Furnishing the Gracious Chinese Home

In old China, rich people lived in a gracious residence such as the four-closed courtyard house siheyuan which is divided into chambers. Those who likes to appreciate the workmanship of Chinese furniture, their terms, and their display in different chambers of siheyuan , this is a must-buy book. Text in English and Chinese.

Chinese furniture design had been improved through the centuries, maturing during the 14th century. The Qing furniture developed from Ming style furniture; it was attractive with ornate novel decorative elements. In the olden days of China, those who had resources could afford to live in a gracious residence such as the four-closed courtyard house (siheyuan). The four-closed courtyard house is the Chinese art of enclosing space to create an ideal environment for habitation. The multifunctional Chinese classical furniture facilitates the indoor and outdoor activities of its inhabitants. Siheyuan is divided into chambers such as the Hall, female chamber etc.

This book provides details on which pieces of furniture should be displayed in each chamber, as well as full-color illustrations and diagrams of how each piece was made and assembled. This includes three-dimensional drawings by Philip Mak and perspective views of the interior of various rooms. The author guides the readers through them, narrating the placement of furniture with inherent social implications. For easy reference, each piece is numbered and a more detailed description available in the catalog section of this book.

Text in English and Chinese.