China FDC on "Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties - Sitting Tools"

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China


Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties - Sitting Tools

Date of Issue : 20 June 2011

(Top FDC)
6-1 : Purple Sandalwood Throne Decorated with Lacquer and Inlaid with Dragon Design (Qing Dynasty)
- Bao zuo (thrones), also known as "bao yi" (literally "treasured chair"), were usually placed in the middle of an emperor or empress' bedroom palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties; behind the thrones were screens, and beside them were incense tables, ceremonial fans and so forth.

6-2 : Huanghuali Folding Chair (Ming Dynasty)
- Folding chairs ("jiao yi" in Chinese) got its names because their legs intersected. The waist was in gentle flexible curves, and they could be folded to be conveniently carried around. Such chairs were mainly used outdoors or on display in major halls.

(2nd FDC)
6-3 : Sculptured Huanghuali Offical's Hat Armchair with Four Protuding Ends (Ming Dynasty)
- Guanmao (literally "the offical's hat") chairs got such a name because they had rungs slightly raised on their upper ends, with the middle parts of the rungs a bit higher, looking somewhat like the hats of officals in dramas.

6-4 : Huanghuali Horseshoe Chair Carved with the Design of Chi (Ming Dynasty)
- Quan Yi (horseshoe armchair) was thus named because its backrest was like a horseshoe; its sideboards extended downwards from its headrest to both sides, becoming armrests at ends. Such a framework is thus quite comfortable.

(3rd FDC)
6-5 : Purple Sandalwood Armchair Inlaid with Marble (Qing Dynasty)
- Chairs with both armrests and backrests were called fushou yi (armchairs). Armchairs were exclusively for people of high rank.

6-6 : Artifical Rattan Drum-Like Stool Inlaid with Marble (Ming Dynasty)
- Gu deng (drum-like stool) looks like a hua gu (a kind of drum with flower designs) in shape, with its two ends thinner and its middle part thicker, so it was also known as "gu dun" (drum frustum). It can be flexibly placed indoors

Very nice FDCs. I think the stamps' design is the best in 2011 up to now. Thank You very much !