Zitan, in its raw form |
Zitan,
after applying wax |
Among
tropical hardwoods the most prized of all is zitan, an exceptionally
rare species. Zitan is so rare that it is virtually unknown
in the West, and until recently was thought to be practically
extinct. Its tight grain and hardness make it so dense that
it sinks in water. In ancient China it was said that the dark
purple color of zitan resembled the color reserved for the
use of Qing dynasty. As a result, only the imperial household
was allowed to use zitan in China from the 17th to the 19th
century. Zitan trees grow very slowly, and zitan wood has
always been in short supply. Therefore, relatively few pieces
of zitan furniture exist, mostly in museums or private collections.
Zitan
furniture is so rare that when items become available they
command premium prices. Recently, a 216 centimeter (7 5/8
feet) long zitan painting table and accompanying painting
chair produced in 2001 was sold at auction in Beijing for
440,000 Renminbi, or approximately $55,000 US. Unusual antique
pieces can command prices in the hundreds of thousands of
dollars.
1) Zitan background
Zitan (Pterocarpus) is
a type of Leguminosae, a member of the rosewood family. The
wood originates from the tropical forests of southern China,
Indochina and islands in the Indian Ocean. Zitan is
an evergreen tree, and grows slowly, reaching 30 feet in height
and 10 inches in diameter after 300 years. Because of its
extremely slow growth, zitan is only available in limited
quantities. Zitan is further divided into two categories -
da-yie-tan and xiao-yie-tan. Xia-yie-tan
only grows in one region of the world, India and rarely grows
to be more than 10 centimeters in diameter. Objects or furniture
made from ancient xia-yie-tan timber rarely appear
on the international market. Da-yie-tan, though still
uncommon and thought to be extinct, have slowly reappeared
in tropical rain forests. The growth rings of a zitan
tree are spaced so close together that they are almost impossible
to distinguish without magnification. Zitan is extremely
dense, and sinks in water. When new, objects made from zitan
generally appear purple or reddish in color, but over time
darken. Eventually the wood will become almost black, and
the grain becomes virtually invisible. Although its grain
is not as colorful and prominent as that of huanghuali, the
subtle texture and coloring of aged zitan wood are
incomparable.
2) Zitan history and furniture making
From the very ancient times,
dating as early as in the 3rd century in Cui Baos Gu jin zhu
(Explanation and Ancient and Modern Matters), Chinese have
considered zitan the most precious wood. Perhaps because
it is so rare, many more pieces were made from huanghuali
than from zitan. Because of the particular scarcity
of large zitan trees, large pieces of zitan
furniture are exceptional treasures.
During the Ming and Qing periods,
with European and American expatriates coming to China, zitan
furniture first became widely exposed to the world. The export
of zitan furniture started during this period. Some
of the most exquisite pieces, which typically appear in international
auction houses, are often pieces documented as missing in
Chinese historical books. Antique zitan furniture is
among the most expensive furniture in auction markets, mainly
because there are so few pieces and the scarcity of the wood
means that they are typically constructed to the highest standards.
3) Collecting Zitan furniture
Collecting
zitan furniture has been an increasingly popular pursuit
for furniture connoisseurs. Attracted by the high prices obtained
for Ming and Qing period zitan furniture, some furniture
makers had learned to give furniture an antique treatment
and even produce counterfeit authenticity certificates. Some
of these attempts are so convincing that even experienced
collectors and experts are fooled. Genuine antique Ming zitan
chairs command price as high as $30,000 at auction. Items
represented as antiques but offered at lower prices are likely
to be of more modern origin, and unlikely to be made to the
same standards of joinery. With antique zitan furniture
pieces so few and far between, and export of antique zitan
furniture from China forbidden by law, zitan furniture
made currently but with the traditions and standards of old
have become increasingly valuable. Fine examples of Chinese
classical furniture exude the refined aesthetics of centuries
of Chinese culture, while their ingenious construction and
hardwood material provide durability and maintenance-free
enjoyment. Simply touching zitan objects from time
to time still serves as the most common preservation mechanism,
providing natural oils that protect the wood and polish the
surface. As the furniture ages, its patina darkens and deepens
- zitan furniture truly gets better with age.
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