Simple craftsmanship and smooth lines are the hallmarks of Ming-style furniture.
⊙ Compiled by Zhang Ni
In addition to a few trinkets, Ming-style furniture is primarily guided by practicality. Its shape and structure are determined by the daily needs of people, followed by artistic refinement such as appropriate ornamentation, carving, and meticulous details. This results in a perfect fusion with the art of shaping (as seen in the image). The scientific nature of Ming-style furniture is mainly evident in two aspects: modeling design and mortise-and-tenon construction, with the latter being particularly intricate.
The scientifically sound structure makes Ming furniture stand out. A single piece of furniture is typically composed of several components. Instead of using nails, these components are joined together using various forms of interlocking joints, creating a durable and ingenious whole.
The mortise-and-tenon structure, which dates back 7,000 years to the Hemudu culture (as shown in the photo), reached its zenith during the Ming Dynasty. The robust structure of Ming furniture connects components seamlessly. For instance, the cross-sections of furniture (grooves, mortises) and the T-shaped vertical elements (protruding wood, or tenons) are integrated through what is commonly referred to as "shouldered tenons."
This mortise-and-tenon technique is applied in the legs of tables, chairs, and stools, as well as in the horizontal belts of cabinets and their doors. There are two types of shoulders: large shoulders and small shoulders. Large shoulders have a tenon and a shoulder, while small shoulders are typically solid shoulders. Real shoulders involve a tenon at both ends of the horizontal member, forming a 45-degree equilateral triangular shoulder on the outer side of the tenon. This triangular shoulder fits snugly into the mortise (groove) in the vertical member. The purpose of the shoulder is to break the monotony of the structure while assisting in bearing some pressure. The floating shoulder, on the other hand, differs in that the triangular shoulder does not attach to the tenon, leaving a gap between the tenons and not connecting them. On the outside of the vertical element's mortise, a gap equal to the size and thickness of the floating shoulder is carved, but it remains unconnected. This method ensures that the vertical member retains its support capacity while reducing the amount of material used. Large shoulders are commonly found on the upper and lower parts of tables and chairs, whereas small shoulders leave only a small portion of the sloping shoulder attached to the tenon, maintaining the vertical member's support capacity and often used on the front and rear horizontal belts of cabinets.
Another approach involves furniture with round horizontal and vertical members. To ensure a seamless connection between these round elements, a curved round mouth is formed on both sides of the horizontal member to encircle the vertical member. The T-shaped structure also includes shoulders. When visible, the shoulder method is typically used, but in less conspicuous areas, shoulders may not be necessary. Without shoulders, there is a noticeable difference between the exposed and concealed parts. Some furniture features a mix of exposed and concealed sections. Typically, the tabletop is divided into one or two sections, with the remainder used for the concealed portions, depending on the table's length and the number of belts. If there are three belts, the middle one is left exposed. If there are five, the belts on either side of the central belt are made transparent.
From the simple analysis of the above mortise-and-tenon structure, we can observe the methods used in crafting classical furniture and understand one of the ways to identify antique pieces.
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