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Qing Seating

QING STYLE

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.

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Style: Qing
Chinese Turn Stool, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
It is unusual to see an early 20th-century Chinese round stool designed to be adjustable. The artisan who created this inventive stool hand-carved the cylindrical center post for eas...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Seating

Materials

Elm

Pair of Chinese Rose Chairs with Quatrefoil Cutouts, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
For many years, rose chairs were thought to have been exclusively used by women due to their floral name. However, they were a universal form of seating, typically used for writing d...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Seating

Materials

Walnut

Early 19th Century Chinese Elm Table
Located in San Marino, CA
A “one of a kind” kang table - otherwise known as either a low table or a chair-level bed- with solid elmwood tabletop and plum feet. The table is originally from Shanxi, China.
Category

Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Qing Seating

Materials

Elm

Chinese Turn Stool, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
It is unusual to see an early 20th century Chinese round stool with adjustable height. The artisan who created this inventive stool hand-carved the cylindrical center post for easy a...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Seating

Materials

Elm

Pair of Qing Dynasty Chinese Carved Walnut Armchairs 'Fushouyi'
Located in Austin, TX
A good pair of Chinese carved walnut wood (hetao mu) armchairs. The back features two facing stylized dragons around a central shou (longevity) medallion below a scrolled crest r...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Seating

Materials

Walnut

Pair of Antique Qing Era Chinese Yoke Back Armchairs
Located in Glasgow, GB
A pair of 'Captain's Hat' yoke back armchairs, handcrafted at the very beginning of the 20th century during the Qing Dynasty in China. These chairs are made from an exotic and uniq...
Category

Early 1900s Chinese Antique Qing Seating

Materials

Hardwood

Chinese Lacquered Spindle Back Armchair, c. 1800
Located in Chicago, IL
This curious 19th century spindleback chair defies traditional Qing-dynasty forms. A collection of moments from previous eras, the chair incorporates elements drawn from Chinese carp...
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Seating

Materials

Elm

Chinese Horseshoe Back Armchair
Located in New York, NY
Chinese antique horseshoe back armchair in carved wood. Jian Ding export seal on back of seat.
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Seating

Materials

Wood

Pair of Antique Chinese Chippendale Rosewood Armchairs, Qing Dynasty, circa 1900
Located in Portland, OR
Pair of antique Chinese Chippendale rosewood armchairs, Qing Dynasty, circa 1900. The chairs having splat backs that are pierced and carved, the arms supported by a single rail. The ...
Category

Early 1900s Chinese Antique Qing Seating

Materials

Rosewood

Provincial Chinese Fan Stool, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This late 19th century stool from China's Hebei province charms with its simple form and smoothed texture. The fan-shaped seat is supported by splayed legs bolstered by simple stretc...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Seating

Materials

Elm

Pair of Chinese Rattan Top Black Lacquer Stools
Located in Chicago, IL
This pair of 19th century black lacquer stools was created by an artisan from northern China using traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery techniques...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Seating

Materials

Rattan, Elm

Chinese Woven Top Fang Deng Stool, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
The fang deng, or square stool, form was popular for its simplicity and utility in the home. The simple legs, stacked edging, sinuous braces, and rattan top make this a particularly ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Seating

Materials

Elm, Rattan

Qing seating for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Qing seating for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage seating created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, asian art and furniture, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, hardwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Qing seating made in a specific country, there are Asia, East Asia, and China pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original seating, popular names associated with this style include and Liberty of London. 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 seating differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $250 and tops out at $136,268 while the average work can sell for $2,455.

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