Furniture on CD-ROM
For the nine-month long exhibition, a video has been produced to introduce the furniture. They also plan to invite public television to come and make a furniture documentary, and even to bring together the classic and the modern by having Curtis Evarts appear on a CD-ROM giving a lecture about the intricacies of jointing techniques. "We want to spread the understanding of Chinese culture to the West," says Felicia Tan.
Also as part of the exhibit, Evarts and Wang Shixiang produced a catalogue of the museum's holdings, in both English and Chinese editions. Each item is explained by the two authors, and accompanied by details from woodcuts or paintings to show how the piece was originally used and how it evolved over time. Once in a while the authors express different views, but this actually pleases Wang Shixiang: "That makes things interesting. I don't agree with him, nor do I insist that he agree with me. We let the readers make up their own minds." This first-ever Sino-Western cooperation over Chinese furniture makes an interesting addendum to the long history of cultural exchange between China and the rest of the world.
This year is the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, an event which happened right in San Francisco, so even more tourists than usual are around. It is estimated that the exhibition will attract more than 100 visitors per day, adding another highlight to this popular city for travelers. When you get to San Francisco, after you've put some flowers in your hair don't forget to have a look at those precious gems from China that have survived for so long and now sit safe and sound in a distant land.
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The Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture, which is devoted to collecting Ming-style furniture, is located in the hills three hours' drive from San Francisco. One corner of the museum reproduces a lady's bedchamber.
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Simplicity of form is often the first impression which Ming furniture imparts, as revealed by the round-cornered, wooden-hinged huanghuali cabinet pictured here.
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(left) The graceful lines of the arches between the five legs of this huanghuali incense stand remind one of five great lotus petals. (center) This Luohan couchbed is made entirely of precious zitan wood. We can imagine its enormous value.
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(right) Much of Ming furniture's attraction lies in its "balance of simplicity and richness." Pictured here is a square huanghuali brazier stand.
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This huanghuali screen with an inset panel of marble, and this huanghuali horseshoe-back folding armchair, are among the museum's greatest treasures.
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At the exhibition in San Francisco, the way the furniture is arranged has a very authentic feel. This Luohan couchbed, surrounded by 12 screens, is where the host would entertain guests. Sitting or reclining on the bed one could enjoy a singing and dancing show while savoring the delicacies served on the little table placed on the bed.
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The Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture invited mainland Chinese art historian Wang Shixiang to provide the calligraphy for its name plaque. The museum's collection ranks more highly than any other collection of Chinese funiture in US museums.
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Miniature pottery furniture excavated from Ming-dynasty tombs often reflects the design of furniture of the time. These two sets of chairs and tables appear strikingly similar, though they are very different in size. (photo by Frederic Choisel)