Study On The Styles Of Chinese Furniture In The 20^th Century

By far, the most rapid and revolutionary period of furniture history was the 20th Century. A retrospect of furniture in the 20th Century can help complete the China furniture history and keep it updating. The most important is that it will help us to reconsider how to assimilate the culture from other countries, how to keep our national characteristic, and take the way of sustainable development while designing furniture.The main approaches are to collect the original material extensively and to make a fieldwork of Shanghai, Hangzhou, Beijing, Tianjin, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Zhongshan, Shenzhen, and etc intensively. Moreover, Chinese furniture in the 20^th century was compared with the furniture of other countries and also with Chinese traditional furniture.The styles of Chinese furniture in the 20^th century were reduced to three dominating parts.(1) Chinese furniture from 1901 to 1949 resulted from the combination of western and Chinese culture. It was obviously regional and many new varieties appeared. It was functional. Generally, it was carved realistically and inlayed in veneers. Industrial materials began to be applied. Chinese modern furniture was in the hatching period.(2) Chinese furniture from 1949 to 1978 was a form of innovation by Chinese. It gave priority to suite furniture. It became simpler, more refined and functional. Here Chinese modern furniture began to be explored. Chinese furniture attached importance to function from decoration, and to machine-making from handcrafts.(3) Chinese furniture from 1978 to 2000 gave priority to the diversification of styles, respectively. From 1978 to 1995, Chinese furniture post a small gain and unit furniture prevailed. From 1995 to 2000, furniture design showed the diverse trend in the context of globalization.In a word, tradition or modern, searching or exploring penetrated through the Chinese furniture in 20^th century. Chinese furniture generally transformed from with emphasis on decoration to function and from mortise and tenon joint to KD construction. Industry materials such as panel, glass and metal were applied.The research shows that the style of furniture was developing continuously and transforming gradually. In the 21^st century, green or ecological design, technological innovation and succession or innovation of Chinese style should be pursued.