Wood You Know Series - Elm

Various woods bring different looks and strengths to fine furniture. One wood that was frequently favored in furniture made up to the mid-20^th century is elm. By nature, the wood has a durable interlocking grain, which helps make it very tough. The spread of Dutch elm disease in North America made the wood less available than in the past.

Historical Uses of Elm Wood

Because of its strong grain, elm got used for coffins, the seats of chairs, and even for wagon wheel hubs. The wood has been valued around the world for its durability and resistance to splitting. In Japan, wood from older, larger elm trees when making Taiko drums. Because the wood resists splitting, it is possible to tightly nail down the skins for the drumheads. During the Middle Ages in Europe, the straight grain made the wood valuable for longbows if yew was not available. Elm is also resistant to decay when it is permanently wet, which is why it was used for the piers of the original London Bridge.

Elm In Furniture

You may be able to find elm in use for veneers for surfaces and paneling. Furniture makers also make use of the rugged durability of elm for hidden parts of the pieces, such as in the frames, legs and backs of chairs and sofas. The beauty of the wood does also make it popular for visible features as well.

Selecting fine furniture should begin with finding a piece that appeals to you. No particular style is a better choice than any other if it doesn’t please you. When you want to find a considered selection of handsome furniture, visit Terra Nova Designs and check out our pieces. Our collection has been carefully chosen piece by piece, so we may have something that will be absolutely right for you.

Holding It Together with Asian Furniture Joinery

When most people look at furniture, the last thing they notice (if they notice it at all) is how the pieces are joined together. As long as the furniture is sturdy, the owner is satisfied. If the chair sustains the weight of the sitter, if the table is stable, if the cabinet stands firm and reliable, it is enough. But how the elements are joined together is actually a detail of craftsmanship.

What Asian Joinery Is Not

Asian furniture, especially those forms that are greatly influenced by ancient Chinese methods, is notable for how the pieces are joined together. There are three notable features in this type of joinery: first, no glue is used at all for structural purposes; second, no pegs are used to hold pieces together; third, no metal fasteners such as nails or screws are used.  You may wonder, “How is it held together, then?”

The Art of Joinery in Asian Furniture

Folklore says that Chinese joinery has its roots in the work of an ancient scholar turned woodworker, Lu Ban. But his works have nothing about joinery in them, so no one knows for sure. He was very inventive, and created many other things, and so the tradition holds. In any case, by the Tang Dynasty Chinese joinery as it is known and practiced now was fully established, and has not changed much at all.

The methods used for joining pieces in the construction of furniture needed to last in harsh climates. Because most parts of China have great extremes in humidity and temperature, the joints need to accommodate swelling and shrinking of the wood, while keeping the whole piece of furniture stable. It took some inventiveness to find a means that would hold the materials together.

Frame and Panel Joinery

One method is called the “frame and panel” type. The frame is held together with mitered, mortise-and-tenon joints. To secure the panel part, around the upper, inside edge of the frame, a groove is cut, while the panel has a matching tongue on its outer edge. The panel and frame are fitted together, and transverse braces are placed in shallow dovetail housings in order to give the thin panel support and keep it from warping.

Recessed Leg Joins

The “recessed-leg” form, used in many cabinets, tables, chairs and stools, has the legs joined inside (hence “recessed”) the corners of a mitered frame. This gives the upper surface an extension out over the leg. The legs themselves slant outward toward the bottom, and are likely to be connected to each other  by variations of stretchers or aprons. The top of each leg will be fitted to the underside of the surface frame with double tenons.

Corner Leg Variation

For variation, there is also “corner-leg” construction. Unlike the recessed leg, a corner leg is flush with the corners of the top frame. This makes the top of the leg seem to be part of the upper surface. However, these legs also come in a variety of shapes, from straight up-and-down vertical to a c-shaped curve (similar to the European cabriole style). The feet of these legs are often shaped like an animal claw, or hoof of a horse, or even a simple scroll. And all held together without glue, nails or screws.

Check With Experts

If you are considering an Asian antique, you can always ask an expert to help you examine these details in the piece you select. You can be certain that the staff of Terra Nova Designs had offered you the best available pieces, but you may still want to examine your choice carefully. You will find fine furniture that has been specially selected for our customers in our shop.

Terra Nova Los Angeles Asian Furniture Accents: Chinese Guardian Lions, AKA “Foo Dogs”

Terra Nova Los Angeles Asian Furniture Accents: Chinese Guardian Lions, AKA “Foo Dogs”

Many people who take pleasure in adding Asian accents to their home or office choose to add what are frequently called “Foo Dogs” to the setting. What those people do not know is that the term “Foo Dogs” is incorrect. The sculptures so named are in fact Chinese guardian lions. They are meant to present the emotion of the animal, rather than being a lifelike replication of the actual animal.

The Chinese stylization of the lion led Westerners to mistake the nature of the animal represented.  In the Chinese renditions, the eyes, claws and teeth of the lion symbolize its power. Traditionally, pairs of guardian lions stood in front of Chinese Imperial palaces and other important homes, temples, tombs and other governmental buildings. They were set to protect the building from evil spirits.

The poses of a pair of guardian lions might be mistaken as mirror poses at first glance, but they are not. First, in a set of guardian lions, there is a male and a female lion, as representatives of yin and yang. Secondly, the placement of the lions is of importance: as one looks out the doorway of the building being guarded, the male lion should be placed to the left of the door while the female is situated on the right.

Pair of white stone Chinese guardian lions, also known as "foo dogs"

There is also significance in the traditional poses given to each of the lions. The male lion rests its right front paw on an embroidered ball, which can represent supremacy over the world. The female lion has her left front paw restraining a playful cub, to represent the power of nurture. The female protects those within the building, while the male guards the outside of the structure. The combination symbolizes the wholeness of life for those who will be within the building guarded.

Traditionally, the guardian lions were made of decorative stone, such as marble or granite, or of expensively cast metals such as bronze or iron. Because of this, they were very expensive, and so were found only in places of wealth. Modern materials have made them much easier to purchase for those of lesser income, making them even more popular for ordinary residences.

Pair of antique stone carved foo dogs, available at Terra Nova Asian Furniture Los Angeles

Guardian lions have been given a wide variety of appearances through the centuries, but the basic elements remain the same. The symbolic representation of a powerful protector continues to have aesthetic appeal. Selecting a pair of guardian lions (or “Foo Dogs”) becomes a matter of finding a pair that satisfies the owner.   If you are looking for Chinese guardian lions, or any other Asian furniture accents for your home, be sure to check out our website: http://www.terranovadesigns.com/statues-carved-figures-buddha-quan-yin.html  , or even better, visit our store at 2251 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064.  For more information about our store and to see what our customers have to say about us, take a look at our local Yelp website: http://www.yelp.com/biz/terra-nova-designs-los-angeles-2 .  We look forward to helping you find the perfect Asian accent piece for your home!

Terra Nova Asian Furniture's Finishing Series: Learning About Lacquer

LEARNING ABOUT LACQUER

The term “lacquer” often appears in association with Asian furniture, but not many people know what it actually signifies. To most, it just means a glossy black-painted finish on a surface. But there is more to the term than that. When someone is considering purchasing something labeled “lacquer” it would help to know what they are looking at.

Specifically, the word “lacquer” comes from the Sanskrit word “laksha” which means “wax.”  In ancient India, the resinous secretion of the Lac insect was used as a wood finish. A similar finish is made from the resin of an indigenous tree in China that is called the “lacquer tree” or the “varnish tree.” In modern usage, shellac finishes are lac-based, while lacquer is made with polymers or acrylic compounds dissolved in lacquer thinners. When the thinner solvent evaporates, the residue compounds form a durable, hard finish. This beautiful finish can be resistant to abrasion and water, aspects that make it appealing on furniture.

Antique Asian Black Lacquer Cabinets at Terra Nova Asian Furniture Los Angeles

In China, many wooden objects would be covered in lacquer. The Chinese artisans often mixed powdered cinnabar into the lacquer to produce the notable red lacquerware. The black lacquer that used on lacquered Asian furniture is achieved by adding iron hydroxide to the mix. Because of the thickness of many lacquers, artisans developed a style of carving into many layers of lacquer. Others might inlay mother-of-pearl, or gold or silver leaf to accent the glossy lacquer finish.

Beautiful detail view of an antique lacquered coffee table at Terra Nova Asian Furniture

Lacquer finishes from Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and Taiwan tend to be softer than those from China and Japan. Their finishes are made from resins of the Thitsi tree and do not contain urushiol. Interestingly, Burmese lacquer (that is, that from Myanmar) tends to set more slowly than other lacquers, and is frequently applied by the artisan’s hands rather than using brushes.

In the 17^th century, as more Asian artifacts were brought to Europe, the glossy black lacquers attracted much notice. This finish was compared to black enamel paints that were already known to Europeans. The association of thick, glossy black varnishes with Asian origins led to the use of the terms “japanned” or “japanning” for pieces that featured such finishes, whether they actually had been produced in Asia or not.

Detailed view of the Antique Asian Black Lacquer Cabinets, available at Terra Nova Asian Furniture Los Angeles

A lacquer surface or finish can add great beauty and durability to a piece of furniture. Such items are well worth considering adding to the home environment.  Come by and see for yourself!  We are located at 2251 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064 - or call us at (310) 478-0228.  For more information, visit our local Yelp site: http://www.yelp.com/biz/terra-nova-designs-los-angeles-2