Chinese Lacquered Roundback Chair, c. 1850

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 traditional cabinetry and architecture techniques to the human body. In the case of this Yuanyi, or round chair, the flowing crestrail 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 traditional cabinetry and architecture techniques to the human body. In the case of this Yuanyi, or round chair, the flowing crestrail 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...

With its strong lines and upright stature, this imposing piece of furniture was the chair of choice for a 19th-century administrator in northern China. Known as guanmaoyi or official...

Vintage Chinese ming style black lacquer & cowhide arm chair. Additional information: Materials: cowhide, lacquer, wood. Color: black. Period: ...

Charming Neo Renaissance style chair dating from the 19th century. Its straight base is connected by a spacer. The seat is in cane. The backrest is completely carved with columns and...

Large and very elegant and well-made pair of Chinese armchairs from the late 1800s. The pair of armchairs is in curved wood. The backrest is curved and is paneled with friezes depict...

Pair of carved wood gilt oval back arm chairs with intertwined articulated floral motif, and terminating on floral corner medallions with fluted bu...