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Ming Ceramics

MING STYLE

In what’s considered a golden age of Chinese furniture, Ming dynasty artisans produced expertly made designs that married elegance and function. Ming furniture was versatile, such as tables that doubled as writing desks and dining spaces. But it was also beautiful, enhancing a room with clean lines, soft curves and sophisticated decoration.

Dating from 1368 to 1644, the Ming dynasty was a vibrant time for international trade and culture. Especially for scholars and the wealthy, there was an emphasis on a home’s design to promote a good life. From large wardrobes to angular sofas, Ming-style furniture was defined by its joinery, which, instead of nails, involved meticulously designed interlocking elements of wood. This material was carefully selected and positioned to make the grain part of the design. The slow-growing huanghuali, a yellowish rosewood, was particularly valued for its bright color.

Although ornamentation was minimal, Ming dynasty furniture often featured carved or painted details of flowers, insects, dragons, fruits and other motifs. Chairs crafted for scholars could include calligraphic brush writing. As overseas trade expanded, techniques from the West, like cloisonné enamel painting, adorned table screens and other pieces.

Ming furniture influenced styles abroad such as Queen Anne in England and Hollywood Regency in the United States. The curved shape of Ming armchairs had a profound impact on legendary Scandinavian modernist furniture designer Hans Wegner. The Danish cabinetmaker shared the Ming artisans’ interest in creating streamlined, functional furnishings, and his China chair, Round chair and Wishbone chair are inspired by Ming dynasty seating. Today, the Ming-style horseshoe chair is a graceful and sought-after type of seat, and contemporary Chinese designers such as Jerry Chen and Gan Erke are also drawing on this heritage for a new era of style.

Find a collection of Ming cabinets, decorative objects, lounge chairs and other furniture on 1stDibs.

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Style: Ming
Important Chinese Blue And White Dish, China Wanli Period
Located in Saverne, Grand Est
Slightly lobed dish in eight braces with flared rim with underglaze blue decoration of birds in a garden. Usual frittings on the border and a fine hairline at 12 o'clock (invisible t...
Category

Early 17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

A Qingbai Carved Meiping Porcelain, Song Dynasty
Located in seoul, KR
The vase exhibits a finely crafted structure, characterized by its wide shoulders and elongated, tapering sides, topped with a compact, ribbed cylindrical neck. Its exterior is adorn...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

Qingbai Yuhuchunping Vase Porcelain, Song Dynasty
Located in seoul, KR
Covered with a fine bluish glaze, the body entirely decorated with an incised decoration of elegant leafy scrolls and blooming lotuses. "Yuhuchunping" translates to 'spring wine bott...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

Chinese Ming Dynasty Martaban Jar
Located in Hoddesdon, GB
Chinese Ming Dynasty 1368 - 1644 Martaban Jar . Dates to the early Ming period . High neck and wide shoulders , brown slip glaze , unglazed base , loop-handles. rolled lipped rim ty...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Clay

Antique Decorated Brown-Glazed Mataban Vase/Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Brown-Glazed Mataban Jar Vase This large antique Chinese urn has six small figural handles made of beasts and multiple dragons carv...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Antique Stoneware Large Green-Glazed Mataban Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Stoneware Large Green-Glazed Mataban Jar This large antique Chinese urn/jar has six small handles and a shiny green surface. Its sh...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Antique Stoneware Small Green-Glazed Mataban Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Stoneware Small Green-Glazed Mataban Jar / Vase This large antique Chinese vase/jar has six small carved handles around the rim. Its neutral green glaze gives it a rustic an...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Vintage Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Baluster Form Vase
Located in Doylestown, PA
Blue and white baluster form porcelain vase with Zhongfeng mark on base, c. 1960s. Beautiful vase with a sweeping mountainous scene and unique calligraphy script. A unique Chinese p...
Category

1960s Chinese Vintage Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Large Chinese Blue And White Dish, China Ming Dynasty
Located in Saverne, Grand Est
Large scalloped dish called "Swatow" in porcelain with flared rim, with underglaze blue decoration : the basin decorated with deers in a landscape, the descent decorated with prunus ...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Blue and White Porcelain Ribbed Vase with Willow Ware Pattern
By Bo Jia for Middle Kingdom
Located in Manassas Park, VA
This temple jar is a traditional porcelain vessel from Jingdezhen, a town long distinguished by imperial patronage. This piece is a porcelain vase with a design reminiscent of the fa...
Category

20th Century Chinese Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

PAIR of Large Chinese Foo Dogs Gilded Metal with good detail, Circa 1920s
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
These are a very good Large pair of Chinese foo or lion dogs on plinth's, sometimes called temple lions made of metal and hand gilded with fine detail, all in the Ming style but dating to the 20th century, Circa 1920s period. These are an unusually large pair of Foo Dogs...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Ming Ceramics

Materials

Metal

Pair Of Chinese Monochrome Vases, China Ming Dynasty
Located in Saverne, Grand Est
Pair of suantouping (garlic head) vases in white-covered sandstone. Some frittings otherwise in very good condition ! China, 17th century or earlier.
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

A Chinese Longquan Celadon Lotus Bowl, Ming Dynasty
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Chinese Longquan Celadon Lotus Bowl, Ming Dynasty Diameter: 16.7 cm Height: 5.5 cm Provenance: The Collection of Dr. John Yu AC Dr. Yu was the Foundi...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Large Martaban Storage Jar
Located in Savannah, GA
A large brown glazed Martaban storage jar, c. 17th-18th century. Tapering ovoid form with molded sides depicting dragons, cranes and floral ornamentation. Six dragon head looped ...
Category

18th Century Burmese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Antique Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue White Porcelain Bowl Islamic Market Circa 1550
Located in Portland, OR
A very good antique Chinese blue and white bowl for the Islamic market, late Ming dynasty, 16th century. The bowl having a flared r...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Plate 17th Century Porcelain Ming Tianqi Transitional Boys
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely decorated plate with 2 boys. 1 boy observing the other one holding a lotus leaf umbrella, also a solitary spot which should be the moon or sun. a dish with this scen...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Jun Ware Porcelain Tripod Censer Light Blue Crackle Glaze Ming
Located in Richmond, CA
This antique Chinese censer is a remarkable example of Tang-style Jun ware, a highly esteemed ceramic art form. The piece features a compressed circular body, elegantly transitioning into a ribbed neck that culminates in a dished rim. The form is both classic and functional, designed to serve as a censer for incense burning. What sets this censer apart is its extraordinary glaze work. The base layer is a crackled light...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

An Impressive Large Celadon Charger, 20th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
An Impressive Large Celadon Charger, 20th Century Provenance: Private Melbourne Collection Dimension: Height: 8.5 cm Diameter: 76 cm
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Ming Ceramics

Materials

Celadon

Foo Dogs Chinese Sancai Architectural Roof Tiles
Located in Cheltenham, GB
Foo Dogs Chinese sancai architectural roof tiles in green and mustard / orange shades. Antique Chinese lion guardians (also known as "Foo Dog") ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Ming Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Antique Chinese Porcelain 17th Century Kraak Porcelain Dish with Bird
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely decorated kraak plate. Top Quality painting & rare scene 9-1-19-1-13 Condition Overall condition B (Good used); Rimfritting, star hairline...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Porcelain Blue&White Dragon Bowl Fu Gui Chang Chun Mark Ming 17c
Located in Richmond, CA
This exceptional blue and white dragon bowl, dating back to the late Ming Dynasty, is a remarkable piece from an unique period in Chinese p...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

A Chinese Deep Brown Glazed Footed Bowl, 15th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Chinese Deep Brown Glazed Footed Bowl, 15th Century Provenance: The Collection of Dr. John Yu AC Dimension: Height: 7.3 cm. Dimension: 15.5 cm Dr. Yu was the Founding Chair of V...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Terracotta

Antique Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Tripod Censer Monster Paw Feet 17c Ming
Located in Richmond, CA
This antique Ming Chinese tripod censer is a masterful example of blue and white porcelain artistry. The censer features a well-proportioned body that is underglaze decorated with th...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Large Chinese Blue And White Vase In Meiping Shape, China Late Qing Dynasty
Located in Saverne, Grand Est
Large Meiping-shaped porcelain vase with underglaze blue decoration of a dragon pursuing the sacred pearl. This rotating decoration of the dragon over the entire body of the vase was...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Blue And White Large Decorative Bowl Circa 1900’s
Located in Jupiter, FL
This is an absolutely stunning blue and white Bowl- I’m not sure what dynasty this is that I did a lot of research it is believed to be late 19th century. In person this is truly stu...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain, Wood

Antique Chinese 17C Porcelain Ming/Transitional Kraak Literati dish
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Rare and nicely decorated dish. Very unusual decoration and superb quality of painting and potting. Ca 1595-1645. Truly nice cobalt blue color See: Maura Rinaldi: "Kraak Porcelain...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Taste 17c Kosometsuke Tianqi/Chongzhen Dish Porcelain Mi
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely decorated plate. Late Ming. Bamboo and literati. Bamboo Bamboo - Zhu - longevity. Never loosing its leafs, bamboo is a symbol of old age, endurance and modesty. B...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Blue And White Dish, China Jiajing Period
Located in Saverne, Grand Est
Slightly lobed dish with flared rim with blue decoration under cover of two deers. Tiny chips on the border (usual for porcelain from this period), otherwise perfect condition ! Chin...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Ming Style Blue and White BW Bunch Of Lotus Charger 19c Qing
Located in Richmond, CA
An antique Chinese porcelain charger, hand decorated in underglaze blue and white, exemplifying the revered Ming style. The focal point, a central medallion within a double circle bo...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Asian Style Celadon Glazed Jars As Table Lamps
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Lovely ribbed jars in a soft celadon glaze. With black mounts and bases. Matching celadon ball finials and white fabric shades. H. 30", Diam. 7 1/2", shade Diam. 16" Condition: Very ...
Category

20th Century Ming Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Chinese Ming Dynasty Tomb Funeral Pottery Bed Model
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Chinese stoneware day bed model circa Ming dynasty (15th-17th century). The miniature models were traditionally made as burial offering objects. Pottery models of daily life necess...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

A Chinese Ming Dynasty Cizhou Wine Jar
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Chinese Ming Dynasty Cizhou Wine Jar Provenance: Private Australian Collection acquired in 1950s.
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Chinese Ming Design Glazed Terracotta Tricolor Prancing Horse Sculpture on Base
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Ming dynasty style glazed terracotta prancing horse figure from the 20th century with polychrome finish. Crafted in the Ming style, this small terracotta prancing horse att...
Category

20th Century Chinese Ming Ceramics

Materials

Terracotta

Chinese Ming Style Ceramic Roof Tile Fragment, Nicely Mounted
Located in Milford, NH
A fine Chinese Ming style polychrome ceramic roof tile fragment of a warrior on a dragon with metal spear, nicely mounted to a custom solid acrylic stand. Probably dates to the 18th/...
Category

18th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of Chinese Ming Dynasty Tomb Funeral Pottery Chair Models
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Chinese stoneware horseshoe cross chairs circa Ming dynasty (15th-17th century). The miniature models were traditionally made as burial offeri...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Antique Chinese Taste Kosometsuke Tianqi/Chongzhen Dish Porcelain Mi
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely decorated plate. Late Ming. Traders and travellers in a landscape. An extraordinary border pattern. Very rare type of plate. C...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Ming Dynasty Tomb Funeral Pottery Bed Model
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Chinese stoneware day bed model circa Ming dynasty (15th-17th century). The miniature models were traditionally made as burial offering objects. Pottery models of daily life necess...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Pair Early 20th Century Chinese Ceramic Foo Dogs
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Low fired ceramic Chinese "Ming" style pair matching Foo Dogs with beautiful cracked and dripped glazed four color finish. This beautiful couple Foo Dogs is visibly handmade because the prints of the fingers the artist are visible in the earthenware. These Foo Dogs makes displayed in your place a great...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Ceramics

Materials

Earthenware

Antique Chinese 17th Century Porcelain Ming/Transitional Plate Boys with Bird
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely decorated plate. A late Ming Ko-Sometsuke porcelain dish, Wanli or Tianqi period, 1600-1627. This Kaiseki blue and white porcelain serving dish is decorated with two ...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Stoneware Jar Celadon fluted detail, Ming Dynasty 14th to 16th Century
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very old interesting provincial Chinese stoneware Celadon Jar, probably Longquan, with fluted or ribbed decoration, which we date to the Ming Dynasty, between the 14th and 16th Centuries. The Jar has an interesting circular baluster shape with an open everted rim and low foot. It has been decorated with moulded vertical flutes or ribs to its lower half. The base is concave and fairly deep. The Jar has a mossy-olive green colour having a celadon glaze which runs from the base to the upper rim as it would have been glazed upside down, with some glaze around the top section of the inner rim. Unglazed parts fire to a terracotta brown colour at the rim, lower body and the foot rim. The piece is unmarked but for similar pieces see the superb book: Chinese Ceramics by He Li published by Thames & Hudson, 1996; pages 164 to 184. NOTES Longquan is a city in South west China. These wares were produced over a long time period from 959 to 1550; which covers the Northern Song...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Antique Chinese 17th C Porcelain Ming/Transitional Plate Blue Tianqi Chongzhen
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Very nicely decorated plate. A late Ming porcelain dish, Wanli or Tianqi Period 1620 – 1645. Very nice with a scene. Condition Overall Condition B (Good used) Rimfritting, some sm...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

17th century Chinese Ming Porcelain Ceramic Blue and White Vase Covered
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
Antique 17th Century Chinese porcelain - Ceramic covered vase Origin: China, Period Late Ming, approx 1630 - 1645 Form - Octagonal balus...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

Chinese Porcelain Plate 17th Century Lotus Fishing Ming Dynasty Tianqi/Chongzhen
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A blue and white late Ming or Transitional plate with a nice and rare decoration 15-7-19-1-14 Condition Overall condition good rimfritting and 1 chip and 1 hairli...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Porcelain Ming Wanli / Tianqi Playing Go Landscape Plate
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
15-7-19-1-2 Typical late Ming landscape dish. A very nice example! Condition Overall condition A (Very good) rimfritting, filled chip and 2 hairlines. Size 160 mm Period...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

30.4cm Kosometsuke Antique Chinese Porcelain Dish 17 C Ming Literatus Children
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Condition 1 restuck piece with a line and with some paint of the repainting remaining. Lower part of the restuck piece is with kintsugi. Some fritting. Size 303x36mm diameterxhigh ...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Granary Jar
Located in Yonkers, NY
A 17th century Antique Chinese Granary Jar hand made from terracotta with a verdigris patina. Unearth an enthralling piece of history with...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Terracotta

Chinese Longquan Celadon Ming Dynasty Porcelain Vase
Located in Bradenton, FL
Chinese Longquan Celadon Ming Dynasty Porcelain Vase. Chinese antique Ming Dynasty celadon porcelain vase with leaf motif. Overall crackle glaze.
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Ming Porcelain Early 17th Century Blue White Plate Charger Kraak Dish
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
Antique Chinese porcelain blue and white Ming charger Blue and white ceramic deep dish. Material: Chinese porcelain, Ceramic Style: Chinese, Ming, Anti...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

Chinese Small Cizhou Glazed Figure of a Daoist Deity, Song to Ming Dynasty
Located in Austin, TX
A small and charming Chinese cizhou ware glazed pottery figure of a Taoist deity or official, Song to Ming Dynasty, 13th - 15th century, China, ex. Christi...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Antique Ming Period Cizhou Statue of a Guanyin China Chinese Porcelain
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Chinese statue representing Kwan Yin/ Guanyin seated in rajalilasana on a throne, holding a child on her knees, two servants on either side. Cizhou porcelain with cream and brown gla...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Jingdezhen Wanli Period Chinese Porcelain Kraak Dish
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Large late Ming dynasty Wanli period blue and white kraak ware export porcelain deep charger. Decorated in the centre within an eight-pointed medallion wi...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Ming Dynasty Chinese Longquan Celadon Large Carved Sphere Porcelaneous Stoneware
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Ming dynasty Chinese longquan celadon large carved sphere porcelaneous stoneware. This is unquestionably a very important and extremely rare example ...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of Ming Dynasty Bowls with Pattern of Interlocking Hexagons
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Ming Dynasty Bowls with Pattern of Interlocking Hexagons, Wanli period (1572-1620). This handsome pair of bowls with a slightly fluted rim features an outer pattern of hexago...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Kosometsuke Antique Chinese Porcelain 17th C Ming Dynasty Serving Dish
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Beautiful serving dish in blue and white with a typical ming period landscape scene. The shape of this piece is highly unusual, we found serving dishes from the same period in all ki...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Rare Kosometsuke Antique Chinese 16/17c Ming Dynasty Plate China Porcelain
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Beautiful dish in blue and white. This is a Jingdezhen made dish made for the Japanese market. Kosometsuke. The rim of the dish is in the shape of a flower, the dis is overall sha...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese 16/17C Chinese Porcelain Kraak Wanli Plate Flying Horse
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely decorated plate with a beautiful scene of a flying Horse With a nice empty rim. Wanli, Tianqi or Chongzhen Period 1590 – 1640 These kind of dishes are will described...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese Porclelain Celedon Planters
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of Chinese porcelain fish bowls with a celadon glaze and embosed floral design. These jardinieres are a nice scale with a beauiful ...
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Large Antique Chinese Porcelain Famille Verte Dish Flowers Landscape Kangxi
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Description A Large 'Chinese Verte' export porcelain deep dish Kangxi period Painted with enamels of the famille verte palette with reserves of flowers,...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Ming ceramics for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Ming ceramics for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage ceramics created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, porcelain and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Ming ceramics made in a specific country, there are Asia, East Asia, and China pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for ceramics differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $919 and tops out at $35,634 while the average work can sell for $2,480.

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