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.
Antique Chinese Porcelain Ming/Transitional Dish Green Glaze Carved, 17th C
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely decorated plate with beautiful Green Glaze and a carved underglaze scene of flowers. Possibly Dated to the late Ming or transitional pe...
Porcelain
$1,180Sale 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...
Porcelain
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...
Earthenware
Antique Chinese Porcelain Serving Dish Ming Dynasty, 17C
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...
Porcelain
Chinese Ming Iron Brushed Jar, c. 1550
Located in Chicago, IL
This petite Ming-dynasty (1368-1644) storage jar is attributed to the kilns of Yunnan province, loosely decorated with iron underglaze in a manner typical of the region. Dated to the...
Earthenware
$3,660Sale Price|20% Off
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, Kosomets...
Porcelain
$17,800 / set
Pair of Chinese Yellow and Natural Scene Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of antique Chinese (late 19th-early 20th Century) export porcelain yellow ceramic vases wrapped in large scale branches teeming with birds, flowers and foliage (PRICED AS PAIR)....
Porcelain
$2,515Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Pair 17th C Dehua Blanc de Chine Whistles European figures on a horse
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A pair of Shunzhi or Kangxi Blanc de Chine Porcelain figures on horses. Blanc de Chine Statues like these were made in the kilns of Dehua in Fujian province. These are rare example...
Porcelain
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...
Wood, Stucco
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...
Porcelain
$2,134Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Chinese Porcelain 17th Century Ming period Boys and Bird dish
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Sharing with you this lovely little dish from the Late Ming period. Blue and White Porcelain, Tianqi or Chongzhen Period c.1620-1635. The subject is of two young Chinese boys walking...
Porcelain
$3,093Sale 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 ...
Porcelain
$4,468Sale Price|57% Off
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 ...
Porcelain
Taoist bronze figure China, Ming dynasty, 16th century
Located in Milano, IT
In the heart of ancient China, within the resplendent Ming dynasty, a masterpiece was cast in bronze, a testament to a culture steeped in mysticism and spirituality. This Taoist bron...
Bronze
Ming Dynasty Songzi Guanyin with Child
Located in Dallas, TX
A Chinese Fahua glazed pottery figure of Songzi Guanyin with child. A rare yellow, turquoise and green glazed statue of Guanyin with downward gaze h...
Pottery
Two Bowls with knot shaped design on inside, Ming Era(15th century)
Located in seoul, KR
Two Bowls from the Ming dynasty cargo. A piece identical pattern is included on page 119 of the title 'The Age of Discovery: Asian Ceramics Found Along the Maritime Silk Road'. Peri...
Ceramic, Porcelain
$719Sale Price|39% 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: ...
Porcelain
Chinese Ming Dynasty Carved Wood Budda
Located in Dallas, TX
A carved wood Budda from the Shanxi region, made during the Ming Dynasty. The carved figure has an ancient polychrome finish.
Wood
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...
Bronze
Tall Ming Dynasty Sancai Glazed Dignitary Tomb Figures
Located in Dallas, TX
A Pair of Chinese Enameled Sancai Glazed Pottery Attendant Figures Representing Dignitaries. Ming Dynasty Period. Circa 1600AD Dimensions; 23 x 5.5 x 5.25 inches (58.4 x 13.7 x 13.3 ...
Pottery
$679Sale Price|48% Off
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 (...
Porcelain
Chinese Blue and White and Raised Rose Pattern 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 convex top, framing a center area that altern...
Porcelain
Pair Blue and White Porcelain Vases - Ming Double Gourd Urns
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Breathtaking pair of Chinese blue and white porcelain urns Double gourd form with intricate hand painted arabesques and motifs Classy pair ready to add light and oomph to any room Pl...
Porcelain
Assembled Chinese Late Yuan / Early Ming Dynasty Bronze Garniture
Located in Austin, TX
Consisting of a large baluster vase (H: 14.25") with arrow handles and a near pair of smaller baluster vases with mythical beast loop handles. The large vase, of yuhuchunping form, ...
Bronze
Chinese Sancai Glazed Buddhist Arhat, Ming Dynasty, c. 1600
Located in Chicago, IL
This imposing figure is the head of an Arhat, a Buddhist devotee who has attained enlightenment, also called a “Luohan.” The eighteen original Arhat are the personal disciples of Buddha and the guardians of Buddhist adherents. Each is represented with a unique disposition, posture, and distinctive symbol. This exquisitely formed monumental ceramic Arhat dates to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and has likely been separated from its original full body sculpture...
Ceramic, Wood
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...
Ceramic
$2,384Sale Price|45% 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...
Porcelain
$2,158Sale Price|45% Off
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 ...
Porcelain
$803Sale 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...
Porcelain
$2,022Sale Price|58% 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...
Porcelain
A Pair of Small 19 Century Chinese Patinated Bronze Statues of Gods or Deities
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A pair of exceptional small patinated bronze castings of a male and female Chinese Deities or Gods possibly representing Shouxing God of Longevity Immortality and Good Fortune, and G...
Bronze
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...
Bronze
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...
Porcelain
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.
Ceramic
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...
Silver
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...
Porcelain
Price Upon Request
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...
Porcelain