A Look at Chinese Antique Furniture
When a person looks at photographs that were taken in China, he or she could notice that benches turn up in more of the photos than any other kind of furniture. They are seen outside of buildings as well as inside. They are present in the likenesses of both rich homes and meager housing. The multipurpose bench is so utilitarian that it can be seen used as seating both inside and outside of restaurants. Literally they seem to be everywhere.
One should get surprised by seeing the benches in variable size and its style. Nowadays a bench from the early Ming dynasty (fourteenth through seventeenth centuries) can be very valuable. These benches are beautifully constructed and made from the finest wood. Similar benches can be found in major museum collections throughout the world. Every day benches, used by the less privileged, show up in antique shops all over the world, often at very reasonable prices. Modern bench construction often follows the same time tested techniques found in the oldest types of benches. It’s surprising how similar benches look, regardless of whether they are half a century old or go back half a millennium.
Because the basic form of a bench is simple, Chinese antique benches are often found in western homes. The antique bench from China works well with contemporary pieces and can be used in many ways as well. Benches are often repurposed into use as decorative end tables for a sofa. It isn’t uncommon to see a single bench being used as side table, especially next to an arm chair. Benches are also used as coffee tables. In other words, Chinese antique benches are used today in western style houses with the same variety of uses as found in China.
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