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.
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
36CM Antique 17/18th c Kraak Style Blue White Dutch Delftware Earthenware Cha.
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Earthenware dish with a flat rim. Decorated in different shades of blue on a white tin glaze. Central scene of a grasshopper on a rock. These kind of dishes were made after Chinese K...
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
Chinese Ming Celadon Bottle Vase, c. 1500
Located in Chicago, IL
This petite ceramic bottle is a Ming-dynasty (1368-1644) vessel originally used for serving rice wine or spirits. The small round bottle is beautiful in its imperfection, shaped with...
Earthenware
Pair Antique 18th century Dutch Delft Earthenware Plate Delftware Based On Ch
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Nice Dutch Delft blue plates with nice decoration of the month of august In 18th c chinese style 18th century. Diameter: 23 cm. Condition: Typical rimflaws Condition Good condition...
Porcelain
Chinese Ming Lotus Petal Vase, c. 1400
Located in Chicago, IL
With its balanced silhouette and subdued color palette, this lotus offering vase from the early Ming dynasty (1368-1644) resonates calm and sophistication. Sculpted centuries ago in ...
Earthenware
Petite Ming Shipwreck Medicine Jar, c. 1500
Located in Chicago, IL
The eroded surface of this petite, Ming-dynasty medicine jar tells a story of trade, tradition and lost treasure. A porous, matte surface texture suggests the jar spent many years su...
Earthenware
Pair of Chinese Yellow and Turquoise Genre Vignette Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese vases with turquoise interiors, and yellow and turquoise grounds decorated in purple and blue floral designs, framing central, richly depicted genre vignettes wrappin...
Porcelain
Antique Ming Period Chinese Porcelain Landscape Figural Dish Kosometsuke
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Sharing with you this lovely early 17th century Kosometsuke dish, made for the Japanese market. We simply fell in love with it. The painting style is very typical for this period but...
Porcelain
32CM Antique Chinese 16/17C Chinese Porcelain Dish Swatow Monochrome
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely monochrome Swatow/Zhangzhou dish. Brown glaze color. It's quite unusual to see a swatow dish only with craquele, without scene or incised decoration. Great reference p...
Porcelain
Petite Ming Shipwreck Medicine Jar, c. 1500
Located in Chicago, IL
The eroded surface of this petite, Ming-dynasty medicine jar tells a story of trade, tradition and lost treasure. A matte texture and traces of marine life suggest the jar spent many...
Earthenware
34.7CM Antique 18C Dutch Delft Earthenware Plate Delftware Based On Chinese P
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A charming and generously sized 18th-century Dutch Delft blue and white plate, inspired by Chinese porcelain designs of the Kangxi period. The central scene features a beautifully st...
Porcelain
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...
Porcelain
Antique Ming Period Ko Akae Chinese Porcelain Dish Kosometsuke Flowers Poem
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
One of the coolest pieces I have gotten in the last months. Great decoration with added green and red. This piece has the thing that intrigues me a lot. Green color added to baking f...
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-Style Patinated Bronze Pierced Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-style copy of a bronze urn bearing a green and black patina, decorated with pierced sides forming patterns that wrap the form, and accented with one small...
Metal
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...
Porcelain
Antique Ming Kosometsuke Chinese Porcelain Dish Literati Hongwu Marked
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A chinese Tianqi period, 17th century dish, Jingdezhen Kilns. Diameter: 17 CM This porcelain dish is depicting motif of Coin 洪武通宝 Hong Wu Tong Bao (coin of Emperor Hongwu) and auspi...
Porcelain
Chinese Ming Celadon Oil Bottle, c. 1500
Located in Chicago, IL
This petite ceramic vessel is a Ming-dynasty (1368-1644) bottle originally used for storing cooking oil or condiments. Dated to the 15th/16th century, the bottle has a gracefully cur...
Earthenware
Antique Chinese Porcelain Hatcher Cargo Kraak Ghendi porcelain South China
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Sharing with you this very nicely decorated kraak Ghendi with a geometrical decoration. The piece was part of the Hatcher Collection. Auctioned by Christies Amsterdam in 1984. It is in very good condition. The Hatcher Junk...
Porcelain
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
Petite Ming Shipwreck Medicine Jar, c. 1500
Located in Chicago, IL
The eroded surface of this petite, Ming-dynasty medicine jar tells a story of trade, tradition and lost treasure. A matte texture and traces of marine life suggest the jar spent many...
Earthenware
Chinese Ming Iron 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 iron underglaze in a manner typical of the region. Dated to the 15th/1...
Earthenware
Chinese Ming Cobalt Brushed Wine Vessel, c. 1550
Located in Chicago, IL
This delicate ceramic bottle is a Ming-dynasty (1368-1644) vessel originally used for serving rice wine or spirits. The gracefully curved form is known as a yuhuchunping, or pear-sha...
Earthenware
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 small bottle has a gracefully curved f...
Earthenware
Chinese Ming Cobalt Brushed Wine Vessel, c. 1500
Located in Chicago, IL
This petite ceramic bottle is a Ming-dynasty (1368-1644) vessel originally used for serving rice wine or spirits. The gracefully curved form is known as a yuhuchunping, or pear-shape...
Earthenware
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 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...
Earthenware
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
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
Chinese Ming Cobalt Brushed Oil Bottle, c. 1550
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...
Earthenware
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
$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
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
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
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
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
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
Japanese Meiji Period Bronze Incense Holder / Jardiniere
Located in San Francisco, CA
Japanese Meiji Period Bronze Incense Holder / Jardiniere. A substantial incense holder in the Chinese Ming style. Sides and bottom covered in a r...
Bronze
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 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
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