What are the types of metal parts of furniture in the Ming and Qing dynasties

Hinge: The hinge is composed of two copper plates wrapped together with a round shaft, which can be opened and closed, hence the name "hinge". Hinges come in a variety of shapes, including rectangular, round, hexagonal, octagonal and various lace shapes.

When installing, one side is nailed to the frame, and the other side is nailed to the door edge, and the larger hinge is made into a movable shaft to facilitate the disassembly and handling of the cabinet door.

Leaf leaf: It is an ornament that sets off the twist head and tag in the middle of the cabinet or box. It is made up of two or three pieces, usually two, left and right, or top and bottom. If a movable bolt is added between the two doors, a long strip of noodles needs to be added, commonly known as "noodles".

Racket: It is a decoration in the middle of the front face of the upper cover of the box furniture, which is equivalent to the buckle hanging. After the lid is closed, put down the racket, and the two rectangular holes on the front of the racket are just set on the small curve on the front face of the box, and cannot be opened after locking.

Handle and ring: The handle and ring are components installed on both sides of the box for picking and handling, and are composed of two curved and one cloud-shaped copper pieces. Most of the Ming-style furniture ornaments are simple, and in the Qing Dynasty, the decoration tends to be cumbersome, and most of the copper pieces are chiseled with various patterns, and the patterns and ornaments are diversified decoration.

Twist head: It is a trim for locking, usually installed on the side of the split door, if there is a vertical bolt between the two doors, then also install one on the vertical bolt. There is a round hole in the middle of the twist head, and when locked, two or three twist heads must be penetrated at the same time, and the door cannot be opened.

Tags: It is an ornament that is convenient for pulling cabinet doors or drawers, and larger utensils are fixed on specific parts of the furniture with hanging rings. The eyebolt not only has the function of traction, but also the function of lifting upward.

There are a variety of common tags and rings, including oval, rectangular, bottle-shaped, rock-shaped, bell-shaped, blue-shaped, double-fish-shaped, etc., which are carved with various patterns and are highly decorative ornaments.

Ququ and eye money: The function of Ququ can not only be locked, but also fixed with the lifting ring and tag. Ququ is often matched with eye money, and the bottom of the curve is lined with eye money, which can not only prevent the ring from wearing the wood surface, but also add a bit of beauty to the furniture.

The shape of eye money is also varied, including round, square, begonia flower, plum blossom and so on.

Corner: Generally packed at the four corners of the box, its function is to strengthen the binding force of the mortise and tenon of each part of the box, and to protect the wooden part of the furniture from wear.

Legs: According to the shape of the four legs of the furniture, or round or square, the copper sleeve installed at the end of the foot with the shape is also called the foot cover. The function of the sleeve leg is to avoid moisture and friction with the ground, keep the body stable and prolong the service life.