CONTENTS
Acknowledgements 7
Prologue 11
chapter one
What is Straits Chinese Furniture? 17
The so-called 'Portuguese' furniture 19
Towards a definition of Straits Chinese furniture 22
chapter two
Blackwood/Rosewood Furniture 31
The style of Qing period blackzvood furniture 34
The Chinese art of joinery 37
Blackwood furniture in Straits Chinese taste 42
Repertory of traditional blackwood/rosewood furniture 48
Chain • StooL • Settee,' and couched * Opium bedd • Tea tabled • Semi-circular tabled * Attar tabled * Square tabled • Mother-of-pearl
chapter three
Namwood Red-and-Gold Furniture 69
Namwood 70
Teakwood 72
Juivood 72
Gilding 73
Design and workmanship 77
Dating based on ornamentation 79
Types of carvings 80
The meanings and themes of the carvings 82
Repertory of namwood furniture 85
Chaird * The wedding footdtoold • Tabled • Sain kai altar tabled • Bridal tabled • Ancedtor and deity tabled • Setteed • Opium bedd • The wedding bed
Wedding cabinetd • Break-front eabinetd • MucelLaneoud itemd
chapter four
English-style Teakwood Furniture 113
Characteristic features of teakwood furniture 119
Structural modifications 119
Ornamental modifications 124
Partial gilding 129
The era of teak 131
European styles and techniques of furniture construction 134
Varnishes 138
Repertory of teakwood furniture in English/European styles 140
Chain) • Tabled • Regency-dlyle tabled * Condole tabled • Tea tabled • Dining tabled • Bureatld and writing tabled • Cabinet' • Display cabinet' • Wardrobed
Sideboardd • ATiocellaneoud ilenid
chapter five
Patina and the Dating of Old Furniture 167
Dating 171
Notes 178
Glossary 182
Bibliography 186
Index 187