Asia Crossroads installation
October 2003
Portable folding armchairs with curved horseshoe backs are found in Chinese paintings from the 12th century. The chairs are both practical and elegant. The back legs, pivoting on a pin where they cross the front legs, allow the seat to be folded upward in the same manner used in folding chairs today. In order to make the long curve of the arms and back, five pieces of wood have been joined using cogged scarf joints secured by a key (half-lapped pressure peg joints), a sturdy and ingenious joint design used in both Chinese furniture and architecture. Ming examples of this chair are today quite rare. Although incorporating replacement parts, notably the supporting spandrels in the curves of the arms and the backsplat, this chair retains the welcoming curves, gleaming wood, and ingenious design that made it so desirable in its day.
Last Updated: 6/23/2021