Broyhill Ming Dynasty Furniture

Founded during the 1920s, the Broyhill Furniture Company was one of the stalwart North Carolina makers of mid-priced, traditional wooden furnishings, and it served American families well. The Colonial Revival style — chairs with turned legs, beds with split pediment headboards — had always been the company’s stock in trade. But the vintage Broyhill bedroom furniture, dressers and cabinets of the postwar era are quite popular with today’s fans of mid-century modern design — particularly those who enjoy more flamboyant stylings, such as those of Adrian Pearsall.

For collectors of a certain type, Broyhill is most admired for its brief foray into the contemporary furnishings of the late 1950s and ‘60s. In 1957, responding to changing tastes, the firm launched its Broyhill Premier line with the Sculptra series.

Sculptra pieces featured decorative molding with a square-within-a-square motif and horizontal cat’s eye-shaped drawer pulls. Five years later, Broyhill introduced the Brasilia furniture group, inspired by the Oscar Niemeyer architecture for the brand-new Brazilian capital. The collection made its debut at the Seattle World’s Fair.

The cabinet door fronts of vintage Broyhill Brasilia pieces feature moldings based on the sweeping colonnades and parabolic curves of such buildings as the Palácio da Alvorada (“Palace of the Dawn”), the presidential residence. As you will see on 1stDibs, Broyhill created a striking and spirited line of furnishings that will make a happy keynote in any Atomic Age-inspired interior.

Ohio retailer Big Lots acquired the rights to the Broyhill name and related trademarks in 2019.

Find vintage Broyhill tables, credenzas, seating and other items on 1stDibs.

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.

For get-togethers or large celebratory meals in your already sumptuous dining area, a charming and durable vintage, new or antique buffet, with its decorative and practical features, can truly elevate the experience.

Although often used as a synonym for “sideboard,” a buffet technically possesses a tiered or shelved superstructure for displaying decorative kitchenware. The term derives from buffet à deux corps, a piece that is seen mostly in French Provincial furniture. And while the terms “case pieces” and “case goods” may cause even the most decor-obsessed to stumble, these furnishings — which include buffets, credenzas, cupboards and other must-have items — have been a vital part of the home for centuries.

Buffets are the ideal place to keep serveware and larger serving pieces that you’d rather have tucked away when not in use. They’re typically long and low and can be the perfect option for serving food as well as storing your porcelain and making your space tidy and organized. Feel free to dress up your buffet between meals with decorative objects or stacks of art books.

A buffet can be positioned in your living room, entryway or hall if space allows. But if you intend to permanently pair your case piece with your dining room table, when shopping for your vintage buffet you’ll definitely want to think about your dining room’s space restrictions. Allow for at least two feet of space between your buffet and your table so that guests can easily move to and fro as needed, and a buffet that is convenient for serving food should be as high as a kitchen counter if possible.

If you’re looking for inspiration for your home bar or dining area, find Art Deco buffets, mid-century modern buffets, Hollywood Regency buffets and other varieties on 1stDibs today.