Ming Urns

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.

Style: Ming

Vintage 'Ming Style' Temple Jar Blue and White Glazed Porcelain

$124Sale Price|40% Off

Vintage 'Ming Style' Temple Jar Blue and White Glazed Porcelain

Located in Glasgow, GB

Vintage porcelain temple jar, handcrafted towards the end of the 20th century, in 1980s China Artistically decorated in a simple yet decorative Ming-era style. Its body features a figural scene perfectly realized in hand-painted cobalt blue enamel. Flying birds and floral motifs are interspersed between bold blue borders and graphic Chinese-style decorations. Coming together and creating a striking contrast against the luminous white underglaze porcelain. The porcelain jar measures 20 cm in height and 15 cm in diameter. It's in good condition for its age and use, bearing only x1 small chip to the lip of the temple jar. And is stamped on its underside with a 'Zhongguo Zhi Zao...

Category

1980s Chinese Vintage Ming Urns

Materials

Enamel

Vintage Asian Amber Glass Vase or Urn

$1,200Sale Price|52% Off

Vintage Asian Amber Glass Vase or Urn

Located in Plainview, NY

A highly decorative vintage Asian amber glass vase or lid urn. The urn features a handcrafted flower brass design in the center of the vase, a round wooden base in black and gilt decorated. The lid of the urn is in the shape of a sword holder...

Category

Late 20th Century Asian Ming Urns

Materials

Art Glass, Wood

Chinese Monumental Imari-Style Orange, White and Blue Porcelain Urn

$13,500

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 Urns

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Imari-Style Orange and Blue Monumental Ceramic Urn

$13,500

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 Urns

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-Style Patinated Bronze Pierced Urn

$10,000

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...

Category

20th Century Chinese Ming Urns

Materials

Metal

Moroccan Ceramic Urn with Lid, Blue and Copper, Bohemian Style, 1999

$99 / item

H 7 in Dm 5 in

Moroccan Ceramic Urn with Lid, Blue and Copper, Bohemian Style, 1999

Located in Moreno Valley, CA

Moroccan ceramic urn with lid, blue with copper color. Modern form with clean lines, textured design. Great to use in the kitchen or in the bath...

Category

Late 20th Century Moroccan Ming Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Extra Large Italian Handblown Amber Art Glass Vase or Decanter Empoli or Blenko

$1,800

H 27.5 in Dm 10 in

Extra Large Italian Handblown Amber Art Glass Vase or Decanter Empoli or Blenko

By Blenko Glass, Empoli

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A massive and impressive glass decanter attributed to Empoli in Italy. Very much in the style of Blenko Glass. It consists of sculptural handblown amber glass with large stopper.

Category

1960s Italian Vintage Ming Urns

Materials

Art Glass

Vintage Asian Cloisonné Lidded Urn

$295

H 3.25 in W 5 in D 5 in

Vintage Asian Cloisonné Lidded Urn

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Add a touch of exotic elegance to your home with this Vintage Asian Cloisonné Lidded Urn. Featuring intricate enamel work and vibrant floral patterns, this urn is a testament to trad...

Category

Late 20th Century Indian Ming Urns

Materials

Metal, Enamel

Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Double Gourd Vase, Ming Style, 1930s

$526

H 11.82 in Dm 4.73 in

Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Double Gourd Vase, Ming Style, 1930s

Located in Glasgow, GB

A Chinese blue and white porcelain double gourd vase, crafted in the Ming style and dating to the 1930s. Executed in white underglaze porcelain and hand painted in cobalt blue enamel...

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Urns

Materials

Enamel

Chinese Ming Ceramic Provincial Jar Celadon Glaze, Early 17th Century

$326Sale Price|51% Off

H 3.44 in Dm 3.7 in

Chinese Ming Ceramic Provincial Jar Celadon Glaze, Early 17th Century

Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire

This is a Chinese hand-thrown ceramic provincial jar with a light celadon glaze which we date to the Ming period of the early 17th century or possibly earlier. The jar is hand potted...

Category

Early 17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Chinese Imari Porcelain Jardinière Planted Wooden Stand

$3,452

H 20.08 in Dm 14.97 in

Chinese Imari Porcelain Jardinière Planted Wooden Stand

Located in London, GB

Chinese Imari Porcelain Jardinière Planted Wooden Stand Chinese, 20th Century Jardinière: Height 30cm, diameter 38cm Base: Height 21cm, diameter 36cm Overall: Height 51cm, diameter...

Category

20th Century Chinese Ming Urns

Materials

Porcelain, Wood

Japanese Contemporary Imari Blue White Porcelain Vase

$4,350

H 16 in Dm 13 in

Japanese Contemporary Imari Blue White Porcelain Vase

Located in Takarazuka, JP

Exquisite Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, hand painted in underglaze blue on a beautifully shaped body in pure white, a signed piece by widely acclaimed master porce...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Ming Urns

Materials

Porcelain

Early Bronze Fang Hu Ritual Wine Vessel Han Dynasty

$2,800

H 16 in Dm 34 in

Early Bronze Fang Hu Ritual Wine Vessel Han Dynasty

Located in Hopewell, NJ

Very early, 206 BC to 220 AD, square shaped bronze fang hu bronze vessel would have functioned as a ritual container for the storage and transportation of sump...

Category

15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Urns

Materials

Bronze

Chinoiserie Blue and White Porcelain Ginger Jar

$636Sale Price|20% Off

H 16 in W 9 in D 9 in

Chinoiserie Blue and White Porcelain Ginger Jar

Located in Elkhart, IN

A beautiful large Chinoiserie blue and white porcelain covered ginger jar China, Late 20th Century Measures: 9ʺW × 9ʺD × 16ʺH. Very good vintage condition.

Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Ming Urns

Materials

Porcelain

Pair Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Lidded Ginger Jars Urns Koi Fish Painted

$890

H 23 in W 15 in D 15 in

Pair Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Lidded Ginger Jars Urns Koi Fish Painted

Located in Potters Bar, GB

Striking pair of Chinese porcelain ginger jars with covers Decorated in classic blue and white palette throughout Each featuring large koi fish swimming amongst aquatic plants and fl...

Category

1980s Vintage Ming Urns

Materials

Porcelain

Mid-Century Chinese Export / Imari Style Blue and White Footbath / Planter

$1,195

H 6.5 in W 18 in D 11 in

Mid-Century Chinese Export / Imari Style Blue and White Footbath / Planter

Located in Kennesaw, GA

Great for gifting or home decor! This is a lovely Chinese Export style footbath. It is hand painted and has gilt accents. Note the interior fish!

Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Ming Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Amber glass vase attributed to Seguso or Barovier

$598

H 6.3 in W 5.12 in D 4.34 in

Amber glass vase attributed to Seguso or Barovier

By Flavio Poli, Seguso, Venini, Barovier

Located in Lugo, IT

Amber-colored glass vase attributed to Seguso or Barovier. Good condition. Thank you.

Category

1960s Northern Irish Vintage Ming Urns

Materials

Murano Glass

Previously Available Items

Bronze Tripod Censer Foo Dog Lion Incense Burner

Sold

H 5.5 in W 5.25 in D 4 in

Bronze Tripod Censer Foo Dog Lion Incense Burner

Located in Somis, CA

A beautiful antique bronze incense burner in the Ming dynasty style. The vessel's bulbous sides are free of decorations, flanked by a pair of foo dog lions with ferocious expression. The cover is pierced with a scroll and chrysanthemum design, surmounted by a small foo dog on guard. The vessel is raised on three blade-form legs, a traditional design of the wine vessel Jue, as a nod to prehistoric Shang dynasty's (17th century B.C.) Bronze era...

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Urns

Materials

Bronze

Bronze Censer with Foo Dog

Sold

H 7.5 in W 6 in D 4.5 in

Bronze Censer with Foo Dog

Located in Somis, CA

A beautiful antique bronze incense burner in the Ming dynasty style. The vessel's bulbous sides are free of decorations, below two curved...

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Urns

Materials

Bronze

Ming urns for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Ming urns for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage urns created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with art glass, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Ming urns made in a specific country, there are and Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 urns differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,500 and tops out at $1,500 while the average work can sell for $1,500.