Ming Decorative Objects
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.
to
59
215
1
171
13
31
1
3
3
5
1
1
2
26,050
14,010
9,143
5,454
3,963
3,005
2,275
1,733
1,412
1,339
1,153
1,142
1,023
933
917
658
658
580
172
101
40
24
19
129
76
197
185
181
10
10
Height
to
Width
to
216
216
216
Style: Ming
Antique Ming Period Chinese Porcelain Dish Kosometsuke Fisherman
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Sharing with you this nice Chinese porcelain dish from the early 17th century. Once again Jingdezhen made but for the Japanese market, Kosometsuke. Visible is a landscape scene with ...
Category
17th Century Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$2,141 Sale Price
45% Off
Ming Period Antique Arabesque Chinese Porcelain Dish Sacred Mushroom
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely potted and painted blue and white Kosometsuke plate of a desirable cobalt blue! Stunning piece with design of Turkish style Arabesque pattern and central a Lingzhi Fung...
Category
17th Century Asian Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$797 Sale Price
45% Off
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...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Stone
Leaf Shaped Kosometsuke Antique Chinese Porcelain 17c Ming Dynasty serving dish
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Sharing with you this beautiful leaf shaped serving dish on four feet in blue and white.
Visible is a typically painted scene for this period. Mountain landscape with a house in the ...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$5,902 Sale Price
20% Off
Tianqi Kosometsuke Antique Chinese Porcelain 17c Ming Dynasty Ni Zan
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Sharing with you this beautiful dish
Visible is a typically painted scene for this period. Mountain landscape with bamboo and clouds house in the right centre. The shape is very nice...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$1,171 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Ming Period Arabesque Chinese Porcelain Dish Sacred Mushroom
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely potted and painted blue and white Kosometsuke plate of a desirable cobalt blue! Stunning piece with design of Turkish style Arabesque pattern and central a Lingzhi Fung...
Category
17th Century Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$3,495 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Chinese Porcelain River Landscape Butterflies Dish Ko Akae, Early 17thC.
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Sharing this new arrival. An amazing Blue and white porcelain dish with added enamels in red and green. For the Japanese Market. Very interesting piece with a riverlandscape scene wi...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$3,910 Sale Price
20% Off
Antiquer 17th C Dehua Blanc de Chine Whistles European figure and Cat Dutchman
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A Shunzhi or Kangxi Blanc de Chine Porcelain European figure in sitting position. Its also a whistle.
Blanc de Chine Statues like these were made in the kilns of Dehua in Fujian pro...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$1,550 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Chinese Porcelain Late Ming or Transitional Plate Landscape
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A Blue & White Ko-sometsuke plate with a landscape scene
Additional information:
Material: Porcelain & Pottery
Region of Origin: China
Period: 17th century Ming (1368 - 1620)
Age: ...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$958 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Chinese Scroll Box
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Stained leather covered wood in deep oxblood and dark brown tones. With three stitched plaques with raised characters on the front. A brass mount with lock on the front (lacking the ...
Category
19th Century Asian Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Leather, Wood
Rare Chinese Porcelain Ming Period Kosometsuke Plates Boat & Fisher, ca1600-1660
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Porcelain dish with underglaze blue lake scene. Visible is a figure in a boat who seems to be a fisherman but is also playing the flute. Another figure is sitting in pagode which is ...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$2,393 Sale Price
48% Off
Antique Chinese Porcelain Kosometsuke Ladies in Meeting Plate Marked, 17th C
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely decorated kosometsuke plate with an unusual scene of 4 Ladies in a garden, seems like they have a meeting. A pot with a plant in the middle lower part of the scene and ...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$3,069 Sale Price
48% Off
Ming Period Stucco Head of a Court Lady with Original Paint Mounted on Stand
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Ming Dynasty period stucco head of a court lady from the 15th or 16th century, mounted on a wooden stand. Crafted in China during the Ming Dynasty, this stucco head is moun...
Category
16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood, Stucco
Chinese Imari-Style Orange and Blue Monumental Ceramic Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese orange, white and blue monumental floor vase celebrating Japanese Imari ware in both palette and design, decorated with medallions of bloom...
Category
20th Century Chinese Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Period Chinese Porcelain Dish Charger Deer and Crane Antique Marked Ming, 16 C
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Large and very nice Blue and White Charger/Dish from the Ming Period. Jiajing. Absolute cool item marked Ming
Additional information:
Material: Porcelain
Period: 17th century Qing (...
Category
17th Century Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$674 Sale Price
48% Off
Chinese Ming Cobalt Brushed Jar, c. 1600
Located in Chicago, IL
This Ming-dynasty (1368-1644) storage jar is attributed to the kilns of Yunnan province, loosely decorated with cobalt underglaze in a manner typical of the region. Dated to the 15th...
Category
16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Earthenware
Chinese White and Blue Raised Rose Design Octagonal Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese blue and white porcelain vase with an octagonal, faceted shape wrapped in blue bands featuring white iconography at the base and concave top, framing a center area that alter...
Category
20th Century Chinese Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Ming Dynasty Terracotta Courtsman Statuette with Original Polychromy
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Ming Dynasty painted terracotta courtsman figure with original polychromy. Attracting our eye with its weathered appearance and subtle polychromy, this Ming Dynasty terracotta courtsman figure exudes historical charm and elegance. This exquisite statuette, dating from the Chinese Ming Dynasty, features a courtsman resting on a hexagonal base, providing a stable and aesthetically pleasing foundation. Topped with a simple headdress and clothed in a long, flowing robe, the figure showcases a slight movement of the hips, creating a sense of liveliness and grace.
His right arm is extended in a gesture, while his left arm remains hidden under his clothes, adding an element of mystery and sophistication. The original polychromy, though weathered, adds a touch of vibrant color that enhances the figure's visual appeal and historical authenticity.
This Chinese courtsman figure will make for an exquisite decorative addition to any home. Its refined elegance and rich cultural heritage make it a versatile piece, perfect for placing on a commode, side table, or shelf. Whether in a living room, study, or entryway, this Ming Dynasty figure will bring a touch of ancient Chinese artistry and timeless beauty to any interior space.
With its harmonious blend of form and function, this painted terracotta courtsman figure celebrates the enduring appeal of Ming Dynasty art...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Terracotta
Pair of Chinese Beige and Orange Fish Design Meiping Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese Ming/Jiajing-style beige porcelain vases with Meiping forms decorated in orange fish and flower motifs and geometric-patterned bands around the tops and bases, accent...
Category
20th Century Chinese Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Large Pair of Chinese Candle Holders in a Patinated Verdagris Finish
Located in Dallas, TX
A large pair of Chinese bronze candle stands candlesticks in a patinated and verdigris finish. These large and impressive candle holders have three foo dog legs and a dragon wrappe...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Chinese Monumental Imari-Style Orange, White and Blue Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese monumental orange, white and blue porcelain floor vase celebrating Japanese Imari ware in both palette and design, decorated with medallion...
Category
20th Century Chinese Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Ming Dynasty Horsemen Roof Tiles
Located in London, GB
A pair of Chinese Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) sancai-glazed ridge tiles modelled as horse and rider. Both tiles are glazed in rich green and amber, the horses ...
Category
16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Pottery
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...
Category
16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Chinese Ming Cobalt Brushed Oil Bottle, c. 1500
Located in Chicago, IL
This elegant ceramic vessel is a Ming-dynasty (1368-1644) bottle originally used for storing oil or sauces. Dated to the 15th/16th century, the bottle has a gracefully curved form kn...
Category
16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Earthenware
Urn Chinese Glazed Brown Ming China
Located in New York, NY
Urn Chinese Glazed Brown Ming China. A Glaced Ming Urn from China. Made during the Ming Period 1368-1644.
Category
15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Pottery
Bronze Figure of a Seated Luohan, Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644
Located in Torino, IT
Cast seated wearing a simple robe with his right hand resting on the hilt of a snake-entwined sword, the left hand held aloft, his face with meditative expre...
Category
Early 1600s Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Chinese Miniature Mingqi Skirted Table
Located in Chicago, IL
This miniature ceramic table is from Shanxi Province and may have been made to represent Mingqi, a type of ancient Chinese burial good. Mingqi were plac...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Asian Shoulder Yolk Basket
Located in Dallas, TX
The Brendan Bass Estate Collection pays homage to the beauty of vintage and antique
pieces, each artfully concealing endless stories collected through the generations in which they ...
Category
20th Century Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Wicker
Song to Ming Dynasty Cast Iron Daoist Buddhist Head
Located in Dallas, TX
Daoist sage, official, or possibly a Buddhist acolyte.
A large, thick and heavy cast iron statue of a head. Custom vintage carved hardwood stand finishes off this outstanding and decorative bust, circa 10th...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
Antique Chinese Porcelain Serving Dish Lotus, 17C Ming Dynasty
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Beautiful serving dish in blue and white with central a reverse decorated floral lotus scene, the walls with branches and the border with geometric design.
The base has a six charact...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Ming Period Xieyi Yuan Poem Landscape Chinese Porcelain Kaiseki Dish
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely potted and painted blue and white Kosometsuke Kaiseki dish plate of a desirable cobalt blue! Stunning piece with design of a landscape in the style of the yuan painter ...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$8,363 Sale Price
20% Off
Japanese sweetmeat set of Kosometsuke dishes. Vintage/modern copy after
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Sharing with you this very nice sweetmeat set of Kosometsuke dishes. Japanese vintage/modern copy after Chinese ming example.
All with stamp mark to the base.
Pictures of the origi...
Category
20th Century Japanese Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$2,212 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of Blue White Porcelain Vase With Gilt Silver Phoenix Dragons, 20th Century
Located in Islamabad, PK
The pair of Blue White Porcelain Vases with Gilt Silver Phoenix Dragons, dating from the 20th century, is an exquisite examples of decorative art, blending traditional Chinese porcel...
Category
20th Century Chinese Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver
Vintage Boho Glazed Ceramic Tall Ming Vase
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fabulous vintage Boho Glazed ceramic vase. A classic Ming style in a black high gloss finish. Rests on a wooden plinth. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Category
Late 20th Century American Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Antique Ming Period Chinese Porcelain River Landscape Dish Kosometsuke Market
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Sharing new arrival. An amazing Blue and white porcelain dish, Kosometsuke for the Japanese Market. Very interesting.
China, Ming dynasty.
Decorated in the centre with a river lan...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Porcelain Serving Dish Ming Dynasty, 17th Century
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Beautiful serving dish in blue and white with central a reverse decorated floral lotus scene, the walls with branches and the border with geometric design.
The base has a six charact...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Price Upon Request
Ming decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Ming decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage decorative objects created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, asian art and furniture, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, porcelain and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Ming decorative objects made in a specific country, there are Asia, East Asia, and China pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original decorative objects, popular names associated with this style include and Colin Burn Art. 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 decorative objects differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $228 and tops out at $690,000 while the average work can sell for $3,151.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
White Horse Porcelain
Wood Ram Sculpture
Wooden Carved Dog
Wooden Cow
1920s Royal Copenhagen
1960 Italy Cats
19th Century Bronze Stag
Acrobats Bronze
Alexandrite Murano
Amsterdam Clock
Antique Bronze Hare
Antique Candle Clock
Antique Dog Clock
Antique French Letters
Antique German Carousel
Antique Growlers
Antique Hippo
Antique Horse Figurines