Chair exhibitions show culture sitting pretty

Unlike some exhibitions that may require endless footslogging, this curated collection of Chinese wooden furniture — in actual fact just a few dozen pieces — invited viewers to linger.

Visitors could not only admire the craftsmanship but also get hands-on experience by assembling sunmao (mortise-and-tenon) joints and encounter the distinct aromas of various types of wood.

For over three months, the exhibition Elegance of Woodcraft: Timeless Beauty, which concluded on Sunday, had drawn more than 1 million visitors to the Summer Palace Museum and its Deheyuan, or Garden of Virtue and Harmony, in Beijing.

The exhibits traced the development of classical Chinese wooden furniture, its cultural significance, and the fusion of the East and the West in the designs dating to the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. On display were 83 premium pieces and sets of furniture.

In recent years, smaller, more refined exhibitions of traditional Chinese wooden furniture have become popular.

Artisans and cultural relic restorers, collaborating with curators, have used modern exhibition techniques to showcase the intricate craftsmanship, artistry and profound cultural legacy inherent in Chinese wooden furniture, breathing new life into this intangible cultural heritage.

The Summer Palace exhibition was held to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the palace's public opening. It focused on Ming and Qing furniture relics from classical gardens, encompassing a wide range of traditional furniture styles and types.

Yang Fuhua, curator and conservator at the cultural relics protection department of the Summer Palace, explains that this exhibition offers an immersive experience by displaying most of the artifacts without protective cases, allowing visitors to see them up close.