Classical Chinese Furniture：
Consulting

s curator of the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture 1990-1996, Curtis Evarts was intimately involved with the formation of one of the world's greatest Chinese hardwood furniture collections.

As contributing editor to the Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society 1990-1994, his research probed many technical areas of Chinese furniture.

His independent research and publications since have continued to provide a consistent source of nourishment for the field. His numerous publications and lectures are listed below, and many of his publications are now available for viewing at Curtis Evarts Media Links.

Curtis Evarts also offers guidance to beginning and seasoned collectors. His services also include authentication and appraisal. Please contact him for further inquiry.

Publications

1990

"Integrity and Joinery in Chinese Furniture." Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society 1:1 (Winter 1990), pp. 11-13.

1991

"Continuous Horseshoe Arms And Half-Lapped Pressure-Peg Joins." Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society 1:2 (Spring 1991), pp. 14-18.

"The Development of the Waisted Form and Variations in Its Joinery." Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society 1:3 (Summer 1991), 36-45.

"The Association of Classical Chinese Furniture in Beijing." Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society 1:3 (Summer 1991), 19-20.

"A Pair of Zitan Southern Official's Hat Armchairs." Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society 1:4 (Autumn 1991), pp. 4-9.

1992

"A Report on the First International Symposium on Chinese Ming Domestic Furniture." Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society 2:1 (Winter 1991), pp. 22-27.

"Recent Acquisition and Projects of the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture." Orientations January 1992, pp. 86-89.

"The Nature and Characteristics of Wood and Related Observations of Chinese Hardwood Furniture." Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society 2:2 (Spring 1992), pp. 28-41.

"Simplicity and Integrity Reflected in the Anatomy of a Masterpiece". Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society2:3 (Summer 92), pp. 4-12.

"The Piccus Collection of Classical Chinese Furniture." Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society 2:4 (Autumn 1992), pp. 4-25.

"The Symposium in Memory of the Ninetieth Anniversary of Yang Yao." Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society 2:4 (Autumn 1992), pp. 64-67.

1993

"The San Francisco Symposium on Classical Chinese Wood Furniture." Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society 3:1 (Winter 1992), pp. 4-8.

"The Art of Joinery: A Manifold Expression." Orientations January 1993, pp. 53-57.

"From Ornate to Unadorned: A Study of a Group of Yokeback Chairs." Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society 3:2 (Spring 1993), pp. 24-33.

"Furniture in the Novel Jin Ping Mei: A Comparison of Seventeenth- and Eighteenth Century Illustrations." Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society 3:4 (Autumn 1993), pp. 21-45.

1994

"The 'Classic of Lu Ban' and Classical Chinese Furniture." Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society3:1 (Winter 1993), pp. 33-44.

"Ornamental Stone Panels and Chinese Furniture." Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society 4:2 (Spring 1994), pp. 4-26.

"Uniting Elegance and Utility: Metal Mounts on Chinese Furniture". Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society 3:4 (Summer 94). pp. 27-47.

"The Enigmatic Coffer". Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society, 4:4 (Autumn 1994), pp. 29-44.

"Chinese Woodworking Tools," Unpublished article.

1995

"Best of the Best: An Exhibition of Ming Furniture from Private Collections." Arts of Asia, Hong Kong, 135-141.

Masterpieces from the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture. San Francisco: Tenth Union, 1995

1996

"The Furniture Maker and the Woodworking Traditions of China." Catalogue essay in Beyond the Screen: Chinese Furniture of the 16th and 17th Centuries. Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. 1996. pp. 53-76.

1997

"China". Encyclopedia of Interior Design. London: Fitzroy Dearborn: 1997, 252-261.

"Classical Chinese Furniture from The Jingguangtang Collection ". The Jingguangtang Collection, Part II. Christie's New York, #8606, March 20, 1997, pp. 26-29.

"Legends on a Bicycle." Home Furniture no. 12 (August/September 1997), p. 82.

1998

Catalogue entries and essay "Traditional Chinese Furniture. From Sumptuous Palaces to Courtyard Dwellings." in Classical and Vernacular Chinese Furniture in the Living Environment. Hong Kong: Yungmingtang, 1998, pp. 23-33, 97-171.

"In Pursuit of Elegance and Majesty: Traditional Living Spaces of the Elite in Late Imperial China". From Elegant Mansions: Fine Classical Chinese Furniture and Works of Art. Christie's New York, #8972, September 16, 1998, pp. 14-17.

1999

Catalogue entries and essay "Literary Mind and Carving of Dragons" in Spendour of Style: Classical Chinese Furniture from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Taipei: National Museum of History, 1999, pp. 21-32, 62-210.

C. L. Ma Collection: Traditional Chinese Furniture from the Greater Shanxi Region. Hong Kong: C. L. Ma Furniture, 1999.

2000

"New Directions in Chinese Furniture Connoisseurship. Early Traditional Furniture" Orientations January 2000. pp. 50-57.

A Leisurely Pursuit: Splendid Hardwood Antiquities from the Liang Yi Collection. Hong Kong, 2000.

2002

"Dating and Attribution: Questions of Revelations from Inscribed Works of Chinese Furniture". Orientations 33:1 (January 2002). pp. 32-39.

2003

"Splendor of Chinese Classical Furniture: Highlights from the Gangolf Geis Collection". The Gangolf Geis Collection of Fine Classical Chinese Furniture. Christie's New York, #1330, September 18, 2003, pp. 8-13.

2004

"Three Remarkable Beds". Important Chinese Furniture from Private Collections. Christie's New York, #1494, September 21, 2004, pp. 9-13

"The Chinese Game Table". Play it Again: Asian Games and Pastimes. E. J. Frankel, New York, 2004, pp. 25-37.

2006

"Traditional Jumu Furniture and the Museum of Classical Jumu Furniture". in Orientations June 2006. Hong Kong, 2006, pp. 28-35.

2007

Liangyi Collection. Hong Kong: United Sky Resources 2007.

"Zitan: Qiyuan shenmi de yiguo gaogui yingmu” (Zitan: The Noble Hardwood of Exotic, Abstruse Origins). Shoucangjia: Zhongguo guidian jiaju, zitan xueshu taolunhui, zitan zhan zhuanji, 2007. In Chinese.

2008

Palace Museum Collection: Treasury of Ming and Qing Palace Furniture. Hu Desheng, translated by Curtis Evarts. Beijing: Forbidden City Press, 2008

"Exquisite Lacquer Furniture". The Imperial Sale, Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. Christie's Hong Kong, #2711, May 27, 2009, pp. 40-43

"Shennan yu zhongguo gudian nanmu jiaju (Divine Nanmu and Nanmu Classical Furniture)". Forbidden City. Beijing, Forbidden City Publishing House, 2010.

"Youshan jiaju (Amiable Furniture)". Zhongruigongqiao, exhibition catalogue, Beijing May, 2010.

"Yijian beizuo huanghuali jiazichuang (A Huanghuali Canopy Bed of Northern Make)". Elegant Simplicity: Fine Ming-style Huanghuali Furniture. Guardian Auction. Beijing, November, 2010.

2011

"Shensheng de jiaoyi (Sacred Ancient Folding Chairs)". Furniture and Works of Art. Guardian Auction. Beijing, March, 2011.

"Zhongguo gudian jiaju bowuguancang zhenpin sijian (Four Treasures from the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture)". Classical Furniture from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Guardian Auction. Beijing, November, 2011.

2012

"Chuangta liliwaiwai zhi qiju (Accessories of Chinese Beds)". Zhongruigongqiao, Wenwu shubanshe Beijing, May 2012.

"Xiyou pinzhong—Houpenjia (A Rare Category—The Brazier Stand)". Pristine Reflection: Classic Chinese Furniture of Ming and Qing Dynasties. Guardian Auction, Beijing, October, 2012.

"Chinese Furniture amongst the Shifting Sands of Transient History ". Fine Chinese Furniture from Private American Collections, Christie's Hong Kong, Nov 28, 2012.

2013

Catalogue forward. Classical Chinese Lacquered Furniture. Forbidden City Publishing House, 2013

"25 Remarkable Years with Chinese Furniture ". Fine Chinese Furniture from an Important Private American Collection, Christie's New York, #2802, Mar 21, 2013.

Catalogue forward. Lasting Beauty: Nanmu Furniture from Nanmu Studio. Guardian Auction, Beijing, November, 2013.

2014

“A Europeenerie Zitan Armchair". Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, Sotheby’s New York, Mar 18-19, 2014, pp. 210-213.

"Shengling zhi jiaoyi (The Spirit of the Folding Chair)". ZuoWei: The Art of Classical Chinese Seating, Forbidden City Publishing House, Beijing, 2014, pp. 318-321.

2015

"Robert Hatfield Ellsworth: Chinese Furniture Past to Present". II The Collection of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth: Chinese Furniture, Scholar's Objects and Chinese Paintings, Christie's New York, Mar 18, 2015.

"Peter and Sandee Lai: Early Friends of Classical Chinese Furniture". The Lai Family Collection of Fine Chinese Furniture and Works of Art, Christie's New York, Sept 17, 2015.

2016

"Reflecting a Culture of Literati Ideal and Elegance: A Pair of Small Speckled-Bamboo Cabinets". Anatomy of a Masterpiece: A Very Rare Pair of Huanghuali and Spotted Bamboo Scholar’s Cabinets. Christie's New York, September 2016.

Catalogue forward. Classical Chinese Huanghuali Furniture from the Haven Collection. Hong Kong, October 2016.

2017

Catalogue forward. The Qingfeng Shangfang Collection of Furniture in Ming and Qing Dynasties. Forbidden City Press, 2017.

"Rare ‘Ming Style’ Zitan Furniture from the Virata Collection". The Marie Theresa L. Virata Collection of Asian Art: A Family Legacy. Christies, New York, March 2017.

"Uniquely Style and Elegantly Crafted: A Pair of Hunghuali Round-Back Chairs". Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. Christies, London, November 2017.

Catalogue forward. Shilin diancang: Xijian muzuo xiao wenfang. Beijing: Wenwu chubanshe, 2017.

Catalogue forward. Qingshui shanfang: Qing Kangxi yuzhi huanghuali lunfeng mudan wen da dingxinggui chengdui (A Pair of Large Huanghuali Wardrobes with Phoenix and Peony Decoration) . Beijing: Poly Auction, 2017.

2018

Catalogue forward. Mingqing jumu jiaju (Ming and Qing period Jumu Furniture). Zhejiang renmin meishu, 2018.

A Rare High-Waisted Huanghuali Luohan Chuang." Important Chinese Art. Sotheby’s, Hong Kong, October 2018.

"The Ancient Spindle-Leg Table". Beyond Compare: A thousand Years of the Literati Aesthetic. Christies, Hong Kong, November 2018.

"Wan zai jingji chongjia jian: Mantan wanming shufang jiaju". Meicheng zaijiu, Shanghai, 2018.11.

Catalogue forward. Shimian lingbi shanju zhencang: huanghuali qilin shouzi wen quanbei jiaoyi (Huanghuali folding chair with qilin and longevity character motifs). Beijing, Poly Auction, 2018.

2019

"Jindai xifang he gudian zhongguo gudian jiaju de xianghu bingli xinshang". Wenren kongjian4. 2019.

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Lectures

1991

Kuala Lumpur, sponsered by the Southeast Asia Ceramic Society, "The Museum of Classical Chinese furniture: The First Museum Dedicated Exclusively to Ming Furniture."

Hong Kong, "The Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture: The First Museum Dedicated Exclusively to Ming Furniture" delivered September 1991 at the Dr. S. Y. Yip Symposium on Classical Chinese Furniture, Hong Kong.

Beijing, "The Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture: The First Museum Dedicted Exclusively to Ming Furniture"delivered November 1991 at the First International Symposium on Chinese Domestic Furniture, Beijing.

1992

Renaissance, "Classical Chinese Furniture."

Suzhuo, "The Artistry of Joinery: A Manifold Expression" at the Second International Symposium on Chinese Ming Domestic Furniture in Memory of Yang Yao, October 1992.

1993

Taipei, sponsored by Art Asia, "Research and the Collection of the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture."

Hong Kong, sponsored by the Friends of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, "Classical Chinese Furniture and the Jin Ping Mei."

Taipei, ArtAsia, "Classical Chinese Furniture and the Jin Ping Mei."

1995

New York, Sotheby's, New York "Masterpieces from the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture".

1996

Boston, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. "Chinese Hardwood Furniture: Materials and Techniques."

1997

Singapore, National Heritage Museum. "Classical Chinese Furniture."

1998

Taipei, Sponsored by the Art Asia. "Four-part lecture series: History, Joinery and Construction, Materials, Fakes and Masterpieces."

New York, Sponsored by Christie's, New York. "In Pursuit of Elegance and Majesty: Traditional Living Spaces of the Elite in Late Imperial China."

Hong Kong, Friends of the Hong Kong University Society. "Four-part lecture series: History, Joinery and Construction, Materials, Fakes and Masterpieces."

1999

Taipei, Sponsored by the Art Asia. "Five-part lecture series: History, Joinery and Construction, Materials, Fakes and Masterpieces, Interiors."

Hong Kong, Sponsored by Christie's, Hong Kong. "In Pursuit of Elegance and Majesty: Traditional Living Spaces of the Elite in Late Imperial China."

Taipei, Sponsored by the Rotory Club of Taipei. " Classical Chinese Furniture."

Taipei, National Museum of History. "Splendor of Style".

Hong Kong. Friends of the Hong Kong University Society, "Searching for the Soul of Traditional Chinese Furniture."

Beijing. "The C. L. Ma Collection & Traditional Chinese Furniture."

2000

Taipei. "New Directions in Chinese Furniture Connoisseurship. Early Traditional Furniture".

2002

Hong Kong, University of Hong Kong Museum Society, "Dating and Attribution: Questions and Revelations from Inscribed Works of Chinese Furniture".

2004

Denver, Cashi Gallery. “Chinese Furniture and Asian Sensitivities”.

Kansas City, Fafa Gallery. “Chinese Furniture and Asian Sensitivities”.

2005

Shanghai, Exhibition Center. “Chinese Furniture and Asian Sensitivities”.

Shanghai, Exhibition Center. “Chinese Furniture and Western Sensitivities”.

2006

Shanghai, Exhibition Center. "In Pursuit of Elegance and Majesty: Traditional Living Spaces of the Elite in Late Imperial China".

Hong Kong, Chine Gallery. “The Chinese Chair”.

2007

"Xiandai zitan de xueshu yanjiu (Modern research on zitan)". Guardian Beijing.

"Chuantong dengzi (Traditional stools)". Shanghai exhibition center.

"Huanghuali yu huanghuali jiaju (Huanghuali and huanghuali furniture)". Hong Kong, Asia Expo.

2008

"Huanghuali yu huanghuali jiaju (Huanghuali and huanghuali furniture)". Guardian Beijing.

"Gudian jiaju shoucang xinshang lishi (The history and appreciation of collecting classical chinese furniture)". Dongshan, Suzhou.

2009

"Tan yizi: gaogu, nianfen, yiqu (Chairs: ancient origins, dating, and artistry)". Jinan, Shangdong.

2010

"Shennan yu mingqing nanmu jiaju (Sacred nanmu and nanmu furniture from the Ming and Qing periods)". Nanshufang, Beijing.

"Huanghuali jiaju zhi shenmei (The aesthetics of huanghuali furniture)". Guardian, Beijing.

2011

"Huixiang ershinian zhi guidan huanghuali jiaju (Looking back at 20 years of huanghuali furniture)". Guardian, Beijing.

2012

"Zhongguo gudian jiaju lishi (The history of Chinese furniture)". Academy of Arts, Beijing.

"Dongfang xifang jiaju jiaoliu (East and West influences on furniture design)". Academy of Arts, Beijing.

"Gudian jiaju yu dongfang zhi shenmei (Chinese furniture and Asian aesthetics)". Academy of Arts, Beijing.

"Gudian jiaju yu xifang zhi shenmei (Chinese furniture and Western aesthetics)". Academy of Arts, Beijing.

2013

"Jinian gudian jiaju yanjiu (Research on dateable Chinese furniture)". Qingdao.

2014

"Gudian jiaju zhi shenme (Aesthetics of Classical Chinese Furniture)" Wuxi.

2015

"Robert Hatfield Ellsworth & Chinese Furniture: Past to Present”. Christies, Hong Kong and Taipei.

"Six Thousand Years of Chinese Art”. Marysville, California, Lee Burrows Center for the Arts.

"Tan yizi: gaogu laiyuan, yizizhonglei, nianfen zhengju, zhongxi zhi guan, yiyi quwei (Chairs: Ancient origins, types, dateable evidence, east-west transmissions, and art of the chair)" Wuxi.

2016

"Twenty Years after the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture with Musings on a Pair of Speckled-Bamboo Cabinets”. Christies, New York.

"Mantan subei jiju de tedian (Discussion of the characteristics of furniture from the Subei region)" Yangzhou Museum.

"Side to Side Look at Classical Chinese and Early Modern Western Furniture Traditions" Hongzhuan Art Museum, Beijing.

"Gudian jiaju zhi shenme (Aesthetics of Classical Chinese Furniture)" Shanghai Xintiandi Nanshufang.

"Mantan subei jiju de tedian (Discussion of the characteristics of furniture from the Subei region)" Yangzhou Museum.

"Dongfang xifang jiaju jiaoliu (East and West influences on furniture design)" Chinese University, Hongkong.