Rosewood Zodiac Ruyi Armchair

The prototype of this chair is on display in the Summer Palace today. It is different from the official hat chair, round chair, rose chair and other Ming-style furniture. It is a very typical Qing-style armchair. This type of armchair is a style that gradually emerged after the Qing Dynasty. The structure is quite different from the armchairs of previous generations. It is the most popular and the most handed down type of Qing Dynasty furniture. When in use, the tea table is placed in the middle of the pair of chairs, placed on both sides of the hall, or placed on both sides of the square table in the main hall. It is suitable for etiquette meetings between guests and hosts, and sitting upright. Its social function obviously takes precedence over its use function.

This Qing-style armchair evolved from a screen-style Luohan bed and throne in terms of structure. The whole chair is made of high-oil-density red sandalwood, and the craftsmanship is extremely sophisticated. The backrest and armrests of the chair are ethereal, and the huge Ruyi cloud-shaped headrest and the two curved arcs of the armrests are all carved out of large materials, with a large amount of material removed. The rest is made of short materials to form a crooked pattern, which is simple and transparent. The side of the chair back facing inward is shoveled with zodiac relief patterns, and the carving is extremely exquisite. The animal hair is hand-carved using the silk feather sandalwood carving technique, and every detail is clear, and the animal's expression is vivid.

The seat surface is built with a frame and inlaid with a core. The frame is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, reaching the bottom pressure line. The seat is waisted, and the bottom plate is square and stable, still with the Ming style. The tooth plate is connected to the rounded corners of the square legs, the edge is a positive line, and the bottom foot is turned inward to retract the horseshoe pattern and fall on the base. The four corners of the bottom are supported by the bottom foot to install the turtle feet, and the bottom of the foot adopts the "hook" commonly used in Cantonese furniture. This method can save materials and increase the degree of decoration. The curve is beautiful and smooth, and the simplicity is rich in changes. The color matching of the whole set of seats is elegant and quiet, and the carvings are prominent. A coffee table is also provided, and its workmanship style is the same as the seat.

The material used for this chair is thick and dense, and the shape is well-balanced, which is a typical style of armchairs in the Qing Dynasty. In traditional culture, the zodiac is an important consideration in marriage. Displaying a traditional armchair with the zodiac signs of the couple at home, plus the precious material of red sandalwood, can better symbolize a happy marriage and a love stronger than gold.

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