Vernacular

Although the term “vernacular” refers to furniture made from 1850-1920 (late Qing – Chinese Republic) for Chinese society outside the imperial court, it more broadly encompasses a broad range of furnishings, decorative and religious items. The expanded trade and interactions with the West by Qing emperors brought stability, prosperity, and consumerism that transformed Chinese tastes in the arts and design. A newly emerged prosperous merchant class became a counter force to the rigid Ming imperial class of elite scholars and literati. Outside the imperial court, vernacular regional creativity flourished for conservative tastes of the rustic, simple less sophisticated tastes of peasant in rural villages as well as the flamboyant, ostentatious and colorful tastes for wealthy merchants in urban areas. Most pieces were made in Fujian known for its unique style of highly decorative vernacular furniture made from a hardwood with less expensive pieces of elm or pine. These furniture and accessories were often colored and painted with scenery and designs decorated with gold leaf and ornate and pierced carvings to show wealth. Many were covered with auspicious symbols easily recognized by illiterate populations and with red, the color for prosperity and fu (happiness). Large and small cabinets were constructed with mortise and tenon joinery, often in a red lacquer frame inset with black and gilt painting of scenery, florals and birds and doors framed with gilt borders. Among the most elaborate vernacular pieces were cabinets, dressing boxes, ladies’ vanities and jewelry boxes many with drawers to store valuables and other decorative and practical accessories.

Sources
Nancy Berliner and Sarah Handler, Friends of the House: Furniture from Chinese Towns and Villages, Peabody Essex Museum Collection, Salam, MA 1995
Karen Mazurkewich, Chinese Furniture, A Guide to Collecting Antiques, Tuttle Publishing, North Clarendon, VT, 2006
Andrea & Lynde McCormick, Chinese Country Antiques, Vernacular Furniture and Accessories, c. 1780-1920, Schiffer Publications, Atglen, PA, 2000.
Margie L. Yates, Antique Chinese Accessories, Vernacular Items, c. 1850-1930, Schiffer Publications, Atglen, PA, 2000.