Couch-Bed, c. 1600, 31 1/2 x 85 3/4 x 46 1/2 in. ( x x cm), Huang-hua-li hardwood, China, 16th-17th century, The low-back couch-bed (chuang) with solid rails is among the simplest and most harmonious forms of Ming furniture. Evolved from ancient box-style platforms, it had developed, by the Ming dynasty, into the sophisticated corner-leg frame with the type of side railings seen here. Often used as the centerpiece in formal seating arrangements within a reception hall, the chuang was extremely versatile and could even be found in the scholar's studio and the women's quarters

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Photo credit: © Penta Springs / Alamy / Afripics
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Model Released: No

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