Sam Sun, Oriental Desk (Student Awards 2018)

The project that I undertook for my Year 12 major work was a desk based on an ancient Chinese style that originates from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911AD). I chose this design as it represents a period of elegance for furniture in China, and it has inspired me to create one of my own. A big part of my fascination with ancient Chinese furniture is due to ancient furniture construction methods. I wanted to learn and apply these methods but also utilize more modern construction techniques. Mortise and tenon, mitres, housing, dowel and biscuit joints were used in the carcase and lapped dovetails feature in the drawers. I used New Guinea rosewood for its colour, variable grain and texture, and finished with a satin polyurethane. Decorative Chinese style brass drawer handles and corner protectors add a regal feel and authenticity. In keeping with the ancient Chinese theme, I inlayed three traditional Chinese porcelain panels for the top of the desk which I sourced from an artist in my family’s home village in Jingdezhen. These unique panels depicts ancient Chinese culture and lifestyle to give a sense of the atmosphere and environment of the Qing Dynasty period of China. Year 12, Killara High School, NSW Teacher: Brendon Francis

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.