Born and raised in China, Maria acquired an appreciation for design from her father, a university professor of
architecture. After seeing many of China's historic treasures destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, she
decided to give back to her country by creating high quality reproductions of Ming Dynasty furniture, keeping
the same lines, forms and techniques used hundreds of years ago.
Since 1988, her company has grown from a small shop with four workers to two complexes in China with dozens
of employees. The furniture produced is handcrafted from native Chinese hardwoods and eco-friendly bamboo,
and lacquered for durability. The joinery resembles a beautiful, complex puzzle, and as in the originals,
nails and screws are never used.
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At her manufacturing facilities in Guangzhou and Hunan, Maria exceeds mandatory environmental regulations,
upholding energy conservation as a principle of operation. Equipment is closely monitored to reduce pollutants.
Recycled sawdust rather than fossil fuels powers low-emission boilers. The Hunan facility is the first
industrial building in China to wholly employ hydronic radiant heating—a renewable energy, according to the
U.S. Department of Energy.
Maria's commitment to design, quality craftsmanship, the environment and her homeland inspire us every
day, and have made our partnership so successful. With all her creations, you can introduce her inspiring
tradition into your home and explore unexpected contrasts by mixing them with modern furniture and accessories.
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