Asian Furniture: A Directory and Sourcebook

An attractive overview and peerless reference source on Asian furniture design through the centuries.

Western-style furniture was a relatively late arrival in Asia, where climates and lifestyles were markedly different from those in Europe. But colonial incursions and the exigencies of history conspired to bring about profound changes, and furniture design in Asia blossomed into a major decorative art.

Each of the eight countries covered here—China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Tibet, and the Philippines—developed its own particular designs, as unmistakably distinctive as its flag or anthem. Rather than simply succumbing to practical necessities, Asian designers created pieces of furniture as works of art. Today these diverse pieces are treasured by collectors worldwide, from Manhattan lofts to Parisian apartments, as well as in the countries where they originated.

The examples featured in this book were drawn from private collections, antique dealers, and museums around the world, and are organized by country and then by type: chairs, armoires, tables, chests, and more. Each piece has been specially photographed and isdescribed in detail, and the relations between the various periods and styles are explored. The texts have been written by experts from the eight countries represented here.

An attractive overview and peerless reference source on Asian furniture design through the centuries.

Western-style furniture was a relatively late arrival in Asia, where climates and lifestyles were markedly different from those in Europe. But colonial incursions and the exigencies of history conspired to bring about profound changes, and furniture design in Asia blossomed into a major decorative art.

Each of the eight countries covered here—China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Tibet, and the Philippines—developed its own particular designs, as unmistakably distinctive as its flag or anthem. Rather than simply succumbing to practical necessities, Asian designers created pieces of furniture as works of art. Today these diverse pieces are treasured by collectors worldwide, from Manhattan lofts to Parisian apartments, as well as in the countries where they originated.

The examples featured in this book were drawn from private collections, antique dealers, and museums around the world, and are organized by country and then by type: chairs, armoires, tables, chests, and more. Each piece has been specially photographed and is described in detail, and the relations between the various periods and styles are explored. The texts have been written by experts from the eight countries represented here. 435 illustrations, 300 in color.

Martha Smith - Library Journal

This beautiful coffee-table book is the first to explore the universe of Asian furniture. Moss, who has lived in India, Malaysia, and Hong Kong and has published many books on Asian history, arts, and culture, here draws examples of Asian furniture from various collections, organizing them first by country (China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Tibet, and the Philippines), then by type (e.g., chairs, armoires, tables, and chests). Each country's section begins with an introductory essay on the history and development of furniture in that country written by an expert on the respective indigenous crafts. More than 450 color photographs show pieces dating mainly from the 18th through the 20th centuries; a Western influence is obvious. This work is best suited to collectors and as a source of inspiration for designers and students. Serious researchers, however, will find it less useful for its lack of references to the literature on Asian furniture. Therefore, it is recommended to libraries that serve art collectors and buy materials pertaining to connoisseurship and collecting.