Chinese Domestic Furniture in Photographs and Me

WesternershavelongadmiredChinesefurnitureforitsdurability，innerstrength，quietrestraint，andsimpledignity.Especiallyattractivetotheeducatedeyeareitspurityofline，devotiontodetail，andflawlessconstruction.ThisunabridgedreprintofarareclassicprovidesloversofChinesefurniturewithanenlighteneddiscussionoftheaccomplishmentsachievedbyfinecraftsmenoverthecenturies，includingtheaestheticlevelsattainedduringtheearlyShangperiod(1766–1123B.C.)，thetransitionalphaseofcabinetmakingduringtheYuanDynasty(1280–1368A.D.)，andtheperfectionincraftsmanshipreachedduringtheMingDynasty(1368–1644A.D.).Thetextalsoreviewstheoriginsanddevelopmentofbasicformsandmethodsofconstruction—fromtheselectionofwoodtoitsprocessing，cutting，joining，ornamentation，andfinalpolishing.
LongconsideredthedefinitiveworkonChinesehardwoodfurnitureinaWesternlanguage，thisindispensableguidecontains161superbplatesthatincludephotographsanddrawingsoftables，chairs，couches，cabinets，cupboards，andwardrobes.Therearealsomeasureddrawingsfor21exquisitelycraftedpiecesforwoodworkersinterestedincreatingauthenticChinesefurniture.
Whenthefirsteditionofthisvolumewaspublishedmorethan40yearsagoinPeking，only200copieswereprinted.Today，eachofthefewremainingoriginalsisworthseveralthousandsofdollars.Nowavailableinahandsomeandaffordablereprintedition，thisvolumeisauniqueadditiontothelibrariesofwoodworkers，artlovers，andanyoneinterestedinChinesecultureanddécor.