Classical Chinese Furniture

This unique publication illuminates a fascinating and little-known area of Chinese decorative artChinese furniture of the 16th18th centuries. These beautiful chairs, stools, cabinets, and tables are highly sought after and have become the fastest-growing area of collecting within China itself. Author Marcus Flacks begins the book with a historical overview to place the furniture in context and then traces the trends and changes in collecting over the past 30 years. The heart of Classical Chinese Furnitureis the presentation of 52 masterpiecesall exceptional examples of great rarityaccompanied by detailed descriptions. These outstanding piecesmost never published beforeteach an important lesson on the Chinese approach to aesthetics, craftsmanship, architecture, and culture. They have even affected, directly or indirectly, much of 20th-century art, design, and architecture. Complete with invaluable appendices that visually unlock the secrets of timber, joinery, regional production, and the art of restoration, Classical Chinese Furnitureis an essential volume for collectors and expertsWestern and Chinese alikeas well as for anyone interested in furniture, aesthetics, and interiors, or simply fascinated by the extraordinary beauty of the pieces themselves.