Fig.171
Plain contemporary stool Yunnan. 1996 photo courtesy Michael Wolf
 
Fig.172
Headrest in the shape of a bench, hetaomu (walnut) private collection, Singapore.
 
Fig.173
Double-stool, possibly used for footbinding zitan Collection of Philip Ng
 
Fig.174
Pillow carved in a cloud pattern, zitan, eighteenth century, Beijing. This pillow was probably once owned by a descendant of the royal family in the Beijing area Photo courtesy Andy Hei
 
Fig.175
Pillow, zitan. This pillow is the favorite of dealer Hei Hung Lu and is part of his personal collection Photo courtesy Andy Hei
 
Fig.176
Square meditation stoo1. huanghuali, eighteenth century. Photo courtesy Robert A. piccus
 
Fig.177
Meditation stool with rounded cusp apron and legs that have a right-angle section cut out of the inside corner huanghuali, seventeenth century Shanxi province Photo courtly Charles Wong
 
     Benches were also used by families seated together for theatrical performances (Figs 185, 186, 189).Such benches date back to the Song dynasty, such as the settee for two pictured in a painting by Zhang Zeduan entitled "Spring Festival along the river" As far back as the Ming dynasty (AD 1368--1644), and recorded in the Lu Ban Jing, high-back benches with rustic carvings were made for opera house patrons (Fig. 191 ) These elaborate seats look much like church pews Shanxi province was famous for its many outdoor activities, including plays, ceremonies and musical performances, and as a result this kind of furniture, along with folding chairs and stools, was popular here Most surviving examples are made of local soft-woods and have solid seats (Fig 190).
      Gate benches were also popular in China until very recently (Figs 187, 188) They were usually made of softwoods, such as baimu (cypress) or yumu (elm), but the examples shown here are made in the more valuable hardwood laohuali (see page 34, Huanghuali). It is rare to find hardwood pieces. These benches are an example of how some forms of seating crossed the class divide
Fig.178
Waisted Eight Immortals table and two benches Collection of Christopher Noto
 
Fire.179
Table and benches in a typical Ming form with small spandrels, table of huaimu, (locust). Benches of yumu (northern elm), eighteenth century, Shanxi province These were not a set but were put together by dealer Oi Ling Chiang. Photo courtesy Oi Ling Chiang
 
Fig.180
Carved bench, yumu (northern elm), late Qing Shanxi province Collection of Just Anthony
 
Fig.181
Bench in a classical Ming style with a concave waist and curvilinear lines seeping into the legs in a graceful manner huanghuali, seventeenth century. Photo courtesy Peter Fung.
 
Fig.182
Waisted Eight Immortals table and benches in the Tian Yuan Kui inn in Pingyao, Shanxi province
 
Fig.183
Gate bench with splayed legs jumu (southern elm), nineteenth century possibly from Jiangsu province. Collect ion of Philip Ng
 
Fig.184
Bench,jumu (southern elm), nineteennth century Jiangsu province Collection of Philip Ng
 
Fig.185
Four-seat bench, inspired perhaps by a Queen Anne-style settee, late Qing, Hubei province Collection of just Anthony
 
Fig.186
Three-seat folding chair, probably used at music and opera performances unknown wood, eighteenth or nineteenth century Shanxi province, Some folding chairs seat two others four and are unique to Shanxi province Photo courtesy Cola Ma.
 
Fig.187,188
Gate benches laohuali, late eighteenth or early nineteenth century northern style. These were usually placed in front of homes and used for seating on hot summer days Photo courtesy Andy Hei
 
Fig.189
Opera bench yumu (northern elm),late Qing Shanxi province Collection of Just Anthony
 
Fig.190
Bench for multiple seating yumu (northern elm) eighteenth century Shanxi province. Photo courtesy Altfiled Gallery
 
Fi8.191
Opera bench used by wealthy clients huaimu (locust), eighteenth century Shanxi province. Photo courtesy Cola Ma