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.
Wildwood Ming Table Lamp
Located in Bradenton, FL
A Ming style table lamp made by Wildwood. A ceramic vase is hand painted with gilt foliage, dotted with white flowers, against a smokey taupe background. It sits in a brass ring abov...
Ceramic
Chinese Caledon Glaze Porcelain Ginger Jar Table Lamps Large Pair
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Sunning pair of vintage porcelain Caledon glaze ginger jar lamps with original shades. These are LARGE lamps with adjustable shade height. As shown 34" tall. Requires 2 standard ligh...
Brass
$1,495 / set
Ming Style Floral Ceramic Table Lamps, a Pair
Located in Bradenton, FL
A pair of Ming style ceramic table lamps. Hand painted with subtle pink peonies, sprigs of crab apple flowers, and pale green and beige leaves on a white background. Crab apple flowe...
Brass
Very Fine Chinese Porcelain Vase Mounted as Table Lamp
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Chinese porcelain vase mounted as a lamp with a round tiered gilt bronze or brass base embossed with berries and leaves. The lamp with cameos and panels of florals and birds that are...
Porcelain
Large Asian Porcelain Sang de boeuf Vase mounted as Lamp
Located in Greenwich, CT
A superb large sang de boeuf or oxblood Chinese Porcelain baluster vase, with vibrant depth of glaze, mounted as a lamp . dimensions - for vase only - approx 21 in. H x 10.5 in. W ...
Porcelain
Ugo Zaccagnini Ming Style Cocoa Banded Off White Glazed Pottery Lamp, C. 1960
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Ugo Zaccagnini Handled Pottery Table Lamp with Far Eastern influence. Featuring a textured squat urn form with matte Dark Brown ring handle, dragons and Greek Key designs in relief, ...
Brass
Huge Zaccagnini Pottery Mid Century Italian Ming Lamp Vintage 1950's Turquoise
Located in Wilton, CT
Huge Zaccagnini pottery square lamp with bands of Ming themed decor, flanges at the corners, and fabulous turquoise glaze, circa 1950's. Approx. 39" high overall, 24" to top of pottery, 11" square. 3 way switch. Glass bulb cover/shade holder. Heavy lamp...
Pottery
$2,080Sale Price|20% Off
Pair of Antique Chinese Shiwan Ware Pottery Statue Lamps
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Pair of Antique Chinese Shiwan Ware Pottery Statue Lamps
Pottery
Antique Chinese Carved Wood Buddha Sculpture Lamp
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Chinese carved wood Buddha sculpture lamp. Later electrified with Lucite base and custom made shade. Additional information: Materia...
Lucite
Ming Style Ceramic Table Lamp
Located in Bradenton, FL
A Ming style ceramic table lamp in white. Decorated with hand painted iris and lily flowers with foliage in a golden brown color palette. Stands on a brown wooden base with four Ming...
Ceramic
1960s Chinese Decorative Mahogany Hand Carved Wood Table Lamp
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s Hand Carved Mahogany Wood Chinese Table Lamp No shade. Double socket with matching wood finial 30.25 h x 9 w x 5.5 d Unmarked Original vintage unrestored condition. Refer to im...
Brass
Pair, Ming Style Ginger Jar Glazed Blue Porcelain & Brass Table Lamps 1950s USA
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of vintage Ming Style Chinoiserie light blue Ginger Jar Porcelain & Brass Table Lamps, Palm Beach Regency attributed. Features a Porcelain Body with a brass base and fittings....
Brass
Vintage Navy Blue Glazed Porcelain Jar As A Table Lamp
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A fine navy blue glazed porcelain jar with spots from the glaze process for an interesting finish. With an unglazed white porcelain base mounted on a patinated brass ring. Along with...
Brass, Other
Vintage Brass Ming Style Table Lamp
Located in Dallas, TX
Vintage brass Ming style table lamp. The lamp is in good vintage condition with visible wear due to age and use. Lampshade in not included, circa 1980...
Brass
$1,609 / set
H 16 in W 4 in D 4 in
Antique Pair Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Ormolu Table Lamps Blue Green Gilt
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An Exceptionally Fine Pair of Cantonese Hand Decorated Porcelain Oil Lamps with ornate Ormolu bases now converted to Electric Table Lamps, of medium proportions, (see last image in s...
Ormolu
Pair of Mid-Century Style Green Glazed Ceramic Table Lamps
By Porta Romana
Located in Brescia, IT
The table lamp has a contemporary and elegant shape that reproduces the Italian Mid-Century style. This pair of stunning table lamps has been made in light green ceramic and has th...
Ceramic, Silk
Pair of Sang De Boeuf Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of circa 1950's French sang de boeuf lamps with wood bases. Measurements: Height of body: 16.5" Height to shade rest: 26" Diameter: 7".
Porcelain, Wood
$346Sale Price|30% Off
H 21.75 in Dm 7 in
1980s Wildwood Chinoiserie Butterflies Leaves Ivy Table Lamp 31"
Located in Dayton, OH
Circa 1980's Wildwood table lamp - Chinoiserie style white porcelain vase shaped body, hand painted with leaves, branches and butterflies, brass ac...
Porcelain
$3,880Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 16 in Dm 5 in
Pair Chinese Porcelain Ginger Jar Lamps with Iron Red Decoration
Located in San Francisco, CA
each hand painted ginger jar with domed lid above a bulbous tapering body raised on a stained wooden base; painted with various figures in a landscape setting divided by cloud scroll...
Porcelain
Khmer Vase Table Lamp
Located in Vosselaar, BE
A Khmer vase transformed in to a table lamp. Of baluster shape with an attractive brown yellow ocker glaze. Dating from the 15th-16th century this vase is ...
Ceramic
$4,700 / set
H 20.25 in Dm 12 in
Pair Antique Japanese Satsuma Porcelain Lamps with Ormolu Mounts, Circa 1890
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair antique exceptional quality Japanese Satsuma porcelain lamps with ormolu mounts, circa 1890.
Ormolu
Pair Of Hollywood Regency Blanc De Chine Lamps
By Chapman Manufacturing Company, The Marbro Lamp Company, Wildwood Lamp Company, Frederick Cooper
Located in Houston, TX
Pair Of Hollywood Regency Blanc De Chine Lamps. This lovely pair of Asian modern blanc de Chine table lamps feature trees with floral blossoms mounted on wooden bases. These beautif...
Porcelain
$1,825Sale Price / set|38% Off
H 25.6 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
Vintage Italian Table Lamps Ceramic floral Tall Porcelain Vase Lamps - a pair
By Robert Kostka, Capodimonte, English Country Antiques, Italian school XX ct., Midcentury Italian school
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
Vintage tall Italian Ceramic Porcelain Vase Table lamps Material: Ceramic, Porcelain, fabric Style: Vintage, Modernist, Oriental, Italian, Modern, Mid Century, Design: In the manner ...
Ceramic, Porcelain
$840Sale Price|30% Off
H 37 in W 21 in D 21 in
Chinese Porcelain Celadon Glazed Vase Table Lamp by Marbro
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Splendid Chinese porcelain celadon glazed vase mounted as a table lamp by Marbro Lamp Company. Features a 17 inch high celadon or greenware vase su...
Brass
Pair of Fujita Kutani Ceramic Hand Painted Floral Table Lamps, Japan
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of vintage Fujita Kutani double gourd shape ceramic and brass 2 socket lamps with floral motifs in white and red. Lamps have wooden bases. Both lamp...
Brass
Chinese Porcelain Blue and White Ginger Jar Table Lamp
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Spectacular early 20th Century classic oriental blue and white porcelain ginger jar converted table lamp in the style of the Chinese period of the 18th Century. This large Chinoiser...
Ceramic, Porcelain, Pottery
Japanese Satsuma Porcelain Vases as Lamps, Pair
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of Japanese Satsuma Porcelain Vases Mounted as Lamps, figural group design with gilt accents, on ebonized bases. 24.5" H x 5.75" Diameter. Provenance: From a New York City Colle...
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Ming Porcelain Blue & White Vase Lamp 17th Century
Located in Wilton, CT
Antique Chinese late Ming porcelain blue and white vase converted to a lamp. Bold design with good color. Monster masks at the shoulder. Circa 17th...
Porcelain
Pair Orange Christopher Spitzmiller Aurora Table Lamps
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of Christopher Spitzmiller table lamps: Aurora ceramic double gourd with 23K water gilt base, brass cap and silk shades
Ceramic
Pair Christopher Spitzmiller Aubergine Nicholas Table Lamps
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of Christopher Spitzmiller table lamps: Nicholas aubergine ceramic double gourd with 23K water gilt base and brass cap.
Ceramic
Pair Of Very Fine Asian Painted Porcelain Table Lamps
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A pair of delicately painted, colorful and very fine Porcelain Table Lamps. Rounded octagonal shapes with tapering bases, decorated overall with panels of different figures riding t...
Fabric, Porcelain
Sold
H 24 in W 14 in D 14 in
Asian Modern Ming Style Porcelain Bronzed Metal Table Lamp by Chapman, 1970's
By Chapman Manufacturing Company
Located in Rochester, NY
Glamorous Asian Modern Ming style large scale bulbous form high glazed celadon turquoise blue porcelain ceramic table lamp with patinated brass bronzed metal mounts. Original Chapman...
Brass, Bronze
Vintage Asian Blue and White Glazed Ceramic Lamps - a Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Fantastic pair of vintage table lamps. Classic blue and white design with Asian characters on a Ming base shape. Rest on wooden plinths. Acquired from a Palm...
Ceramic
Chinese Ming Dynasty Kraak Porcelain Bottle Vase Lamp Deer Cranes
Located in Rochester, NY
Antique Chinese 17th century Ming Dynasty Kraak porcelain blue and white glazed bottle vase decorated w/ deer, cranes, tree, cloud like symbols. Recess...
Brass, Bronze
1920s Fine Antique Chinese Rosewood Dragon Table Lamp Pagoda
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration an antique table lamp. Hand carved dragon sculpture in solid rosewood with original pagoda shade. China circa the 1920s....
Silk, Rosewood
Large Italian Ming Zaccagnini Pottery Turquoise Crackle Glaze Ring Handle Lamp
Located in Wilton, CT
Large vintage Zaccagnini lamp in mottled turquoise glaze with big faux-iron Ming style ring handles, circa 1950s. New 3-way socket and nylon wiring. 38" overall. Z mark to base. One ...
Pottery
Ming Dynasty Cizhou Ware Vase Table Lamp
Located in Kinderhook, NY
Beautiful Chinese Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) Cizhou ware baluster form vase having Ding style white slip glaze with double sgraffito gray celadon design at n...
Bronze
Chinese Ming Dynasty Celadon Porcelain Table Lamps in Shape of Yen Yen Vases
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of Chinese Ming dynasty Longquan table lamps in celadon glazed porcelain in the shape of yen yen vases with gilt brass fittings and a bamboo and flow...
Porcelain