Replies

1. 
   John_Hunter | Apr 03, 2000 03:15am | #1

   *
   There are two books that I can recommend. The first is the book CHINESE DOMESTIC FURNITURE by Gustav Ecke. It was originally published in Peking in 1944 with only 200 copies printed. It is available in a paperback reprint edition (approx. 9"x12") from Dover Publications. The ISBN is 0-486-25171-3. In addition to black and white photographs, the book also contains detailed construction drawings of many of the pieces photographed. While the drawings are not plans as such, I find them useful.

   The Ecke book covers only domestic furniture. An equally good source that also covers court and temple furniture is CONNOISSEURSHIP OF CHINESE FURNITURE: MING AND EARLY QING DYNASTIES by Wang Shixiang. It was published in 1980 in two slip-covered volumes by Art Media Resources, Ltd. The ISBN is 1-878529-01-3. This book includes color photographs as well as black and white photos and has lots of line drawings, especially of joinery. Of great value is the section on materials, which discusses and illustrates the various woods used in furniture and talks about hardware. There are also illustrations of hardware. This book is the primary English-language work on the subject. I have seen it for sale on the Web for around $175.00.

1. 
   John_Hunter | Apr 03, 2000 09:37pm | #2

   *Here are a few more references that may be useful. I do not have these FW issues, so can't vouch for how useful they may be. FW 132, pp. 108-112 FW 30, p. 26 FW 27, pp. 94-97Good luck.

1. 
   gpwestmoreland | Apr 04, 2000 06:27am | #3

   *Rodger, After reading John's post, I pulled out my issue of FWW #132 to see what it concerned. It's an article by Randolph Demercado on cutting a "double-mitered, dovetail-keyed, mortise and tenon joint." Looks like a fascinating but time consuming joint to learn to cut. He uses a router table, holllw chisel mortiser, band saw, and hand powered miter box (like a picture framer uses). Its application is in joining the apron and legs in a Ming style hall table, so might not apply to the cabinet you have in mind. I don't have the other 2 issues he mentioned. This article also mentions the Gustav Ecke book.

1. 
   Norm_Havens | May 30, 2000 01:40pm | #4

   *A somewhat "arranged" (as the Japanese would say) plan for a generically Asian style cabinet can also be found at Oriental Cabinet .Visit Virtual Fujino, Japan! Green Gables: A Contemplative Companion to Fujino Township