Ming Furniture
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.
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Item Ships From: Europe
Style: Ming
Set of Six Chinese Dining Chairs in Ming Style
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage set of Chinese in Ming style dining chairs in solid wood. Glossy redwood frames - two with arms, and four without. Includes teal color...
Category
1970s Belgian Vintage Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
Ming Dynasty Stone Guardian Statue, China, 17th Century
Located in Antwerp, BE
Ming Dynasty stone foo dog from the revered Beijing Summer Palace, dating back to the end of the 17th century. This magnificent sculpture depicts a powerful lion, imbued with the myt...
Category
Late 17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Stone
Vintage Chinese Blue Underglaze Porcelain Ginger Jar, Ming Style
Located in Glasgow, GB
A vintage blue and white 'Ming Style' ginger jar, crafted in China during the latter half of the 20th century.
A smooth hexagonal-shaped body showcases the revered technique of Chin...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Vintage Chinese 'Ming Style' Blue and White Porcelain Baluster Vase
Located in Glasgow, GB
A vintage 'Ming style' baluster vase. Created around the mid to latter half of the 20th Century in China.
A classical representation of the much revered blue and white glazed porce...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Vintage Chinese ''Ming Style' Blue and White Glazed Hu Vases - Matching Pair
Located in Glasgow, GB
A matching pair of small vintage 'Ming style' vases, crafted in China around the late 1980s.
Delicately hand-painted and glazed with a Ming-style decoration: A trail of bold cobalt ...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Chinese bronze Monkey, 17th Century, Ming Dynasty.
Located in Gargrave, North Yorkshire
Chinese bronze figure of a Monkey, 17th Century, Ming Dynasty. The amusing study, cast as a seated monkey, about to devour a peach, held in his right hand.
His hair well delineated, ...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Important Chinese Blue And White Dish, China Wanli Period
Located in Saverne, Grand Est
Slightly lobed dish in eight braces with flared rim with underglaze blue decoration of birds in a garden.
Usual frittings on the border and a fine hairline at 12 o'clock (invisible t...
Category
Early 17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Ming Dynasty Martaban Jar
Located in Hoddesdon, GB
Chinese Ming Dynasty 1368 - 1644 Martaban Jar . Dates to the early Ming period .
High neck and wide shoulders , brown slip glaze , unglazed base , loop-handles. rolled lipped rim ty...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Clay
Chinese Ming Dynasty Style Side / Lamp Table
Located in Kastrup, DK
A Chinese antique ming style side lamp table from the late 19th century. Elm wood with original dark lacquer with natural age-related patina.
Features a square top with central board...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Elm
Large Chinese Blue And White Dish, China Ming Dynasty
Located in Saverne, Grand Est
Large scalloped dish called "Swatow" in porcelain with flared rim, with underglaze blue decoration : the basin decorated with deers in a landscape, the descent decorated with prunus ...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
PAIR of Large Chinese Foo Dogs Gilded Metal with good detail, Circa 1920s
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
These are a very good Large pair of Chinese foo or lion dogs on plinth's, sometimes called temple lions made of metal and hand gilded with fine detail, all in the Ming style but dating to the 20th century, Circa 1920s period.
These are an unusually large pair of Foo Dogs...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Metal
Chinese Black Lacquered Wood Box - Imperial Dragons - Ming Period Wanli 17th
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Magnificent box Imperial jewelry box in black lacquered wood decorated with dragons.
This wonderful box is lacquered on a black background with patt...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
Antique Chinese Ming Stone Table, c. 1500-1600
Located in Kastrup, DK
A Chinese 16-17th century Ming stone table carved from a solid piece of stone. This table has a traditional scalloped apron and legs ending in scrolled feet.
In well-preserved origi...
Category
Early 17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Stone
Pair Of Chinese Monochrome Vases, China Ming Dynasty
Located in Saverne, Grand Est
Pair of suantouping (garlic head) vases in white-covered sandstone.
Some frittings otherwise in very good condition !
China, 17th century or earlier.
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Stoneware
19th Century Chinese Black Lacquered Cabinet
Located in Hoddesdon, GB
A rare Ming design, lacquered Elm cabinet dating back to the early 19th century is offered for sale. This exquisite cabinet boasts a beautiful minimalist design that will suit both m...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Elm
Small 19th Century Ming Style Cabinet in Peachwood
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant 19th century Ming style cabinet in crafted in peachwood.
The cabinet is divided into two parts: the upper section, equipped with a pair of doors featuring metal fittings, op...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Metal
Late 18th Century Chinese Low Table / Daybed
Located in Hoddesdon, GB
Chinese , Low Table / Daybed dating to the latter part of the 18th century .
Solid elm wood , generous proportions , traditional design, solid thick single plank top with cleated ends , mortise and tenon construction. Wonderful colour and amazing surface patination .
The clean lines used in Chinese antique furniture...
Category
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Elm
19th Century Chinese Ming Style Walnut & Bamboo Bench
Located in Kastrup, DK
A 19th century Chinese Ming style bench with a walnut frame and a top composed of bamboo slats. Square legs joined with stretchers.
In original good ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Bamboo, Walnut
Grande Buddha Cinese in Legno
By Ebanista
Located in Brescia, IT
Grande scultura di un Buddha in legno scolpito e laccato in policromia di bella proporzione e colore.
Scultura riprodotta nel novecento con precisione e ottima qualità .
Lo stato di ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
Large Low Chinese Ming Style Coffee Table in Black Lacquer
Located in Kastrup, DK
A large antique Chinese Ming Dynasty style coffee table, 193 x 122 cm.
Was originally an opium bed but has been converted into a table. Crafted in elm wood with black lacquer present...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Carved wooden statuette of Guandi God of war & dog lion of Fo - China Ming 18th
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
This marvelous polychrome carved wooden statuette represents a Buddhist temple guardian, Guandi or Guan Yu sitting on a Fo dog.
The guardian and the dog are on a base whose feet reca...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century Chinese Black Lacquered Ming Style Coffee Table
Located in Kastrup, DK
A Chinese Ming style coffee table crafted in elm wood with original black lacquer and natural patina, enhanced with a clear lacquer surface finish.
Jiangsu Province, China 1860-1870
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Elm
Bodhisattva In Bronze, China 20th Century
Located in Saverne, Grand Est
Bronze Guanyin represented seated, left hand held in vitarka mudra, wearing a loose robe with voluminous folds.
Weight: 1.977 kg.
Category
20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Foo Dogs Chinese Sancai Architectural Roof Tiles
Located in Cheltenham, GB
Foo Dogs Chinese sancai architectural roof tiles in green and mustard / orange shades.
Antique Chinese lion guardians (also known as "Foo Dog") ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Chinese Ming Style Red Lacquer Sideboard Cabinet
Located in Kastrup, DK
A Chinese Ming Dynasty style altar cabinet with original red lacquer, with natural age-related patina.
The cabinet features a rectangular top with everted flanges, sitting above a f...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Metal
Large Chinese Blue And White Vase In Meiping Shape, China Late Qing Dynasty
Located in Saverne, Grand Est
Large Meiping-shaped porcelain vase with underglaze blue decoration of a dragon pursuing the sacred pearl.
This rotating decoration of the dragon over the entire body of the vase was...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Rare 19th Century Chinese Altar Table
Located in Mjöhult, SE
Rare and unusually wide 19th century Chinese altar table in elm with an beautiful patinated surface with remaining traces of the old lacquer. Ca 1800 China.
Category
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Elm
Large Single Gourd Vase Lamp, Olive Glazed, Christopher Spitzmiller
Located in Richmond, London
Christopher Spitzmiller's iconic Large Single Gourd lamp of large proportions, in the style of Chinese Ming dynasty vases. Entirely handmade in Chri...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Ming Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf, Brass
Antique Chinese Porcelain Plate Ming Dynasty Tianqi/Chongzhen, 17th Century
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A Blue & White late ming / transitional plate with a nice and rare decoration
Additional information:
Material: Porcelain & Pottery
Region of Origin: China
Period: 17th century Tran...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Period Chinese Porcelain Dish Charger Deer and Crane Antique Marked Ming, 16 C
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Large and very nice Blue and White Charger/Dish from the Ming Period. Jiajing. Absolute cool item marked Ming
Additional information:
Material: Porcelain
Period: 17th century Qing (...
Category
17th Century Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Late Ming c.a Antique Carpet with emperor on clouds
Located in Milano, IT
Behold, a magnificent antique carpet from the late Ming Dynasty period, a true testament to the artistry and craftsmanship of ancient China. Crafted from the finest wool and meticulo...
Category
Early 1700s Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Wool
Antique Chinese Porcelain Plate Ming Dynasty Tianqi/Chongzhen
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A Blue & White late ming / transitional plate with a nice and rare anhua decoration
Additional information:
Material: Porcelain & Pottery
Region of Origin: China
Period: 17th centur...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Rare Chinese Porcelain Ming Period Kosometsuke Dish OX, ca 1600-1660
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Porcelain dish with underglaze blue. Scene of a lovely Ox or Cow in a landscape.
Ming dynasty, Tianqi or Chongzhen period (1621-1644)
Additional information:
Material: Porcelain & ...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Polychrome wooden statue depicting Guanyin Bodhisattva, Ming, 16th century
Located in Milano, IT
In a realm where time stands still, there exists a 16th-century masterpiece, a sculpture of unparalleled beauty that transports you to the heart of the Ming dynasty. Here, in a place...
Category
16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
Antique Chinese Taste Tianqi/Chongzhen Dish Porcelain Ming Plate China Old
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely decorated plate. Late Ming. Prunus blossom and Dragonfly great symbolism
Symbol of Winter, corresponding to the month of January. One of the "Three Friends of Winter"....
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Blue And White Dish, China Jiajing Period
Located in Saverne, Grand Est
Slightly lobed dish with flared rim with blue decoration under cover of two deers. Tiny chips on the border (usual for porcelain from this period), otherwise perfect condition !
Chin...
Category
16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Ming Swatow Zhangzhou Crackle Verte Charger Colour, Ca 1600
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nice and rare bowl with central scene of a bird in a landscape.
Great piece; In good condition.
Additional information:
Material: Porcelain & Pottery
Region of Origin: China
...
Category
16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Taste Tianqi/Chongzhen Dish Porcelain Ming Plate China Old, 17 C
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely decorated plate. Late Ming. Prunus blossom and butterfly great symbolism
Symbol of Winter, corresponding to the month of January. One of the "Three Friends of Winter"....
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Porcelain Late Ming or Transitional Plate Landscape
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A Blue & White Ko-sometsuke plate with a landscape scene
Additional information:
Material: Porcelain & Pottery
Region of Origin: China
Period: 17th century Ming (1368 - 1620)
Age: ...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Rare Kosometsuke Antique Chinese Ming Dynasty Plate China Porcelain, 17th C
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Beautiful dish in blue and white. This is a Jingdezhen made dish made for the Japanese market. Kosometsuke.
With a floral and bird decoration. Base with a chenghua mark
The base is...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Taoist bronze figure China, Ming dynasty, 16th century
Located in Milano, IT
In the heart of ancient China, within the resplendent Ming dynasty, a masterpiece was cast in bronze, a testament to a culture steeped in mysticism and spirituality. This Taoist bron...
Category
16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Rare Chinese Porcelain Ming Period Kosometsuke Plate Hare Moon, ca 1600-1640
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
It's 17th century chinese porcelain, Ming period, made for the Japanese market.
This unusual Kosumetsuke plate was used for the tea ceremony. Very nice
Heavily potted
Additional ...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Rare Chinese Porcelain Ming Period Ko Akae Floral Dish, ca 1600-1660
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Dish with iron-red, green, aubergine, yellow, brown and black with an insect in flight above flowering peony issuing from rockwork, the rim with flower sprays reserved on diaper-patt...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Rare Chinese Porcelain Ming Period Kosometsuke Plates Boat & Fisher, ca1600-1660
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Porcelain dish with underglaze blue lake scene. Visible is a figure in a boat who seems to be a fisherman but is also playing the flute. Another figure is sitting in pagode which is ...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Liu Hai Kosometsuke Antique Chinese Ming Dynasty Plate Porcelain, 16/17th C
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Beautiful dish in blue and white. This is a Jingdezhen made dish made for the Japanese market. Kosometsuke. Central scene of Liu Hai and the toad.
No mark
Ad...
Category
16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Porcelain Ming/Transitional Dish Brown White Glaze Scene, 17thC
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely decorated plate with beautiful Brown Glaze and an underglaze scene in white. The rim covered with a metal ring. Dated to the late Ming or transitional period.
The back...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Hongzhi or Zhengde Dish Fish, 15th/16th Century
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely decorated and highly unusual dish from the 15th/16th century. The dish is beautifully designed with a beautiful fish in the centre.
9-1-23-1-1
Additional information:...
Category
16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Porcelain Kosometsuke Parasol Romantic Meeting Plate, 17th C
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely decorated kosometsuke plate with a rare scene suggesting a secret romantic meeting, a lady and umbrella-bearing gentleman closely together beneath a long overhanging pi...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Porcelain Kosometsuke Ladies in Meeting Plate Marked, 17th C
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely decorated kosometsuke plate with an unusual scene of 4 Ladies in a garden, seems like they have a meeting. A pot with a plant in the middle lower part of the scene and ...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Peach wood & Hard Cane Coffee Table
Located in Kastrup, DK
Chinese 19th century daybed / coffee table / end of bed bench.
Crafted in peach wood with a central woven rattan top panel insert mounted on a wooden board, making it sturdy enough ...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Rattan, Fruitwood
Antique Chinese Porcelain Late Ming or Transitional Plate Fisherman Turtle
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A Blue & White Ko-sometsuke plate with a Fisherman trying to catch a turtle. very unusual Ko-Sometsuke plate! Catching a Turttle which was well known to live for a very long time, ha...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Rare antique Ming Dynasty Period Painting With Flowers
Located in Kastrup, DK
Large Ming dynasty period painting, China 1365-1644.
Oil or tempera painted on thin canvas (or silk), mounted on wood. The painting displays a vase of...
Category
16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Wood
Cabinet in Original Black Lacquer, Shanxi Province, 1820-1830
Located in Kastrup, DK
Original black lacquer cabinet with a pair of doors.
The front with a layer of "thick varnish" this is used to attach the thick varnish, first the canvas and after the "varnish pa...
Category
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Metal
Antique Chinese Taste 17c Kosometsuke Tianqi/Chongzhen Dish Porcelain Mi
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely decorated plate. Late Ming. Bamboo and literati.
Bamboo
Bamboo - Zhu - longevity. Never loosing its leafs, bamboo is a symbol of old age, endurance and modesty. B...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Plate 17th Century Porcelain Ming Tianqi Transitional Boys
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely decorated plate with 2 boys. 1 boy observing the other one holding a lotus leaf umbrella, also a solitary spot which should be the moon or sun.
a dish with this scen...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
18th Century Antique Chinese Qing Dynasty Cabinet with Original Décor
Located in Kastrup, DK
A stunning Chinese tapered cabinet from the 18th century, black lacquered with original gilt chinoiserie motifs.
Created in China during the Qi...
Category
Early 18th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Elm
Pair Early 20th Century Chinese Ceramic Foo Dogs
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Low fired ceramic Chinese "Ming" style pair matching Foo Dogs with beautiful cracked and dripped glazed four color finish.
This beautiful couple Foo Dogs is visibly handmade because the prints of the fingers the artist are visible in the earthenware.
These Foo Dogs makes displayed in your place a great...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Earthenware
17th century Chinese Ming Porcelain Ceramic Blue and White Vase Covered
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
Antique 17th Century Chinese porcelain - Ceramic covered vase
Origin: China, Period Late Ming, approx 1630 - 1645
Form - Octagonal balus...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Porcelain
Ming furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Ming furniture 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 furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include asian art and furniture, tables, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, ceramic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Ming furniture 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 furniture, popular names associated with this style include Century Furniture, George Zee, Broyhill, and Baker Furniture Company. 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 furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $195 and tops out at $690,000 while the average work can sell for $2,941.
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