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
Red Lacquered Vintage Bench with A-Form Base
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese vintage Ming Dynasty style red lacquer wooden bench from the mid 20th century with A-form base, carved spandrels and distressed finish. Embrace the timeless allure of this ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
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
17th Century Huanghuali Book Stand
Located in Santa Monica, CA
This book stand is all original without any replacement pieces. The piece has very clean lines and a simple form typical of the Ming style which emphasizes purity of form. The two ...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
A Chinese Ming Dynasty Cizhou Wine Jar
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Chinese Ming Dynasty Cizhou Wine Jar
Provenance: Private Australian Collection acquired in 1950s.
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
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
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
Pair of Antique Chinese Official's Hat Armchairs
Located in 10 Chater Road, HK
PAIR OF FINE RECTANGULAR BACK ARMCHAIRS
The chairs with circular-sectioned crest rail, pipe-joined to the back side posts, decorated with inner shaped flanges and supported by a...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Softwood
Late 20th-C. Ming Style Red Lacquer & Brass Credenza / Media Cabinet By Sligh
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a killer credenza! It has Asian styling with decorative brass hardware. The red lacquer finish is piped in black. It has quite a bit of storage and is in very good condition....
Category
Late 20th Century American Ming Furniture
Materials
Brass
Chinese Altar Table in Tortoise Shell in the manner of Baker, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, PA
A stunning Chinese Altar Table in the manner of Baker Furniture Company, 20th Century. This Tortoise Shell Finished Console has great scale and is impressive in person. The altar tab...
Category
1980s American Vintage Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
Antique Chinese Ming Dynasty-Style Equestrian Roof Tile, 18th C.
Located in San Francisco, CA
A circa 18th century Chinese Ming dynasty-style equestrian form glazed pottery roof tile.
Classic figural depiction of a proud celestial warrior on horseback, hand-crafted of eart...
Category
18th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Pottery, Earthenware, Terracotta
Ming Cizhou Wine Jar, c. 1600
Located in Chicago, IL
This impressive glazed vessel dates to the early 17th century and was used to store wine and spirits made from rice and other grains. The Ming-dynasty jar has an elegant, tapered for...
Category
Early 17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
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
Pair of Japanese Kyokuroku Folding Chairs
Located in Kastrup, DK
Pair of Japanese red lacquered folding meditation armchair for monks.
Pair of kyokuroku chairs in original red lacquer with gilt carvings and embossed brass hardware.
One chair wit...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
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
Chinese Ming Design Glazed Terracotta Tricolor Prancing Horse Sculpture on Base
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Ming dynasty style glazed terracotta prancing horse figure from the 20th century with polychrome finish. Crafted in the Ming style, this small terracotta prancing horse att...
Category
20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Terracotta
Wooden Deity Statue, China Ming Period
Located in Saverne, Grand Est
Statue of a Taoist god in wood, represented seated on a seat with armrests in the shape of heads of dragons. The face is really beautifully rendered, as well as the draping of the co...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
Fine Black Lacquer Console Table
Located in Greenwich, CT
Elegant black lacquer console table with five drawers, brass fitting. Simple form and beautiful color. We carry fine quality furniture with elegant finished and has been appeared man...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Lacquer
Vintage Blue and White Garden Stool
Located in west palm beach, FL
Gorgeous vintage blue and white garden stool. A beautiful Ming design in a chic glazed ceramic. Perfect indoors our outside. Sure to add some cha...
Category
Late 20th Century North American Ming Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Chinese Chinoiserie Ming Style Tea Side Accent Table W/ Pull Out Tray Shelf 30"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Chinese side accent table featuring Chinoiserie styling with gold accents, pull out trays, and painted scene with pagoda, mountains, and a fisherman in a boat.
Dimensions:
...
Category
Late 20th Century Ming Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
Early 20th Century Asian Style Petite Pipe and Tobacco Cabinet
Located in Doylestown, PA
Asian style petite pipe and tobacco cabinet, early 20th century.
This Ming style cabinet features a single tiger maple panel door with original Fen...
Category
Early 20th Century Ming Furniture
Materials
Brass
2 Chinese Ming Style Hongmu Lion Head Chinoiserie Altar Throne Arm Chairs Pair
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage pair of James Monte / Qing Dynasty / Chinoiserie style armchairs featuring heavy faux bamboo and rattan frames with open reticulated design, accented with lion heads, animal ...
Category
Late 20th Century Ming Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Hardwood
Chinese Linen Glass Cabinet with Carved Wood
Located in Somis, CA
A beautiful 20th century solid wood custom linen press with glass door. The cabinet is constructed with three frame members, among them two are inset with choice elm woods that form the sides. The elm woods with grains of swirls and sweeps resemble the Chinese mountain and water scene. The unique front...
Category
20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
Antique Chinese Ming Style Red Lacquer Altar 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
Chinese Ming Dynasty Style 1920s Red and Black Lacquered Drum Stool or Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Chinese Ming Dynasty style red and black lacquered drum stool from the early 20th century, with chinoiserie decor. Created in China during the first quarter of the 20th century, this Ming style drum stool will make for an excellent drinks table or plant Stand. Boasting a lovely black and red lacquered patina, the stool features a shaped top adorned with a delicate chinoiserie scene. This top is resting on a waisted apron, raised on an arching drum base with side stretchers. Ideal thanks to its versatile quality, this Chinese lacquered stool...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
Chinese Stoneware Jar Celadon fluted detail, Ming Dynasty 14th to 16th Century
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very old interesting provincial Chinese stoneware Celadon Jar, probably Longquan, with fluted or ribbed decoration, which we date to the Ming Dynasty, between the 14th and 16th Centuries.
The Jar has an interesting circular baluster shape with an open everted rim and low foot. It has been decorated with moulded vertical flutes or ribs to its lower half. The base is concave and fairly deep.
The Jar has a mossy-olive green colour having a celadon glaze which runs from the base to the upper rim as it would have been glazed upside down, with some glaze around the top section of the inner rim. Unglazed parts fire to a terracotta brown colour at the rim, lower body and the foot rim.
The piece is unmarked but for similar pieces see the superb book: Chinese Ceramics by He Li published by Thames & Hudson, 1996; pages 164 to 184.
NOTES
Longquan is a city in South west China. These wares were produced over a long time period from 959 to 1550; which covers the Northern Song...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Stoneware
Late 20th Century Ming Style Solid Rosewood Square Coffee Table w/ Chow Legs
Located in Topeka, KS
Stunning vintage Ming Cow leg style solid rosewood square coffee table. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear. We f...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Ming Furniture
Materials
Rosewood
Ming Style Side Table, USA 1960s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Introducing our exquisite Ming Style Side Table, a true gem from the USA dating back to the 1960s. This stunning piece of furniture effortlessly captures the essence of Ming Dynasty ...
Category
1960s American Vintage Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Fine Jumu Console Table
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine Jumu console table with waterfall legs, elegant color and lines. We carry fine quality furniture with elegant finished and has been appeared many times ...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
Vintage Chinese Ming Style Arm Chairs, a Pair
Located in Harlingen, TX
A vintage pair of Chinese Ming style lacquered wood arm chairs with seat cushions. The chinoiserie design features a splat back, low arms w...
Category
1970s Vintage Ming Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Large Carved and Gilt Decorated Chinese Screen
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A large and intricate Asian carved and gilt panel that may be utilized as an architectural element, wall decoration or screen. In one piece with six panels with four recessed section...
Category
20th Century Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
Vintage Chinese Ming Style Rosewood Chinoiserie Coffee Cocktail Table Square 42"
Located in Dayton, OH
A beautiful Chinoiserie coffee table. Made from rosewood in classic Ming form with a square top over straight legs with inward flared feet. Brass plate along underside Marked NW.
...
Category
Late 20th Century Ming Furniture
Materials
Rosewood
Late 19th C. Ming Carved Ebonized and Giltwood Trifold Table Screen
Located in Germantown, MD
A Late 19th Century Ming Style Carved, Ebonized and Giltwood Trifold Table Screen in great condition.
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
Chinese Jiaoyi Folding Armchair In Jichimu, China Qing Dynasty
Located in Saverne, Grand Est
Extremely rare jiaoyi type armchair in jichimu, with a rounded horseshoe-shaped back.
The central band is openwork and carved with kilin and coiled shi dragon decoration. The front c...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
Asian Ming Style Rosewood Upholstered Bench
Located in Germantown, MD
An Asian influenced bench by top-quality furniture maker Century Furniture, from their "Chin Hua" line designed by Raymond K Sobota. Clear lacquered hardwood in a classic Ming design...
Category
Late 20th Century American Ming Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Rosewood
Early-19th Century Antique Chinese Small Rug - 5'10'' X 3'3''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Chinese Rugs, as opposed to most of the antique rug productions, were woven almost exclusively for internal consumption. Since they were mostly sheltered from European and We...
Category
Early 1900s Asian Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Wool
Vintage Boho Glazed Ceramic Tall Ming Vase
Located in west palm beach, FL
A fabulous vintage Boho Glazed ceramic vase. A classic Ming style in a black high gloss finish. Rests on a wooden plinth. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Category
Late 20th Century American Ming Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Jin Long 'Golden Dragon' 24K Gold and Diamond Olisbos Sculpture
Located in Halls Head, Western Australia
The Jin Long (Golden Dragon) is an electroformed 24K pure gold and fine diamond olisbos sculpture featuring a traditional Chinese dragon totem symbol...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Ming Furniture
Materials
Gold
Chinese Paint Decorated Trunk as Cocktail Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An ebonized wood trunk with painted decoration on the front. The center panel with ladies dressed in fine robes in an interior framed by florals. A visiting figure wearing a headdres...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
16th-17th Century Chinese Ming Dynasty Fu Dog Censer Incense Vase
Located in Hampstead, QC
This is a rare Chinese Ming Dynasty bronze Fu Dog figural bronze tripod lidded censer used for incense. It has a Fu Dog or Qilin figural top lid with superbly carved details. The Fu ...
Category
16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Late 20th Ming Style Indonesian Dining Armed Chairs Natural Teak w/ Black Seats
Located in Topeka, KS
Lovely vintage Ming style Indonesian dining armed chairs comprised of natural teak frames & upholstered drop in seats. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that these are vintage and...
Category
Late 20th Century Indonesian Ming Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Teak
19th Century Alter Table in Peach wood China
Located in Kastrup, DK
Small alter / communion table in peach wood from the Zhejiang Province of China. Original condition with red lacquer with age-related patina.
Ming sty...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair Of Ming Style Leather Lounge Chairs
Located in Hudson, NY
A spectacular and chic pair of Ming Style armchairs with embossed leather seats. Made from extremely hardwood with a gorgeous weathered petina through the ebony glaze.
The alligator...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood, Leather
Chinese blond hardwood stool in the Ming taste, 1800-25
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Chinese Yumu wood (Northern Chinese elm) stool in the Ming taste. The waisted and bull nose frame and panel top is engaged to the rounded framing elements including the leg posts. Th...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Elm
Pair Asian Ming Style Carved Mahogany Lounge Chairs, 1940-1960
Located in Rochester, NY
A very elegant pair of Asian Ming style hand carved mahogany hardwood lounge chairs in nicely aged original surface color w/ beautifully figured grain. Exceptional quality finely det...
Category
20th Century Singaporean Ming Furniture
Materials
Hardwood, Mahogany
Japanese Meiji Period Bronze Incense Holder / Jardiniere
Located in San Francisco, CA
Japanese Meiji Period Bronze Incense Holder / Jardiniere. A substantial incense holder in the Chinese Ming style. Sides and bottom covered in a r...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Ming Dynasty Style Elmwood Wedding Chair with Curving Back and Carved Splat
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Ming Dynasty style elmwood wedding chair from circa 1900, with carved panels on the splat, curved arms, and gooseneck front posts. This early 20th-century Ming Dynasty style weddin...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Elm
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
Decorative Chinese Storage Chest As Cocktail Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Heavy wooden storage chest with chunky and prominent iron hardware. The chest opens from the front top with heavy 1" thick door and a large scalloped back-plate - no lock. Decorated ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Iron
Antique Chinese Scroll Box
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Stained leather covered wood in deep oxblood and dark brown tones. With three stitched plaques with raised characters on the front. A brass mount with lock on the front (lacking the ...
Category
19th Century Asian Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood
Pair of Elegant Antique Chinese Carved and Gilt Panels
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Striking and decorative tall wall panels carved and gilt with overall openwork large scrolled acanthus leaves in relief, each leaf with raised ribs edg...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
Distressed Red Lacquered Chinese Vintage Ming Style Bench with A-Form Base
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese vintage Ming Dynasty style red lacquer wooden bench from the mid 20th century with A-form base, carved spandrels and distressed finish. Exuding...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
Chinese Elm Audience Chair, c. 1850
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Chinese audience chair in the Ming Dynasty taste. The chair is made from Northern Chinese Elm with traces of original black lacquer throughout. The chair has a frame and panel seat w...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Elm
Asian Ming Style Carved Mahogany Sofa Settee, 1940-1960
Located in Rochester, NY
Very elegant Ming style mahogany hardwood sofa settee in nicely aged original color w/ beautifully figured grain to wood. Fine hand crafted hand carved details and pegged woodwork...
Category
20th Century Singaporean Ming Furniture
Materials
Hardwood, Mahogany
Small Chinese Cloisonne Enamel Dragon Decorative Bowl
Located in Jupiter, FL
Chinese Cloisonne bowl dragon early 20th century turquoise blue dragon. Could be depiction of Qing Dynasty though I am unsure of that.
Stand included.
Category
20th Century Ming Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Black Lacquer Console Table with Drawers
Located in Greenwich, CT
Black lacquer console table with two drawers and hoof feet.
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Lacquer
Profusely Carved Asian Display Cabinet
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An elegant Asian display cabinet, profusely carved throughout with glass door with carved trim and surround that reveals two long and one short s...
Category
Early 20th Century Asian Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
30.4cm Kosometsuke Antique Chinese Porcelain Dish 17 C Ming Literatus Children
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Condition
1 restuck piece with a line and with some paint of the repainting remaining. Lower part of the restuck piece is with kintsugi. Some fritting. Size 303x36mm diameterxhigh
...
Category
16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Late 20th Century Vintage Regency Ming Grasscloth Console Table
Located in west palm beach, FL
A fabulous vintage Regency console table. A chic Grasscloth finish with Ming legs. Currently black, but easy to change the color to suit ...
Category
Late 20th Century American Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
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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