Office Chair - Solid Wood Official Hat Chair

The solid wood official hat chair is a classic Ming-style piece of furniture, available in two types: the southern official hat chair and the four-protruding-end official hat chair, both possessing unique design, historical, and cultural values.

Classification and Structural Features

• Southern Official Hat Chair: Both the top rail and armrests do not protrude, and soft rounded corners are made at the junction of the backrest posts and the top rail. Taking the 'Ziguang' southern official hat chair as an example, the seat surface adopts a fan-shaped edge-banding and grooving panel installation technique, with a high-density natural rattan surface in the middle. When first seated, the slight elasticity of the rattan weaving naturally conforms to the curves of the buttocks; the S-shaped top rail of the backrest connects smoothly with the goose-neck armrest, following the natural physiological curvature of the spine downward to provide support, effectively relieving the feeling of suspension in the shoulder and neck area.
• Four-Protruding-End Official Hat Chair: Both ends of the top rail and the front ends of the left and right armrests protrude. Some believe that it has been the most suitable chair for the host's position throughout history.

Materials and Craftsmanship

• Materials: Taking the 'Ziguang' southern official hat chair as an example, it is made of Zitan wood, which is fine and oily.
• Craftsmanship: The entire chair is joined using traditional dovetail and miter joints, without nails or glue, ensuring excellent structural stability. The rattan surface has evenly distributed air holes, and the surface coating adheres to the traditional method of applying raw lacquer as a base and then hand-polishing with beeswax, making it eco-friendly and comfortable to use.

Design Philosophy

• The southern official hat chair achieves a clever balance between the 'simplicity and emptiness' of Ming-style furniture and modern ergonomics. The ratio of seat depth to seat height has been calibrated with data, conforming to the average hip-knee angle of Asian adults. It is suitable for heavy users of studies, such as scholars, creators, and home office workers, as well as enthusiasts of teahouses and new Chinese-style homes.

Historical Origins

The official hat chair actually originated as early as the Wei and Jin dynasties and was more commonly used in daily life during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Its name is derived from its resemblance to the hats of ancient officials, containing profound cultural connotations. It reflects the ancient literati's aspirations for official careers and their pursuit of status and identity, making it an important representative of traditional Chinese furniture culture.