Nantong carpenter Wang Jinxiang makes furniture. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Wang Jinxiang, a carpenter in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, has been dedicated to making furniture for more than 40 years.

His woodworking career started purely with the goal of earning money to support his family. "It puts food on the table," said Wang.

Wang has become increasingly skilled at the carpentry process. While making new furniture, he has also been taking an interest in ancient furniture.

Nantong carpenter Wang Jinxiang's works. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The carpenter said he felt sad to see much ancient furniture made in Nantong being delivered overseas in the 1980s and that it inspired him to start collecting ancient furniture himself.

Although he was not well off at that time, Wang still saved money for the furniture.

As he collected more ancient furniture, the furniture maker gradually discovered that the value of ancient furniture lies not only in collecting it, but to inspire him in his own work.

Nantong-made chairs collected by an individual. [Photo/nantong.gov.cn]

In 2009, Wang and his wife raised funds to establish the Nantong Furniture Museum in Chongchuan district, which opened to the public five years later. Meanwhile, he donated all the furniture on display at the museum to contribute to the protection of Nantong furniture-making techniques.

The most notable feature of Nantong-made furniture is its abstract dragon patterns. The furniture also features natural changes in thickness and smooth curves. These are the main reasons why so many people like collecting Nantong-made furniture.