Chinese Roundback Chair, circa 1850

Prior to the 10th century, Chinese society eschewed raised seats in favour of mats. The rising popularity of chairs and other forms of elevated seating led craftsmen to adapt traditional cabinetry and architecture techniques to the human body. In the case of this Yuanyi, or round chair, the flowing crest rail is a direct descendant of the simple armrests that had traditionally supported individuals on mats in their homes. This homage to an ancestral form, combined with traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery techniques, created an elegant, functional chair that has endured for centuries and inspired many contemporary furniture designers...

Prior to the 10th century, Chinese society eschewed raised seats in favor of mats. The rising popularity of chairs and other forms of elevated seating led craftsmen to adapt traditio...

Prior to the 10th century, Chinese society eschewed raised seats in favor of mats. The rising popularity of chairs and other forms of elevated seating led craftsmen to adapt traditio...

This bentwood chair was created over a century ago in northern China by moistening, bending, and heating willow to form its desired shape. It is beautifully carved with auspicious flowers and is considerably smaller than most roundback chairs. As the height and size of chairs were traditionally marks of status in Chinese culture, it is likely that this artful chair...

A Chinese Hongmu corner chair, 19th century. The horseshoe-form back with molded crest above a pair of open carved splats with fruiting and fl...

A Chinese antique elmwood armchair from the early 20th century, featuring an open back with serpentine splat and gracefully curving arms. This elegant chair was crafted in China dur...

A Chinese Qing Dynasty period elmwood horseshoe back chair from the 19th century, with hand-carved medallion and natural patina. Created in China during the Qing Dynasty, this elmwood chair...

A Chinese Qing Dynasty period wooden armchair from the 19th century, with hand-carved motifs, serpentine open arms and straight legs with stretchers. Created in China during the Qing Dynasty, this chair features an open wooden back, adorned with a curving splat accented with a hand-carved floral motif, responding beautifully to the carved décor connecting the upper rail to the side supports. Two serpentine open arms with swan neck frontal supports rest on the rectangular seat presenting a central recessed panel. The chair is raised on four traditional legs, connected to one another through side stretchers or varying heights. With its clean lines, lovely light brown lacquer finish and delicate décor, this 19th century Qing Dynasty Chinese chair...