Human world
Canton (Guangzhou) was the centre of the furniture trade in the 18th century. By the 1850s the British had forced other ports including Amoy (Xiamen), Hong Kong and Shanghai to trade with them.
Chinese carpenters made furniture for Europeans living in Asia and for export to Europe and America. They copied gaming tables, sewing tables, chairs and desks from Western models sent to China or from designs in books.
Many of the pieces are 'hybrids'. They look European but the Chinese carpenters used their own woods, metals and methods of manufacture.
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