Chinese Faces

How are benches different from stools? This question has multiple correct answers. The commonly viewed interpretation of the differences between the two forms of furniture is that a stool would be a seat for one person and a bench for more than one.

There is something else to be said about benches as well as other Chinese furniture . Appreciation of antique furniture in China, as something other than simply used household goods, is new. Eastern societies, in contrast to many Western cultures, often did not value old or antique furniture. Antique furniture did not receive the same level of care that it would have in other cultures. Keep in mind that the Chinese don’t make use of hardwood flooring very much. Moisture absorption from the skin is more common with indoor furniture; also, since the availability of indoor heating varies more in the East than the West, furniture is exposed to a greater range of temperatures. Certainly, these observations are real, for all Chinese furnishings, and we talk of them here merely since several of the old benches available out West have evidence of moisture that was absorbed through the legs and have been repaired. It is common to find evidence of repairs in most pieces of Chinese furniture.

The majority of the more aged benches that are for sale are refinished. Chinese furniture that’s been refinished still retains its unique history, and the patina or grain design often remains after the process brings it to a nice gloss. Most people who just want a nice piece of antique furniture in their home don’t care about the process of refinishing and repairing. Unless you come from the mindset of those who believe in buying it ratty and leaving it alone, you’ll never be disappointed.

For more information about Chinese antique furniture, be sure to visit the link.