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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Style: Ming
Chinese Ming Dynasty Carved, Painted and Giltwood Amitayus Buddha
Located in Austin, TX
A beautiful and serene Chinese Ming dynasty carved wood figure of the Buddha Amitayus, the Buddha of long life, and a form of Amitabha Buddha. He is seated in dhyanassana, dressed in...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century Chinese Southern Administrator's Chair
Located in Chicago, IL
A fine 19th century Chinese huali (rosewood) Southern Administrator's armchair with gently curved crestrail and arms, four-spindle backsplat, brass fittings, woven cane seat, and tra...
Category
1850s Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Rosewood
Large Polychromed Wood GuanYin Head on Stand
Located in Atlanta, GA
Large antique wood polychrome GuanYin head, in Ming style but from the late Qing dynasty period. The fine features of the Bodhisattva has a clear Indo-sin...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
Ming Dynasty Very Rare Wooden Bust of Lohan
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Very serene depiction of a Lohan carved in wood, eroded with the pass of time. Lohan is the Chinese term, derived from the Sanskrit word Arhan, for a disciple or follower of Buddha w...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Antique Ming Furniture
Chinese Ming Dynasty Sancai Glazed Pottery Architectural Model, 16th Century
Located in Austin, TX
An unusually large Chinese Ming Dynasty glazed pottery architectural model of a shrine or cabinet, Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), circa 16th century, China.
The shrine model crafted o...
Category
16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Pottery
A Pair of Fine Porcelain Vases with Underglaze Floral Motif
Located in Greenwich, CT
A pair of simple and elegant monochrome porcelain vases, with fine under glaze floral motif. beautiful color, form and lines.
Category
20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Ming Dynasty Style Wedding Armchairs with Curving Arms and Woven Rattan Seats
Located in Yonkers, NY
A near pair of Chinese Ming Dynasty style vintage wedding armchairs from the mid-20th century, with woven rattan seats, curving armrests and natural wood patina. Born in China during...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Rattan, Wood
Antique Chinese Porcelain 17th Century Late Ming Chinese Japanese Taste Plate
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely decorated plate with a scene flowers. Very rare and very modern design. Domestic market or Japanese market from Jingdezhen. Late Ming Wanli or Tianqi. Top Quality
28...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Ming Dynasty Hand Carved Stone Monkey Sculpture with Infant Monkey
Located in Yonkers, NY
A 19th century Chinese Ming dynasty hand carved stone monkey sculpture. This Chinese sculpture features a monkey figure, sitting on a rock formation, holding a square item, perhaps a...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Stone
Pale Blue Antique Chinese Rug
Located in New York, NY
Enchanting early 20th century highly decorative Chinese Peking rug with an abrashed light blue field The wool and feel of the rug is very soft on the feet. It has a silky sheen to it...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Wool
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...
Category
Late 20th Century Ming Furniture
Materials
Brass
Chinese Miniature Mingqi Skirted Table
Located in Chicago, IL
This miniature ceramic table is from Shanxi Province and may have been made to represent Mingqi, a type of ancient Chinese burial good. Mingqi were plac...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Chinese Stone Tabletop Altar, c. 1600
Located in Chicago, IL
This tabletop altar with scrolled edges, a scalloped apron, and turned legs from China's Shanxi province is a rare find. We conservatively estimate it to be late Ming dynasty (circa ...
Category
Early 17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Limestone
Song to Ming Dynasty Cast Iron Daoist Buddhist Head
Located in Dallas, TX
Daoist sage, official, or possibly a Buddhist acolyte.
A large, thick and heavy cast iron statue of a head. Custom vintage carved hardwood stand finishes off this outstanding and de...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Iron
Chinese Interlocking Ring Stone Table, c. 1600
Located in Chicago, IL
Created over 400 years ago, this low table from the late Ming/early Qing dynasty was carved by hand from a single block of limestone. The table has aprons carved with interlocking rings...
Category
Early 17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Limestone
Fine Red Lacquer Armoire with Gilt Motif
Located in Greenwich, CT
An elegant red lacquer armoire, red lacquer front with fine hand-painted muted gold gilt motif, black lacquered sides, brass fitting. Beautiful col...
Category
1920s Chinese Vintage Ming Furniture
Materials
Lacquer
Fine Antique Imperial Chinese Red Silk Rug with Phoenixes
Located in Milan, IT
A very rare silk Ningxia carpet with an unusual lacquer red background decorated at the centre by a large phoenix and surrounded by four smaller phoenixes in the corners. The phoenix...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Silk
China Antique Pair "Spirit Path" Horse Sculptures, Ming Dynasty 500 Years Old
Located in South Burlington, VT
China, a monumental pair (2) of 500 year old lime stone “Spirit Path” Equine horse head sculptures.
Ming dynasty, (1368-1644 CE).
A pair of near life size and robust head sections with fine, wavy combed manes, well defined mouths, ears, nostrils, and ornamental bridles, all carved in a medium to dark gray limestone with considerable weathering to surfaces. The smaller head with a later inscription on bottom and signed “Zhuang”.
Formerly exhibited “Treasures from Asia”, Shelburne Vermont, Shelburne Art Center, 2006. Originally found in the vicinity of the village of Chuan near Luoyang City, Henan Provance, China.
Each mounted on a custom iron display stand.
Dimensions:
A the smaller 32.5cm, 13” high and 62.5cm, 25” in length and with display stand, 60cm, 24” high;
b the larger 37.5cm, 15” high and 67.5cm, 27” in length and with display stand
65cm, 26” high.
Please view additional photographs from our Chinese antiquities catalog 35 Years Collecting 35 Treasures, page 60.
History:
Placing stone animals and human figures along spirit paths in front of important tombs can be traced back at least to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE), some two thousand years ago. In ancient times, stone animals and human figures placed before imperial tombs symbolized royal power and
privilege in addition to decorative functions. Life size “spirit path” stone horse sculptures are known and can be viewed from Ming dynasty tombs including thirteen imperial tombs of the Ming Dynasty scattered over an area of forty square kilometers in Changping District to the northwest of Beijing.
The first Ming tomb...
Category
16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Limestone
Assembled Chinese Late Yuan / Early Ming Dynasty Bronze Garniture
Located in Austin, TX
Consisting of a large baluster vase (H: 14.25") with arrow handles and a near pair of smaller baluster vases with mythical beast loop handles.
The large vase, of yuhuchunping f...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Ming Dynasty Polychrome Lacquer and Gilt Iron Figure of Ananda
Located in Austin, TX
Ananda is portrayed in a typical fashion, as a youthful monk with a shaved head and dressed in simple robes. He stands upon a double lotus pedestal with hands clasped in front of him...
Category
16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Iron
Antique Chinese Rug with Brocade Pattern
Located in Milan, IT
A rare and unusual red ground Chinese rug decorated by an infinite repeat pattern composed of a network of geometric devices derived from silk brocades of the Ming period. Examples o...
Category
1920s Chinese Vintage Ming Furniture
Materials
Wool
Antique Red & Black Lacquer Chinese Scholar's Book Chests/Cabinets, Chinoiserie
Located in 10 Chater Road, HK
Covered in rich black & red lacquer, of rectangular form with square corners, the fine scholar’s cabinets with a pair of paneled doors, fitted with oval shaped brass lock plate, open...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Softwood, Lacquer
Ming Dynasty Bronze Figure of the Infant Buddha
Located in Austin, TX
A rare and unusual Chinese Ming Dynasty bronze figure of the Buddha as an infant. The young Prince Siddhartha, who would grow up to become the Buddha, is portrayed standing, one hand pointing to the sky, the other to the ground. He is naked, save for a baby apron...
Category
16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Elm Wood Children Armchairs
Located in Greenwich, CT
Pair of elmwood children armchairs with relief carving, simple and beautiful form. We carry fine quality furniture with elegant finished and has be...
Category
1920s Chinese Vintage Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
Standing Carved Wood Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, Guanyin, China, 1368-1644
Located in Torino, IT
Early Ming standing carved wood Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara (Guanyin), China 1368-1644. This massive Bodhisattva Guanyin is depicted here in th...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
Bronze Figure of a Seated Luohan, Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644
Located in Torino, IT
Cast seated wearing a simple robe with his right hand resting on the hilt of a snake-entwined sword, the left hand held aloft, his face with meditative expre...
Category
Early 1600s Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Bronze
18th Century Chinese Ningxia Rug with Floral Medallion and Butterflies
Located in Milan, IT
Characterised by the delicate drawing which distinguishes the weavings of the short and noble Yongzheng period (1723-1735), it has a beautifully drawn...
Category
Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Wool
Early Chinese Carpet with Stylized Lotus Flowers and Leaf Stems
Located in Milan, IT
The extremely rare and monumental, ivory background large carpet shown here is decorated by an harmonious pattern of blue and light blue scrolling lotus flowers connected to each oth...
Category
18th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Early Chinese Ningxia Rug with Lotus Flowers
Located in Milan, IT
A rare and beautiful early Chinese carpet characterized by an infinite repeat of parallel and offset rows of blue and ivory lotus blossoms, symbols of purity, on a two-tone yellow ba...
Category
Early 17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Wool
Ming Dynasty Iron Arrow Game Vase Lamp
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
Sophisticated cast iron lamp made from a Ming Dynasty arrow vase. Arrow vases were originally made as part of a game where players tried to shoot arrows through the loops. A similar ...
Category
16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Urn Chinese Glazed Brown Ming China
Located in New York, NY
Urn Chinese Glazed Brown Ming China. A Glaced Ming Urn from China. Made during the Ming Period 1368-1644.
Category
15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Pottery
Extremely Rare Late Ming Dynasty Elm and Burl Altar Table
Located in Austin, TX
An elegant and graceful cabriole legged, high waisted altar table with scrolling apron, set upon a waisted platform. The top featuring a floating center panel of finely figured nanmu...
Category
Early 17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Burl, Elm, Lacquer
Pair of Fine Horseshoe Back Armchairs
Located in Greenwich, CT
A pair of elegant horseshoe back armchairs. Beautiful color, form and lines. We carry fine quality furniture with elegant finished and has be...
Category
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
Large Single Gourd Vase Lamp, Olive Glazed, Christopher Spitzmiller
Located in London, GB
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
Fine Black Lacquer Console Table
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine black lacquer console table with four drawers, waterfall legs, brass fitting, elegant and simple form, beautiful lines. We carry fine quality furniture with elegant finished and...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Lacquer
Pair of Fine Black Lacquer End Tables
Located in Greenwich, CT
Pair of fine black lacquer end tables. Very elegant and simple form. We carry fine quality furniture with elegant finished and has been appeared many times in "ARCHITECTURE DIGEST" M...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Lacquer
New Ming Style Maple Rectangular Faux Bamboo Coffee Table, in Stock
Located in North Salem, NY
This Chinese Ming style Maple large rectangular coffee table is an exquisite piece of furniture that showcases a harmonious blend of elegance and traditional craftsmanship. It is des...
Category
16th Century American Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Maple
Ornately Carved Chinese Luohan Bed, circa 1550
Located in Chicago, IL
This gorgeous luohan daybed anchors its surroundings with its monumental scale and incredible carved decoration. Known as a luohan chuang, or couch bed, this form of low-backed daybe...
Category
16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Elm
George Zee Ming Style Carved Rosewood One Drawer 2 Tier End Tables, Circa 1960s
Located in Germantown, MD
For your consideration is this fabulous pair of vintage Rosewood carved end tables, by George Zee.
Stacked Ming style Chinese nightstands / end t...
Category
Mid-20th Century Hong Kong Ming Furniture
Materials
Rosewood
Rare and Unusual Antique Kashgar Rug with Mughal Pattern
Located in Milan, IT
A very rare small format, very finely knotted antique rug from the oasis of Kashgar, located in eastern Turkestan. Distinguished by a unique soft red background and by an all-over pattern consisting of a trellis containing a directional floral blossom motif characteristic of the Indian Mughal Dynasty...
Category
Early 19th Century East Turkestani Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Wool
Pair of Sarreid Ltd. Brass Asian & Campaign Style Side Tables or Coffee Table
By Sarreid Ltd.
Located in Kennesaw, GA
These Sarreid Ltd. side table date to the 1970s. They are unique in that they combine low profile modern styling with Asian and campaign influences. They are marked. The tables have ...
Category
1970s Spanish Vintage Ming Furniture
Materials
Brass
Tibetan Gilt Bronze Figure of Shantideva, 16th-17th Century, Tibet
Located in Austin, TX
A fine and well cast 16th-17th century Tibetan gilt copper alloy statue of Shantideva, the great 8th century Indian teacher and scholar.
The gilt bronze figure expertly cast, with wonderful detail and rich gilding. The face cold painted gold with polychrome details.
Shantideva sits upon a double lotus pedestal, a Vajra before him, an overflowing kapala skull cup...
Category
16th Century Tibetan Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Stylish Mid-19th Century Ming Style Cloisonné
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of stylish mid-19th century Ming style cloisonné with beautiful gold gilt Greek key detail.
Chinese cloisonné objects were intended primarily f...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
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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