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質的座面和背板制作而成的極具清宮特色的椅式。所用鹿角皆取自狩獵所獲之鹿，樣式按照明式圈椅設計，造型威武霸氣。

這把康熙朝的鹿角椅，座面外沿一圈勒象牙線，前沿和兩側微內凹。座面嵌骨雕勾云紋坐牙，與鹿角圈背連接。椅腳為兩只鹿的支角，角叉對稱向里，形成支撐。椅背刻有乾隆皇帝的御制詩，證實此椅為康熙帝親獵之鹿角所制。椅前另附腳踏，腳踏的四足為小鹿的鹿角。國內現存鹿角椅七件，一件在沈陽故宮博物院，一件在內蒙古自治區博物館，其余五件均藏于故宮博物院，其中三件為康熙朝制作，兩件為乾隆朝制作。

鹿角椅將鹿角的自然形態與椅子的造型及功能巧妙結合，顯示出工匠大膽的創新設計和高超的制作工藝，成為清代特有的家具品種。