Lotus Flowers in a Wood Vase: The Use of Wood as a Medium
Decorative arts such as furniture and statuary were the main area in which wood was used as a medium. Under previous Yuan and Ming dynasties, displays of opulence were often found within the decorative arts as aristocrats sought to decorate their homes with lavish goods to demonstrate their great wealth. Decorative arts carved from wood were a way to reject this opulence while still creating beautiful objects containing the wild and twisted forms appealing to the artistic sensibility within the Qing dynasty. Under the Qing dynasty, The Workshops of the Imperial Household Department established a studio dedicated to wooden arts known as the “Canton woodworking workshop.”[2] Many examples of furniture as well as small scale statues similar to ours were produced during the Qing dynasty highlighting the importance of wood as a medium during this time.