My friend Robert came to my showroom at the Chicago Merchandise Mart one day looking for a piece of furniture to be used as cocktail table. It is a well known fact that cocktail or coffee table does not appear in the vocabulary of Chinese furniture. Robert was quite aware of that and was willing to look for something that would work within his decorating requirements.
Very early on, we decided that we would rule out a square table. That was unfortunate because there seemed to be quite a few square tables. A square table is a very versatile in a Chinese home. Generally known by the name Eight Immortal Table (for reason still unknown,) it is commonly used as an eating table, or an offering table in a temple or shrine, or in a scholar studio or shop. Most homes in the 19 century did not have wood flooring; the feet were affected by wood rot. For resale purposes, these square tables were cut down to cocktail table sizes. The next choice would be pairs of square or rectangular stools which come in a range of material and style, depending on where they came from. Stools from Shanxi Province in North Central China are made of semi-hardwood, and they still retain the same form as their Ming Dynasty (CE 1368 – 1644) counterparts. The style is simple but sturdy, perhaps a little heavy looking. The stools from Zhejiang are lighter in appearance. Made of softer woods, they appear to be sophisticated in form, and often enhanced with carved designs. In addition, there are many variations of wood stools, from sophisticated designs made of highly priced hardwoods like huanghuali (yellow pear flower wood,) hongmu (a reddish color wood similar to rosewood.) to cedar or pine country stools. The third, though an unlikely choice, is the kang table. The kang table is seldom found in warm areas, though it is a staple in Northern China. It is used primarily on the kang, a heated brick platform in a home where the family sleep, eat and while away the long winter hours. Like the wood stool, the kang table comes in a variety of woods and styles. I have a personal fixation with small furniture and in my buying trips to China, I seldom walked away from this type of tables. However, I do not have many, for bonsai enthusiasts use them to display their prized collection.
Do you like Robert's choice? Personally I was astounded by his selection. The confidence in his knowledge of interior design soon calmed my apprehension that all things should be symmetrical, a convention that is deeply rooted in my Chinese nature. Take a look at the image – he has chosen a square stool with woven bamboo mat top and a long kang table in matching colors. Although the two pieces are of unequal height, they work together and integrate very well in this magnificent room. Do you like Robert's choice? Please tell me what you think?
