Huanghuali Early Qing Dynasty Chairs and

Huanghuali Furniture/ Oriental Arts,

Huanghuali furniture, the term in Chinese literally means "yellow flowering pear wood furniture". The best Huanghuali furniture was made during the Mid Ming dynasty and late Qianlong Emperor of Qing dynasty. It was exclusively used by the imperial family, and the awarded officials. Only highly-skilled craftsmen were allowed to make furniture from the wood. It is also difficult to find large pieces of the Huanghuali, because the tree trunk often curls and twists as it grows. Therefore furniture made from a single large piece of wood is rare.

Huanghuali is a slow-growing tree. A twelve-inch trunk takes about 100 years to grow. Since mid Qing dynasty, the materials of Huanghuali became almost extinct. So till now, we can hardly see furniture made of Huanghuali and because of its rarity and quality, Huanghuali furniture is one of the most precious and expensive furniture.

The colour of Huanghuali wood is perfect - neither too subdued nor too show and its grain is beautiful. It is most often used as beds, tables or chairs.

But today it is hard to see even one piece of late or present time Huanghuali furniture.