Towards a Cross-Cultural Hybridisation: An Exploration of Furniture Design and Advertising in Shanghai, China (1912-1949)

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper uses furniture advertisements to explore interactions between Eastern and Western design forms in semi-colonial Shanghai during the Republic of China (1912–1949). 1 By analysing historical advertisements during this period, it identifies three distinct trends in furniture design that integrated Eastern and Western influences in an innovative manner, reflecting, to varying degrees, a “cross-cultural hybridization” of forms. 2 The first trend celebrated Western design, which was introduced to Shanghai during its colonisation in the late Qing Dynasty (1845–1912), rendering it in traditional Chinese materials and construction techniques. The second trend, which aligned with the anti-imperial sentiment of Shanghai society after the founding of the Republic of China, celebrated local craftsmanship either by referencing traditional Chinese furniture design, or highlighting local production. These two trends led to the creation of a truly integrative third trend, the “Modeng” style, which blended Eastern and Western design elements and became a hallmark of Shanghai design and culture after the 1930s. Overall, by tracing the evolving trends of Shanghai furniture design, this article enhances our comprehension of the intricate relationship between Western cultural influences and local adaptations and integrations, highlighting how furniture advertisements reflected Shanghai’s unique cultural context.