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Artwork from this period often denotes woven mats with arm-rests of intricate and elegant designs.
Pictures of Buddha often show him sat upon a plinth of raised mats.
By the time of the Tang dynasty furniture was becoming more sophisticated with roll back chairs and platform beds entering the homes of the wealthy.
By the time of the Ming and Qing dynasties furniture was becoming increasingly evident in all homes.
Explorers to the East soon began to import pieces of furniture back.
China accessories were a popular memento as they were easy to transport and small enough to make gifts for loved ones.
But gradually, the West's fascination with the Orient spilled over into furniture.
Huge pieces would often be shipped back to take their place in Western drawing rooms and bedrooms.
Of particular popularity during Georgian times were the intricate Chinese screens made, sometimes made of silk and intricately decorated.
Two distinct styles of Chinese furniture are evident even today: The black lacquerware furniture which is usually intricately sculpted and highly decorated prized by upper class families; and the traditional furniture which is usually of a solid colour wood and would have been for the average Chinese family, yet it still retains the high quality craftsmanship if not the elaborate decoration.
Divided between these two finishes are three styles: frame-and-panel construction, The Yoke and Rack, and Bamboo construction.
The simple frame and panel construction has been modified over the years to become more elaborate and intricate.
It's simplicity of design meant that for everyone this style was readily accessible, especially for tables and bed frames.
A distinct feature of this design is that cabinets will not have a top that overlaps the sides, which is more indicative of western design usually seen in wardrobes and display cabinets, but instead will fit squarely to the piece.
In contrast the Yoke and Rack style, with its more rounded legs being a characteristic, does have the overhand of the top piece in cabinets and wardrobes.
Bamboo furniture is obvious in its origins in that craftsmen recognised the strength of this indigenous plant and used it construct everything from tables to bed frames.
Later, the design would be made in wood to emulate bamboo but the style has crossed over to the West and bamboo furniture gained a great deal of popularity during the 1960s onwards and furniture made in this style still finds a place in western homes often in Conservatories or summer houses.
The love of Chinese Furniture means antique pieces are now highly collectible but there are also a number of companies that specialise in high-quality reproduction furniture, and some have even taken traditional Chinese styles and blended them with 21st century western designs to create truly unique pieces.
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