Ming Dynasty Dragon Chairs

A rare pair of heavy Chinese hardwood chairs, Ming Dynasty,…
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A rare pair of heavy Chinese hardwood chairs, Ming Dynasty, 16-17th century, each one with an elaborate openwork dragon design around a 'shou' medallion on the back, three shaped aprons below the seat, carved with dragons, possibly zitan. See Wang Xixiang 'Classic Chinese Furniture', HK 1986, cat no 43, p82 & 270 for an almost identical chair; Also 'Connoisseurship of Chinese Furniture, Vol II', the same author, HK 1989, cat no A68

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  • Zitan Wood - Zitan is the most expensive, and since ancient times, has been considered the most precious of woods.

    Zitan wood is the hardest and heaviest of all hardwoods. It is purplish-black to black in colour, and with a grain so dense it is virtually invisible.

    Zitan can usually only be obtained in quite narrow strips and so it is rare to find large pieces of furniture made from this wood. True Chinese rosewood is a variety of zitan and is very rare.
  • Ming Dynasty - The Ming Dynasty was a ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644. It succeeded the Yuan Dynasty and preceded the Qing Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty was established by Zhu Yuanzhang, a former Buddhist monk who became a rebel leader and eventually overthrew the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty, China experienced a period of relative stability and prosperity. The government was centralized and bureaucratic, with the emperor at the top of the hierarchy. The Ming Dynasty is known for its cultural achievements, including the development of porcelain, the invention of movable type printing, and the construction of the Great Wall of China.

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