(早清核桃木鑲竹片夾雲朵明式大椿櫈）This very nice extra-long bench that is 85” long is called “Chun-Deng, 椿櫈“ (Deng, 櫈，Bench），a type of bench that usually sits two and has a wider top. However, this one with its unusual length is much narrower in width, especially when compared to its length in proportion. Generally, this type of Chun-Deng with the bamboo slats inserted on the seat were made in south, especially in the Ningbo/ Zhejiang area and are much shorter in length. They were often placed inside a bedroom or in front of a canopy bed for sitting or for changing clothes. Sometimes they were part of the dowry for a bride to use in her new bedroom, such as waiting for her husband on a wedding night. Chun-Deng was also very popular for many homes to use as an outdoor furniture piece for leisure time, such as using it to sit outdoor for cooling during springtime or hot summer evening. Therefore, it is quite often that it be made with the bamboo slats for its cooling surface. This particular long Chun-Deng with a northern style is made of Chinese Walnut hardwood with a much broader frame like some of the early Qing furniture pieces. So, it is kind of unusual that a northern Chun-Deng would have been made with the southern bamboo slats.

The spandrels with the cloud shape under the bench top and joined the rounded legs are interesting and executed in excellent manner. There are different kinds of spandrel created with a “Cloud” shape or a “Ruyi” Shape, and in this case, a flower shape that the design has evolved into. Same type of spandrels with this flower shape, which is still considered part of the broader “Cloud” shape spandrel, can be evidenced in some of the early carved stone benches from the Jiangzhe area. This beautiful bench has its original and unfinished old patina both from the wood and from the old bamboo surface honored by time. Its unusual length and sculptural form will offer a great presence in a home as well as being a wonderful piece of furniture as a daily companion to sit on.

Dimensions: 85” L x 16 1/4” W x 18” H

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