In China as in the West, luxurious items acted as carriers of social meaning and as markers of social status. This was not only due to the type of wood or the design of a given object but also as to how the object was positioned showing a socially acceptable degree of taste and refinement.

Although some forms of Ming furniture can also be quite ornate most forms generally follow the minimalistic classical ideals. These forms are simple and are characterized by a sense of timeless elegance and well balanced proportions.

The main reason Ming and early Qing furniture is of such high quality is that it was fashioned from hard, dense woods of good colour and beautiful grain. During these dynasties most of the best furniture was made from huanghuali (rosewood) - its colour is perfect, neither too subdued nor too showy and its grain is very varied. Zitan (red sandlewood) is the heaviest of all hardwoods. Most examples are purplish-black in colour but some pieces are as black as lacquer and the grain is virtually invisible.

Today, these hardwoods are now generally unobtainable in China or extremely expensive. Mao & Me makes it's furniture from semi-hard woods mainly walnut wood, elmwood and camphor wood.