Chinese Export Porcelain Hexagonal Garden Seats, a Pair

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Chinese Export Porcelain Hexagonal Garden Seats,
A Pair,
Circa 1850-60

The Chinese Export porcelain Rose Medallion Garden Seats are of … Read more Chinese Export Porcelain Hexagonal Garden Seats,
A Pair,
Circa 1850-60

The Chinese Export porcelain Rose Medallion Garden Seats are of a hexagonal barrel form with gilded studs representing the nail heads on a real barrel. There is a “Double Happiness" symbol on two panels. On each of the other panels are full depictions of Chinese court life or groupings of Chinese figures in garden scenes.

Around the base and the shoulder is a wide band of different designs. These include shaped small panels with similar depicts of court life amongst flowers, exotic birds and butterflies.

Dimensions: 18 inches high x 12 inches wide.

Reference:
(http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/quick-history-chinese-garden-s-128824)

... But where do they come from, and where were they traditionally used? ....... they come from China, and they were traditionally used in gardens. ......

Believe it or not, barrel- or drum-shaped garden stools have been used in China for at least 1,000 years. They may have evolved out of the Buddhist Garden tradition, where natural elements like tree stumps and smooth rocks were used as seats.

Traditionally, Chinese homes were built around a courtyard, and with an emphasis on landscape and gardens, so outdoor furniture was essential. By the Song Dynasty (960-1279), these types of stools were used both indoors and outdoors as casual seating. Indoor stools were typically portable and made out of wood, while outdoor furniture, needing to withstand the elements, began to be made out of stone, glazed stoneware, or porcelain .

The antique stools that are still extant tend to be from the late Ming Dynasty - early 17th century - and later, and they have a range of decorations, including fretwork, relief decoration, and pierced motifs. One common decoration is simulated nail heads, often around the upper and lower parts of the barrel form. The nail head motif is left over from ancient Chinese drums, which had wood bodies with skins stretched over each end and affixed with nails.

(Ref: NY10699-mrrr) See less