Iron Clad Two Person Bench

This late 19th-century bench is designed in a traditional style that dates back as far as the Song dynasty (690-1279 CE). The corner leg benches have floating panel tops, straight square legs, and long floor stretchers anchored in place by studded iron fittings. The need for elongated floor stretchers abated during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) as joinery techniques improved. An homage to these earlier forms, the bench is minimally decorated with a streamlined silhouette, darkened to a deep brown with warm undertones.