Have you ever heard of Nanwood?

A Brief Look at Woods Used in Antique Chinese Furniture.

China deforested itself centuries ago. Anyone who has been there can tell you that forests are few and far between. The woods used to make furniture in the 18th and 19th centuries were imported from various other South East Asian countries such as Burma and Thailand. Though the woods used to make Chinese furniture are different from woods used in the West, they are grouped into the same two categories; hardwoods and softwoods.

Furniture made from hardwood is typically expensive and valuable. However, pieces constructed from the various softwoods are gaining recognition and increasing in value. The only furniture made of hardwood that I occasionally have are pieces constructed from blackwood, sometimes referred to as Chinese ebony which was never indigenous to China. Its name is deceptive as it is not always black. Furniture made from blackwood is becoming rare and prices are rapidly increasing because the Chinese themselves are beginning to appreciate it.

Early 19th century juwood spindle book cabinet

Most of the furniture I import is made from various softwoods such as Juwood, Nanwood, Elmwood, Camphor and Bamboo. These names may seem strange but before long, if you see enough furniture, they will become familiar.

Juwood is related to the family known in the West as elm. It was a popular material and used extensively for making furniture. Pieces made of juwood are usually dark brown or black. Namwood, a nice, light, even colored wood, is similar to a large evergreen and grows in Yunan and parts of Sichuan province. It was also commonly used for furniture construction during the 19th century.

19th century namwood altar coffer available at Asian Village in Edwards, CO

Camphor wood was used predominantly for making trunks and chests because the Chinese discovered that it’s odor repels pests, similarly to our cedar. It is pleasant looking but quite soft. Denver’s low-humidity climate creates many problems with camphor pieces cracking and splitting.

Bamboo is a versatile wood, available in a variety of colors, that once grew in many parts of China and was therefore easily available to furniture craftsmen. It was always admired because it is so flexible and can be molded so easily.

19th century bamboo document chest

There are several less important woods, such as one related to western pine, which were available to the Chinese in the 18th and 19th centuries. Most do not have an English name. These materials were used to construct the parts of furniture that were hidden and for many articles of daily use such as baby baths.

*You can find more information about the woods used to craft antique Chinese furniture in the following publications:

Shixiang, Wang. Classic Chinese Furniture; Ming and early Qing Dynasties. 1988, Joint Publishing (H.K.) Co., Ltd. Hong Kong.

Kates, George N. Chinese Household Furniture. 1948. Dover Publications, Inc. New York.