Classical Chinese Huanghuali Furniture from the Haven Collection With Dr. Lau Chu-pak

The exhibition Classical Chinese Huanghuali Furniture from the Haven Collection, contains a fine selection of both domestic furniture and scholars' objects, such as brush pots and chests. Chinese huanghuali furniture is world-famous and, for the longest time, has been collected in both East and West.

In Ming Dynasty China, traditional wood architecture and Buddhist thrones inspired Chinese furniture of elegant lines and carved details often made from huanghuali and zitan woods. The usage of elegant dark hardwood with a natural shine is both important and remarkable for the fact that Chinese furniture is typically made from solid timber, not an invisible sub-construction covered by a decorative veneer, as it is so often the case in the West. The strength of all individual elements of a piece of furniture and their consistent colour matter, the exposure of every detail and the exactness of the joints, the size and position of the dowels, and so forth, are visual elements of the often very simple and graceful designs. Applied surface finishing mostly existed of waxing to add shine to the dense and in itself decorative woods.

Resource Person
We are privileged to have collector, Dr. Lau Chu-pak introduce us to the many interesting pieces in this exhibition. Dr. Lau is a world authority in Cardiology and particularly Electrophysiology, including the management of patients with cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators and is the author of numerous scientific papers published in the world's most prestigious cardiology publications. Dr. Lau has been collecting for 20 years and started the Haven Collection as a 'haven' and refuge to relax and follow his personal interests.