Chinese Furniture – Chinese Cabinets

May 2nd, 2011

The inherent beauty of Chinese art as well as the intricate design found in antiques such as antique Chinese furniture pieces, will certainly appeal to people who have an inclination or love for visual arts. While the appearance of Chinese furniture pieces and the materials they are made of contribute to its aesthetic value, their engravings do more so. Although there are some who may understand the bearings of the symbols engraved on various Chinese antique furniture pieces, most have very little or no knowledge at all as to what these symbols mean or represent. Gaining a general understanding of the conventional symbols used by the Chinese in furniture design will help you form a preference for the style/s of furniture you may consider buying. The design rings true on the Chinese cabinet too.

Gods
There used to be a number of gods thought to be worshipped by the ancient Chinese. These gods who were represented by certain symbols were mostly linked to or attributed with the different aspects of human existence. Hence, emotions which have an extensive influence upon every human action, play a vital role in the depiction of these gods. In the hierarchy of Chinese gods, there is a top tier of gods known as the Stellar Triad and a second tier known as the 8 immortals. These gods commonly appear in Chinese antique. To name a few, there was Hexiangu (for Marriage), Lu Dongbin (Liberator of greed and lust), Zaojun (Harmony in the household) and Xi (joy).

Animals and Plants
The natural world encompasses the various disciplines that govern every aspect of Chinese culture. It is thus inevitable to find depictions of plants and animals in a plethora of Chinese antiques. Animal symbols in particular, include bats (representing good luck), monkeys (embodying human spirit) and turtles (immortality). The attribution of certain characteristics to animals is no different than the representation of gods.

Flowers, Fruits, and Vegetables
Although these three may well fall into different categorisation, they are all used to represent nature’s productive and nourishing principle. While some of these symbols may not consistently stand for conventionally recognized trait or attribute, they are nevertheless subsumable into one principle, that is, nature. And nature encompasses not only principles governing birth but also preservation, sustenance, and welfare. For example, bamboo, pine, and mushrooms along with other plants with attributes conventionally recognized to share similar attributes, all represent longevity, which is an aspect of the natural world. Other common representations also include flowers which stand for wealth, lotus for progeny, and peach for joy.

There are also miscellaneous symbols which made their way into China’s artwork such as coins or water ripples representing wealth, fans for goodness and the simple vase for peace. These symbolisms of course may stretch to far more complex meaning but you now basically have a general overview of Chinese semiotics which will help you decide better which furniture piece suits your taste.

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Art Deco Furniture

April 17th, 2011

In case you are wondering if art deco is only limited to furniture, the answer to that is no. At the height of the popularity of art deco in the 30’s, it had its hand in almost every product and item available for homes. This includes bedroom furniture, mirrors, rugs, and even the most remarkable Chrysler building built in 1928.

Before art deco furniture design was popularized, the great depression hit the world and many countries, including America, were affected. The poverty was extensive, people were depressed, national unemployment reached was at its highest peak, and many cities were turned into shanty town. However, this same situation served as an inspiration for art deco designs. Despite the crises, the few elites have patronized art deco products; thus the beginning of its popularity in 1930. It was an art movement called that has stood the test of time.

It was that sad event in the late 20’s that allowed art deco to flourish in America and eventually helped the country recover from economic loss. Due to popularity and consistent quality production, art deco design has conquered not just the simplest home accessory but also the architectural industry. But although a lot of art deco commodities have flooded in the market, it was the furniture category that has really marked the popularity of the design.

Art deco furniture offers a new and unique craftsmanship of living room and bedroom furniture. Aside from having beautiful designs, they are also ridiculously durable; hence are a good investment. The thing is, owning a genuine art deco furniture piece in this time is absurdly expensive. If you are on the look for a good buy, you can try inquiring from antique shops and some online auction stores like eBay. However, if you only need art deco furniture for decoration purposes and your budget is limited, you can also try knock-off furniture products.

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Moroccan Furniture

April 12th, 2011

If you are yet deciding on the type of furniture you want for your home, you could explore the possibility of owning Moroccan furniture sets. Good furniture pieces make a home homey and a comfortable place to live in. However, sometimes owning a set of furniture is not just enough. You also need to put in some sense of creativity in your home; thus deciding on a particular theme for an interior design is important. Among many popular interior designs available across the globe, Moroccan’s stands as one of the most favourites.

Many artists, including interior decorators have eyes for Moroccan furniture because of its unique beauty and craftsmanship that fits and transform any kind of space. There are many different aspects of Moroccan interiors aside from the furniture. Hues, patterns, textures, fabrics, and accessories – all have distinct Moroccan characteristics that make any living space regal and unique.

You will immediately recognize Moroccan colours because they are not only vibrant but also dazzling that usually comes in mosaic patterns. The colours are not only picked out of nowhere. They have meanings and cultural representations. For example, colours blue, red and green represent the Moroccan coast, symbolizing its existence. The colours gold, silver and yellow on the other hand represent the deserts of Morocco.

Going back to Moroccan furniture, each piece is sure to be made with the finest material, handcrafted to guarantee its unique design and quality. Furniture seats can be made of wool, silk, or leather, patched with different shapes to mark its signature. Since the colours are vibrant and stunning, they can be perfectly placed in a dull living area to give it a twist of life. If you are not yet very sure about choosing Moroccan furniture, you can visit different furniture shops to compare designs and colours; as well as search online or read home magazines. Remember that a home must be your comfort zone and space for expression, so better turn it into one.

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Danish Furniture

March 23rd, 2011

Danish furniture was designed in the 40’s and became popular until the 60’s; although according to the record, this type of furniture was only produced in limited numbers as compared to other styles. What makes Danish furniture popular is its quality that can last a lifetime. Most Dansk furniture is made of Teak – a very strong and durable kind of wood that is also known to be an exceptional material for a sleek and elegant furniture piece. This is why Danish furniture pieces are excellent vintage furniture, which can be bought from antique shops and online auction stores.

One of the earliest Danish furniture that marked a name in the industry was the egg chair that was designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1958. He made it for his hotel in Copenhagen. Another one is the PH lamp that was designed in 1926 that has concentric hues in different diameters so it reflects lights of different colours. These furniture pieces are now hard to find. However, antique auction shops may still have a few pieces for a great cost.

Since authentic furniture pieces are expensive and are already, replicas were created to mimic the style and sophistication of Danish furniture. This is one good way of buying this type of furniture at a lower cost. However, the quality of these replicas may not be as good as the authentic ones. Some may be made durable, some may not. For antique investment, buyers may buy Danish furniture (and Scandinavian Furniture) in thrift shops or online auction stores. They just have to be certain that they are paying the right price for the right kind of Danish furniture. Finally, buyers have to make sure that they are buying from an authentic shop and not from online scammers. EBay is one famous online store that sells antique products.

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Funky Chairs and Funky Furniture

March 14th, 2011

Funky chairs are one of the most helpful furniture items in a home. They come in different colours, styles, sizes, and materials. Every chair has its own function. It can be for lawn, living room, dining room, or bedroom. Some comes with armrest and back; some do not. In an interior decoration, chairs are used as accessories too, apart from its major function, which is to serve as comfortable seats.

The sofa is the most common chair in the living room and great to help with funky furniture. This includes love seats, recliner sofas, sectionals and lounge sofas that are certainly comfortable for relaxing or lounging. The price for each type of sofa varies too, depending on the style and the materials used. Dining room chairs can be bought in sets, including a table for dining.

Rocking chairs and lounge chairs are also popular choices for chairs at home. Aside from being an accessory, a rocking chair is used mostly for relaxing while reading newspaper, crocheting or drinking coffee. Normally, grandparents love using this chair whether in the bedroom, porch, or living room. On the other hand, lounge chairs, as the name imply, are very comfortable and often used for relaxation and powernaps. Most lounge chairs can be reclined. Some even have ottomans to allow seaters to stretch out.

The home theatre furniture set is a new genre of style. This is actually a popular choice in the present time because of the concept of space saving. The home theatre table comes with small storage spaces and the chairs are available in a variety of style including occasional chairs, bubble chairs, and funky ones. Since not everybody likes the concept of using funky chairs in home decoration, traditional styles are sold in larger quantities. However, to also serve the needs of people who are into unique style of home decorations, funky chairs are also sold in different styles for different functions.

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Retro Furniture

March 1st, 2011

Home decoration has never been better with retro furniture. Although the design is 1950’s, it is nonetheless one of the best because of its simplicity and classic curves. Most modern home decorations are enhanced by retro furniture articles because the style never runs out of fashion. In some areas in the house like the dining room, receiving, patio and bedroom, putting a set of retro chairs and tables is a way to decorate home while putting necessary furniture in place.

One of the world-class known styles of retro furniture is the dinner booth, paired with stools or chairs. The set has an exceptional and gorgeous look that would surely help create a perfect home decoration. This furniture comes in a variety of shapes and designs. For a unique design, customers can now ask for custom-made furniture sets from many furniture companies. This gives consumers, especially those who have artistic abilities to design their own furniture that will fit more to their home decoration. Some custom-made furniture integrates other materials like wood, metal or steel altogether in crafting the articles. Prices vary depending on size, shape and style.

For example, a furniture piece that is made with heavy duty steel, or a square table with deco legs may cost £200; while an oval-shaped one with decorative legs may cost around £300. As expected, coffee tables are a lot more expensive depending on how vintage or stylish they were made. However, some online retailers may sell coffee tables at a quiet affordable price – around £400 for a piece of glass or chrome table with curved legs and stylish top.

For people who have fetish for vintage or antique articles, finding the right retro furniture is like finding a treasure. There would never be any regret in spending money for these furniture as they can be investments as well.

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Welcome to Cheap Furniture

February 24th, 2011

This is a quick post to wish you a big welcome to the Cheap Furniture blog. We are going to be providing you with a really great guide in all the different types of furniture. Why not take a look around and see what you can learn.

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