Asian furniture

File:WLA vanda Japanese Chair Zelkora wood.jpg

Japanese chair made from carved Zelkora wood with stencilled leather upholstery

The term Asian furniture, or sometimes Oriental furniture, refers to a type of furniture that originated in the continent of Asia. Sometimes people also think of Asian furniture as a style of furniture that has Asian accents. With assimilation with western culture the term can also expand to modern Asian furniture.

Since Asia is the largest continent in the world, the term is sometimes limited to only furniture made or originated from Far East Asia, such as China and Japan, which is usually characterized by the use of bamboo, or red coloration with some Asian characters or symbols on it. However, in part due to globalization, people are more familiar with other parts of Asian culture. Europeans began to receive and collect Asian furniture in the 18th century. Southeast Asian furniture such as Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Javanese, and Balinese furniture are now becoming more prominent and appreciated. Other Asian furniture such as South Asian and Indian are also becoming more popular in interior decorating. There is also the colonial furniture made for the British during their rule in Asia, which includes furniture mostly from India and Burma (now already antique) and their reproductions. Southeast Asian furniture are usually dark brown in color with a lot of Hindu-influence carving. Some may have Polynesian accents such as those from eastern parts of Indonesia.

See also

• Chinese furniture