Antler Chair

Antler Chair

The antler chair, with its seat surface and back made of different materials, boasts the distinctive style of the Qing court. All the antlers used were collected by hunting. In the style of Ming-dynasty round-backed armchairs, it displays a majestic and imposing appeal.

This antler chair dates back to Emperor Kangxi's reign (1662- 1722). The outer edge of the seat is inlaid with a line made of ivory, and the front and left and right sides are slightly concave. The seat surface is decorated with bone-carved cloud patterns, which is connected with the round back made of antlers. Its legs are made of two antlers that point inward symmetrically to support the chair. The back of the chair is engraved with a poem by Emperor Qianlong, which verified that the antlers came from deer hunted by Emperor Kangxi. A footstool in front of the chair features four legs made of the antlers of a fawn.

Only seven such antler chairs have been preserved in China, with one housed in the Shenyang Palace Museum, one in the Inner Mongolia Museum, and the remaining five in the Palace Museum, of which, three were made during the reign of Emperor Kangxi and two during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1796).

A unique furniture variety in the Qing Dynasty, these chairs skillfully combine the natural form of antlers with the function of chairs, demonstrating bold, innovative design and superb craftsmanship.

鹿角椅

鹿角椅，是以鹿角搭配不同材质的座面和背板制作而成的极具清宫特色的椅式。所用鹿角皆取自狩猎所获之鹿，样式按照明式圈椅设计，造型威武霸气。

这把康熙朝的鹿角椅，座面外沿一圈勒象牙线，前沿和两侧微内凹。座面嵌骨雕勾云纹坐牙，与鹿角圈背连接。椅脚为两只鹿的支角，角叉对称向里，形成支撑。椅背刻有乾隆皇帝的御制诗，证实此椅为康熙帝亲猎之鹿角所制。椅前另附脚踏，脚踏的四足为小鹿的鹿角。国内现存鹿角椅七件，一件在沈阳故宫博物院，一件在内蒙古自治区博物馆，其余五件均藏于故宫博物院，其中三件为康熙朝制作，两件为乾隆朝制作。

鹿角椅将鹿角的自然形态与椅子的造型及功能巧妙结合，显示出工匠大胆的创新设计和高超的制作工艺，成为清代特有的家具品种。