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.
Late Ming Era Documented Glazed Pottery Horse
Located in Kastrup, DK
An elegant Chinese Ming dynasty pottery figurine depicting a horse in a standing pose with polychrome finish (aubergine, light brown and g...
Pottery
Pair Chinese Ming Dynasty Glazed Buddhist Lions and Attendants, 17th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fantastic pair of large Chinese tileworks sancai glazed Buddhistic lions and attendants, late Ming Dynasty, first half of the 17th century, Shanxi, China. Presented on custom 20th century wood and lacquer table-form stands. This pair of lions and attendants portray Buddhist lions...
Ceramic, Wood
Ming Dynasty Period Male Foo Dog Guardian Lion Hand-Carved Sculpture
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Ming Dynasty period (1368 - 1644) hand-carved stone Foo Dog guardian lion sculpture depicting a male placing his paw atop a ball. Created in Ch...
Stone
Chinese Ming Dynasty Hand Carved Stone Monkey Sculpture with Infant Monkey
Located in Yonkers, NY
A 19th century Chinese Ming dynasty hand carved stone monkey sculpture. This Chinese sculpture features a monkey figure, sitting on a rock formation, holding a square item, perhaps a...
Stone
Ming Dynasty Blue Glazed Terra Cotta Bird
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ming Dynasty Blue Glazed Terra Cotta Bird. Very rare early Ming Dynasty Blue Glazed Terra Cotta sourced from our Paris Offices at Chateau de Vitray. Beautiful blue tone glazing.
Terracotta
Chinese Ming Celestial Mingqi Horse Figure
Located in Chicago, IL
This hand carved Chinese wooden horse is a type of centuries-old burial figurine known as míngqì. Depicting the pleasures of daily life, míngqì f...
Wood
Ming Style Sacai Glazed Pottery Figure of a Horse China with C.O.A.
Located in New York, NY
Realized between 1368AD-1644 AD, this stunning documented horse figurine was realized in China during the Ming period. Executed using a Sacai glaze, the sculpture offers a cream colo...
Ceramic
Chinese Ming Style Bronze Metal Seated Buddha
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Diminutive Chinese bronze metal Buddha sculpture depicted sitting. Beautifully crafted in the Ming style with intricate details. The bronze has a rich pat...
Metal, Bronze
Late 18th Century Khmer Brown Glazed Terracotta Vase
Located in Brescia, IT
This Khmer brown glazed terracotta vase is a very stunning piece with its organic shape and all the signs of the time. The enameled surface well shows its period and for this reasons...
Terracotta
Chinese Carved Soap Stone Sculpture of a Wise Ancient with Dragon
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A finely carved soap stone sculpture of a wise ancient with a dragon on his shoulder standing on a braun soap stone base. In fine original conditi...
Stone
$1,500
H 5.5 in W 3.13 in D 2.25 in
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...
Stoneware
Ming Dynasty Bronze Figure of the Infant Buddha
Located in Austin, TX
A rare and unusual Chinese Ming Dynasty bronze figure of the Buddha as an infant. The young Prince Siddhartha, who would grow up to become the Buddha, is portrayed standing, one hand pointing to the sky, the other to the ground. He is naked, save for a baby apron...
Bronze
Pair of Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Soldiers
Located in Austin, TX
A well modelled pair of Tang dynasty painted pottery soldiers. The warriors portrayed standing, dressed in form fitting, elaborate layered Armor with fitted helmets. The breastplate...
Pottery
Pair Ming Dynasty Glazed Pottery Dignitary Figures
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of Ming dynasty sancai blue glazed pottery figures. Circa 1500 AD Ming Dynasty I have owned over 250 ming tomb figures including over 80...
Pottery
Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse and Rider, TL Tested
Located in Austin, TX
A charming Tang dynasty painted pottery figure of a horse and mounted noble rider. TL tested by Oxford Authentication. The horse portrayed standing fours...
Earthenware
Chinese Qing Dynasty Carved Bamboo HeHe ErXian Group, 19th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A wonderful Chinese bamboo figural carving featuring the Taoist immortal twins of eternal youth, known as the HeHe ErXian, Qing dynasty, 19th century. F...
Bamboo
Chinese Carved Boxwood Figure of Guanyin, Mid-Qing Dynasty
Located in Austin, TX
A sublime Chinese carved boxwood figure of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Avalokiteshvara, called Guanyin in Chinese, mid-Qing dynasty. The an...
Boxwood
$4,800
H 10.25 in W 8 in D 12 in
Large Late Qing Dynasty Chinese Cast Bronze Buddhistic Foo Lion Censer
Located in Austin, TX
A large and powerfully cast Chinese bronze censer in the form of two Buddhistic lions, Qing dynasty, late 19th century. The censer is well cast with a strong sense of movement, featuring a pair of fierce Buddhistic lions playfully antagonizing each other. Locked in a mock battle, the smaller lion...
Bronze
$595Sale Price|30% Off
H 12 in W 5.75 in D 9 in
2 Chinese Green Sancai Glazed Porcelain Foo Dog Guardian Lion Statues 12"
Located in Dayton, OH
Two vintage Chinese famille verte green and gold Sancai glazed porcelain foo dogs / guardian lion sculptures / statues / figurines. Purchased at Stones Throw Antiques, Lenox Massach...
Porcelain
1960s Mother Guardian Foo Dog Pair
Located in Farmingdale, NJ
Exceptionally avant garde style approaching surrealist, bulging eyes and rich hued glazes; extremely rare to find as a pair, meant to be tile-roof finials. Breath taking and large ...
Ceramic
Midcentury Ming Dinasty Chinese Dragon Sculpture
Located in San Diego, CA
Superb detail and finish on this midcentury cast metal Chinese dragon statue. In a bronze-patinated finish.
Metal
Chinese Ceramic 3 Leg Cash Toad, circa 1900
Located in San Francisco, CA
Chinese ceramic 3 leg cash toad, circa 1900. Low fired clay with beautifully applied drip glaze in greens and white. In the style of a Ming Period Censor. May also be used as a small bulb bowl...
Ceramic
Chinese Carved Stone Foo Dog
Located in London, GB
A well carved Foo dog in a hard limestone. Nicely weathered dating it mid 20th century. Chinese guardian lions, or imperial guardian lions, are a traditional Chinese architectural ...
Limestone
Sold
H 21 in W 9 in D 11 in
Chinese Ming Dynasty 17th Century Hand Carved Stone Monkey Temple Sculpture
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Ming Dynasty period hand carved stone monkey temple sculpture from the 17th century, depicted seated and holding a round stone disc above its head. Created in China during the Ming Dynasty period which spanned from 1368 to 1644, this hand carved stone sculpture...
Stone
Pair of Large Italian Majolica Foo Dogs, 1950s
Located in Hastings, GB
An outstanding pair of glazed terracotta Italian Majolica Foo Dogs. Dating to the 1950's and earlier, Italy. This incredible pair of lifesize F...
Majolica, Terracotta
Sold
H 15 in W 13 in D 5 in
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...
Terracotta
Chinese Ming Pottery Horses
Located in Astoria, NY
Chinese Late Ming (15th-16th century) style horses with molded trappings on rectangular, hollow bases, possibly of the period. One with slips and pigments, the other with slips and r...
Ceramic
Ming Dynasty Glazed Pottery Horse And Rider
Located in Dallas, TX
Ca. 1368-1644 AD. Ming Dynasty. Ceramic Horse with Rider. An elegant ceramic figurine depicting a grey horse in a standing pose with its neck stretching forward and its tail loose,...
Pottery
Fine Pair of Bronze Guardian Foo Lions
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A very fine pair of dark patinated bronze male and female guardian Foo Lions. Both with fierce and protective aspect with extensive overall intr...
Bronze
Sold
H 20.08 in W 33.47 in D 15.36 in
Pair of Chinese 16th-17th Century Carved Stone Guardian Lion Sculptures
Located in Kastrup, DK
Pair of Chinese carved stone foo dog guardian lions from the 16-17th century. Very detailed. The pair consist of a male leaning his paw upon an e...
Lava
Sold
H 26 in W 21.5 in D 12.5 in
Pair of Ming Turquoise Glazed Temple Dragons from the 15th or 16th Century
Located in Yonkers, NY
A pair of 15th or 16th century Ming Dynasty turquoise glazed ceramic dragons. This pair of Chinese architectural temple dragons made during the 15th or 16th century in a turquoise gl...
Ceramic