, this two-volume set describes and illustrates 465 pieces of Chinese classical furniture in the Palace Museum, 90% of which are published here for the first time. It is by far the most comprehensive study on the subject to date. Most of these remarkable pieces are made of rare hardwood or lacquered softwood originally handcrafted for the imperial class by highly skilled artisans. The Ming dynasty was the golden age of Chinese furniture making. Ming furniture features simple, smooth and flowing lines, with plain but elegant decorations highlighting the inherent beauty of the furniture's basic structure. Furniture from the Qing dynasty, on the other hand, reflects both the influence of increasing contact with the outside world through foreign trade, as well as advances in the techniques used by craftsmen. Designs became increasingly rich, finally reaching unprecedented pinnacle during this dynasty. This volume, written by Zhu Jiajin, acclaimed furniture historian and Palace Museum researcher with 60 years experience, is an invaluable reference work for scholars, collectors, dealers, and readers interested in the subject.

600 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002