Replies

1. 
   chscholz | Nov 29, 2007 03:02am | #1

   The classic 15th century Lu Ban Jing gives you dimensions of vernacular Chinese furniture including tables. Klaus Ruitenbeek's translation of the Lu Ban Jing (Ruitenbeek, Klaus. Carpentry and Building in Late Imperial China: A Study of the 15th Century Carpenter's Manual Lu Ban jing, London: E.J. Brill, 1993) is already a classic (with the appropriate price tag on the used book market).
   I am no aware of any dimensional study of the ma ti, I guess that would be something any Chinese carpenter would just know how to do, and thus not worth writing home about (interestingly enough the Lu Ban Jing itself does not give you any information whatsoever on joinery either, and thus might be of relatively little value for contemporary woodworkers, I guess that's another thing that the folks from the 15th Century Imperial Works assume you would just know. In fact Lu Ban, a scholar turned inventor/carpenter from 500 BC the Patron Saint of the Chinese carpenters, is quoted saying that he only uses measuring tools in order to teach others how to make furniture).
   Ecke's book (Ecke, G. Chinese Domestic Furniture [...], recent reprint by Dover Publications) gives you scalded measured drawings including the drawing of a few ma ti. You could scan these in (and please post your scans here).
   All contemporary books related to Chinese furniture that I have seen are geared towards collectors and tend to be sparse on tangible information related to how to actually reproduce the furniture using contemporary methods. Your best bet would probably to take an apprenticeship with a guy in Guangzhou or thereabouts who copies the old masterpieces and works for a company that sells them as such...
   Sorry I could not be of more help.

   ---

   Chris Scholz

   Atlanta, GA

   Galoot-Tools

2. 
   WillGeorge | Nov 29, 2007 08:04pm | #2

   Not plans as such but this book has alot of general information with black and white pictures and drawings of key joints and other details.

   I would think it's usefulness to you depends on your joinery skills and if you like working without plans. Anyway, I found it a good 'read' even made several of the pieces that did not have carvings. I can't carve very well. But I can make a good joint.

   I think the original book was first published in 1944.

   Chinese Domestic Furniture in Photographs and Measured Drawings
   Gustav Ecke

   A Dover publication
   http://store.doverpublications.com/by-subject-antiques--collecting-furniture--wood.html

   Fave FUN!

   EDIT:

   OOPS!
   I see Chris Scholz already posted about this book. Sorry Chris!

   
   

   ---

   Edited 11/29/2007 12:06 pm by WillGeorge

3. 
   chscholz | Dec 06, 2007 02:58am | #3

   Leech,

   Attached a couch table that I've been playing around with. The plan is work in progress but if you are willing to put up with some imperfections I'll be happy to send you a sketchup file.

   Chris

   View Image

   View Image

   Chris Scholz

   Galoot-Tools

1. 
   WillGeorge | Dec 06, 2007 02:29pm | #4

   Link:http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/Gallery/GalleryImage.aspx?id=28787If you are just playing around take a look at the above link. I realize it is a much taller table but consider the joint detail of the legs. I for one like the look of the mitered angle and it is used in traditional Chinese designs.

1. 
   chscholz | Dec 06, 2007 09:26pm | #5

   Thanks for the link! Yes, you see this stuff all over the place.

   View Image

   View Image

   View Image

   The real action is inside the joints though.

   Fortunately the Chinese never considered that anything special so much of that stuff survived the Cultural Revolution...

   Using

   Zi tan as secondary wood is way beyond frivolous though.

   Chris Scholz

   Galoot-Tools

2. 
   leech | Dec 07, 2007 01:51am | #6

   Thanks. That's exactly what I was looking for. I'd be glad to see any plans/sketches you have.