The ‘recessed-leg’ type is closely related to traditional post-and-beam architectural construction. It is characterized by leg supports that are recessed from the corners of the top frame that splay outward toward the base and are reinforced with stretchers and/or aprons. With balanced stance and transparent structure, the Chinese proverb “When the root is firm, the branches will flourish” (bengu zhirong) comes to mind.
This type of stool, with straight legs and straight stretchers, was already a standard form in Song times and was further developed during the Ming dynasty. The structural resemblances of furniture pieces to wooden buildings are clearly visible in the legs which are straight without horse-hoof feet, are rounded on the outside and square on the inside in cross-section, and which have a quite pronounced splay and aprons between them.
Wang Shixiang
