The last imperial dynasty from 1644 to 1912 was a time of change in China, beginning with the invasion by Manchurian forces that ended the Ming dynasty and established the Shunzhi Emperor. The expansion of exportation and trade that had bolstered the arts during the Ming era continued, as Qing dynasty furniture involved the same attention to craftsmanship with expert construction techniques in hardwood pieces that were assembled with mortise and tenon joints rather than nails or glue. Together, these eras comprise a golden age of Chinese furniture design.
Ming-style furniture is simple and elegant with clean lines. Chairs of the period and other Ming furniture made an impression on Scandinavian modernist Hans Wegner and his streamlined seating, for example. Whereas Qing-style furniture is elaborate, with an increasing influence from the West leading to lavish carving inspired by the European Baroque and Rococo styles. And while many of the forms that define examples of the latter are common within classical Chinese furniture, such as curving and folding chairs as well as large screens, Qing designs are laden with ornamentation. Frequently, the carved motifs and inlaid designs in mother-of-pearl were auspicious, such as peonies for wealth or dragons for luck. Bats were symbols of happiness in the design of Qing furniture, with one of the characters in the word for bat, bianfu, being a homophone for fu, or “fortune.”
While several types of wood were used in the construction of Qing beds, tables, storage pieces and seating, today’s collectors know that the most prized were the rare rosewoods zitan and huanghuali. They were both sourced from Hainan, China’s largest island, and are marked by a rich luster that occurs naturally, without the application of lacquer or other decorative materials. Many of the most popular woods were imported from southeast Asia, adding to their value. Red sandalwood was also sought after for its durability and connection with Chinese medicine, with some chairs being made for health benefits.
Find a collection of antique Qing tea tables, stools, benches, decorative objects and more furniture on 1stDibs.
Chinese Lattice Window Panel with Rose Mirrors, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
At once functional and decorative, Chinese lattice windows allowed fresh air and light into a room while still maintaining privacy. Assembled by interlocking narrow rods of carved pi...
Pine, Mirror
Chinese Red and Black Spoiled Glass Mirror, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This charming wall mirror was crafted in China's Guangdong province and dates to the early 20th century. The rectangular frame is colored with finely brushed red and black lacquer, f...
Mirror, Elm
Large 19th Century Chinese Carved Rosewood Mirror
Located in Dallas, TX
A 19th century deeply carved rosewood mirror in a very large scale from the Canton region of China. This large vertical mirror is fully carved w...
Mirror, Rosewood
Chinese Fine Hardwood Wall Mirror with Boxwood Inlay, c. 1930
Located in Chicago, IL
Crafted in northern China during the Republic Period (1912-1949) of the early 20th century, this rectangular wall mirror boasts a beautiful hardwood frame and impressive scale. Set w...
Mirror, Hardwood, Boxwood
Charming carved gilt-wood Chinese export mirror frame watch-stand with Europeans
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A charming carved giltwood Chinese export mirror frame with a watch-stand Canton, Qing Dynasty, early 19th century H. 65 x W. 34.5 cm At the top of the frame, two angels are suppo...
Giltwood
Darkly Lacquered Wall Mirror
Located in Chicago, IL
This full-length rectangular wall mirror features a simple wooden frame with a rich, brown-red lacquer finish. Lightly crackled and textured from years of use, we love this Chinese f...
Mirror, Wood, Lacquer
Chinese Calligrapher's Frame with Mirror, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
With rich color and fine grain, this hardwood frame was the perfect way to elevate the carefully brushed work of a Qing-dynasty calligrapher. More than a hundred years later, the fra...
Mirror, Hardwood
Chinese Scrolling Vines Mirror, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This 19th century framed mirror was carved by hand in northern China and likely hung on the wall of a Qing Dynasty home, perhaps in a lady’s sleeping quarters. The carved scrolling v...
Mirror, Softwood
Pair of 19th Century Chinese Hardwood Hand-Carved 5-Claw Dragon Mirrors
Located in New York, NY
A pair of 20th century or earlier Chinese hardwood hand carved five-claw dragon mirrors. Each is hand carved with high relief Imperial five-claw dragons flying in the air. They also ...
Bronze
Large Concave Blue Mirror Sculpture
Located in London, GB
Concave tinted glass. Similar to Anish Kapoor sculptures. Thermoformed and mirrored, mounted on a brass structure. Available in blue (as pict...
Brass
$1,500
H 14.25 in W 11.87 in D 0.72 in
Italian Designer, Wall Mirror, Red Velvet, Mirror Glass, Italy, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A red velvet wall mirror designed and produced in Italy, 1970s.
Velvet, Mirror
Carved Hardwood Wall Mirror Mid 20th Century
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Antique large quality carved hardwood wall mirror, mid 20th Century. This is a lovely unusual mirror. Would look amazing in the right location. No woodworm or loose joints. The gl...
Hardwood
Beautifully Carved Weathered Gilt Wood Mirror
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Hand carved Rococo style wood mirror. The wood frame with a light wash of gilding with mostly wood showing through. The plume top with scrolling at the corners in a thick detailed fr...
Wood
$4,200
H 36 in W 17 in D 3 in
Northern European Oval Carved Wood Mirror with White Frame, early 19th century
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Northern European early 19th century oval carved wood mirror with white frame great detail, great mirror, great patina- bello!
Mirror, Wood
20th Century Hand Painted Chinese Red Chinoiserie Mirror
Located in Antwerp, BE
This is a lovely hand painted chinoiserie mirror with Georgian styling. It depicts hand painted pastoral scenes on a Chinese red background. The frame is wood and unmarked. It is bel...
Mirror, Wood
Period French Regence Gilt and Carved Wood Frame/ Mirror
Located in Hudson, NY
This fine frame from the French Regence period 1715 to 1723 to perhaps 50 years after that exact date is made completely of carved wood that has been gessoed and beautifully water gi...
Mirror, Wood
Late 19th Century Large Chinese Daybed
Located in Singapore, SG
A large elmwood daybed from Shandong province, China. The color and patina of the daybed has been kept fully original, but repairs have been made to the woven seat as it was already ...
Hemp, Elm
$14,850
H 3 in Dm 43 in
Large Sculptural Round Convex Rose Gold Lighted Mirror or Wall Art, Italy, 43" D
Located in New York, NY
This Large Sculptural Round Convex Rose Gold Lighted Mirror or Wall Art is a unique work of art. A large, round glass is first thermoformed into a sculptural convex form (i.e. the r...
Brass
By Heart Mirror Wall Decoration
Located in Paris, FR
Mirror By Heart made with LED lights with mirrored glass and plexiglass creating an infiny mirrored effect through a heart shape. With colors changing ...
Glass, Plexiglass
$8,250 / item
H 52 in Dm 45 in
“Drip Drop Mirror”, Minimalist Brushed Bronze Wall Mirror with Shelving
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Evan Cranes "Drip Drop Mirror" is an elegant and minimal wall-mounted mirror with unique shelf storage. It is intended to be a feature piece in the home t...
Bronze
$5,400 / item
H 40 in W 31 in D 3 in
Roebling Wall Mirror, Ceramic & Hardwood, Organic Modern, Sculptural
By Luft Tanaka, Calyer Ceramics
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Roebling Wall Mirror offers a contemporary take on the classical masonry and brickwork of Brooklyn with custom elements created in collaboration with Calyer Ceramics. Shown in ...
Ceramic, Mirror, Hardwood, Oak
Sold
H 31.11 in W 19.69 in D 0.79 in
Qing Dynasty Red Lacquered Mirror, Hardwood Frame with Gilt Carvings
Located in Glasgow, GB
A red lacquered and gilt wood mirror from the Chinese Qing Dynasty, late 19th century to early 20th century. Measuring 79 cm tall and 50 cm wide, this mirror is a striking antique...
Gold
Red Lacquer Chinese Wall Mirror, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This rectangular wall mirror features a simple wooden frame with a beaded trim and a rich, red lacquer finish. Rounded corners on one side and sharp corners on the other suggest this...
Mirror, Wood, Lacquer
Chinese Diamond Lattice Window Panel, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This early 20th century lattice window panel likely originated in a northern Chinese home with neutral and balanced interiors. The geometric lattice pattern is linear and open, and w...
Wood, Pine
Chinese Gilt Shrine Wall Mirror, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
A dazzling display of intricate carvings and gilt lacquer, this fabulous wall mirror was originally an ornate shrine surround used to enclose a religious figure or shrine display. The elaborate frame is comprised of highly decorated wood panels...
Mirror, Wood
Intricately Carved Gilded Qing Dynasty Chinese Mirror
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Magnificent intricately carved gilded Chinese mirror having aged mirror and superb ornate fretwork. Circa Late Qing Dynasty.
Mirror, Giltwood
Sold
H 23.5 in W 74 in D 2.5 in
19th Century Qing Dynasty Elmwood Panel with Fretwork and Three Inset Mirrors
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Qing Dynasty period three-panel horizontal elmwood mirror from the 19th century, with fretwork and fan shaped motifs. Created in China during the Qing Dynasty, this 19th century elmwood panel is adorned with fretwork motifs surrounding a circular inset mirror flanked with two fan...
Mirror, Elm
Pair of Chinese Painted Wall Mirrors, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This pair of rectangular wall mirrors feature early 20th-century frames crafted of a fine-grained hardwood. At some point in their sto...
Mirror, Hardwood
Chinese Chrysanthemum Lattice Window Mirror, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This early 20th century lattice window panel from China's Shanxi province likely originated in a traditional home with balanced interiors. Both functional and decorative, lattice win...
Pine
Chinese Lattice Window Panel Mirror
Located in Chicago, IL
This lattice window panel likely originated in an aristocratic Chinese home with neutral and balanced interiors. The geometric lattice pattern is ...
Mirror, Cedar
Narrow Chinese Mirror, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This early 20th century mirror is crafted of hand carved pine and once hung on the wall of a Qing-dynasty home, perhaps in a ladies sleeping quarters. Subtle notches pattern the fram...
Mirror, Pine
Chinese Calligrapher's Mirror, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This early 20th century Chinese mitered hardwood mirror is carved with three continuous sinuous beads. Appreciated for its rich color, fine grain, and smooth touch, the hardwood fram...
Mirror, Hardwood
Early 20th Century Chinese Spoiled Huali Mirror
Located in Chicago, IL
This early-20th century wall mirror is crafted from huali rosewood, a highly esteemed hardwood valued for its tight grain and warm coloring. The angular lower corners of the rosewood...
Mirror, Rosewood