Furnishing the Gracious Chinese Home

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-colour 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 catalogue section of this book.

Text in English and Chinese.

About the Author

Philip Mak was born in Hong Kong. He is a graduate of London University with degrees in Arts and Science. For over 35 years, he has held curatorial prositions at the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Art Museum of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Tsui Art Museum, and the University Museum and Art Gallery of the University of Hong Kong in succession. Also he has been an associate of the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. He has organised many exhibitions on Western art, Chinese Art and Antiquities. Being an eloquent art historian and a trained art convervator, he has published many papers, catalogues and books. Currently he lives with his family in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.