Pair of Square Stools with Humpback Stretchers

The precursor to the modern “less is more” era, the Ming dynasty epitomized the moment when form and function came together seamlessly. Furniture was deliberately designed to be simple and austere to let its shape and the natural color of wood speak for itself. The graceful transitions on the inside corners of this pair of feng deng, or square stools, showcase the complex mortise-and-tenon joinery techniques used by skilled carpenters to dovetail furniture together with no nails or screws. The refined, flowing lines of these stools guide the eye across its rounded stretchers and legs and create an elegant silhouette. The top is designed with a “floating panel,” a technique that allows the solid panel to move with seasonal changes and also beautifully frames the grained inset wood.