The wisdom in the wood

The exhibition offers an opportunity to "look back at classical Chinese furniture, not simply to rekindle our interest in the past, but more importantly, to deepen our understanding of the wisdom embodied in these well-proportioned structures — the rules of boundaries, order, nature, and living — so that we may draw insights for the future", Lu says.

The development of Chinese furniture can be traced to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). It reached maturity during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) before flourishing during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

"The commodity economy and maritime trade prospered in the Ming and Qing periods, prompting interactions among artisans," says Sun Yiwei, one of the exhibition's co-curators.

"Prevalent cultural exchanges, both within China and with the outside world, jointly provided fertile ground for furniture art to reach a pinnacle."