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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
Period: 19th Century
Original 19th C Chinese Partly Red Lacquered Three Drawer Storage Console Table
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This is a rarely seen authentic 19th century Chinese console table with three drawers under which there is a storage compartment. The top and the front is red lacquered, the ends are...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Brass

Pair of Antique Chinese Shiwan Ware Pottery Statue Lamps
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Pair of Antique Chinese Shiwan Ware Pottery Statue Lamps
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Pottery

Antique Chinese Shanxi Ming Red Lacquer Elm Carved Chest Storage Trunk Sideboard
Located in Dayton, OH
Late Qing Dynasty red lacquer Storage Chest or sideboard. Made in Shanxi North Eastern China, circa 1880s. Features a simple rectangular frame with two doors at the center flanked by...
Category

1880s Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Elm, Lacquer

Antique 19th Century Chinese Shandong Ming Style Elm Painted Money Trunk Chest
Located in Dayton, OH
Late Qing Dynasty iridescent painted Elm Money Trunk / Storage Chest. Made in Shandong East China, circa 1870s. Features two upper compartments and lower cabinet for accessory storag...
Category

1870s Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Elm, Paint

Antique Chinese Ming Dynasty Style Armchair
Located in San Carlos, CA
Elevate Your Space with Timeless Elegance! Discover the allure of our Chinese Ming-style Antique Chair, a true gem that effortlessly blends history with sophistication. This exquis...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Hardwood

Antique Chinese Shandong Ming Style Red Lacquer Elm Carved Chest Storage Trunk
Located in Dayton, OH
Late Qing Dynasty Red Lacquered Elm Trunk. Made in Shandong East China, late 19th century. Feature a rectangular body with dovetail construction at the corners and lower carved rel...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Elm

Chinese Ming Dynasty Style 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

Antique Chinese Ming tapered round corner cabinet with central removable stuile
Located in 10 Chater Road, HK
FINE TAPERED ROUND CORNER CABINET The cabinet with protruding molded edge, supported by rounded side posts, a pair of paneled doors with central stile, opening to reveal three shelv...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Elm

Antique Chinese garment rack textile hangers
Located in 10 Chater Road, HK
FINE CLOTHES RACK The top rail with scroll ends to prevent the clothing from sliding off, supported on side posts decorated with open-carved spandrels, braced with a central panel de...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Elm

Antique 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

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

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

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

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

Pair of Tall Cabinets with Square Corners and Carved with Lipped Moulding
Located in 10 Chater Road, HK
The wonderful pair of square corner cabinets, carved with lipped moulding on the front posts, two doors decorated in sections with carved embossed cartouches within the carved lipped...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Elm

19th Century Chinese Scholar's Cabinet Glass Curio
Located in Somis, CA
A late 19th century solid wood Chinese scholar's cabinet with glass doors and removable shelves. The glass doors with elegant black lacquered frames are mounted on dowels adorned wit...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood

Blue And White Large Decorative Bowl Circa 1900’s
Located in Jupiter, FL
This is an absolutely stunning blue and white Bowl- I’m not sure what dynasty this is that I did a lot of research it is believed to be late 19th century. In person this is truly stu...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain, Wood

Chinese Carved Vintage Silver Jewelry Cabinet Collector Chest
Located in Baltimore, MD
Intricately carved serving vintage silver jewelry buffet cabinet chest of drawers from Southeast Asia, circa 1960s. Features beautiful Chinese w...
Category

19th Century Southeast Asian Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Brass

19th Century Asian Antique Leather Drum Stool Table
By Mingyu Xu Studio
Located in Burbank, CA
Beautiful antique drum for sale. From Asia, and well cared for. Has leather tops on both end, and still has the original rings on both ends. It's made of solid oak with a walnut fini...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Leather, Wood

19th Century Antique Pair of Chinese Handcarved Armchairs
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese hand carved wood armchairs with original aged finish and bamboo seat. High back armchairs with a simple yet elegant Ming style. Natural Patina. Circa 1800s. Property...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Wood

Pair of Vintage in the Style of Chinese Horseshoe Wooden Folding Chairs
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Introducing the 19th-century Vintage in the Style of Chinese Horseshoe Wooden Folding Chairs. Chinese Horseshoe Chairs initially crafted as seats of distinction, were exclusively res...
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood, Fabric, Thread, Paint

Antique Chinese Ming Style Blue and White BW Bunch Of Lotus Charger 19c Qing
Located in Richmond, CA
An antique Chinese porcelain charger, hand decorated in underglaze blue and white, exemplifying the revered Ming style. The focal point, a central medallion within a double circle bo...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique 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

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

Rustic Antique Chinese Altar Or Console Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A fine Asian table with aged raised graining which adds texture to the Rustic presentation. Traditional form with upraised ends, scrolled decoration to the apron and sides, good weig...
Category

19th Century Asian Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood

A Pair of Small 19 Century Chinese Patinated Bronze Statues of Gods or Deities
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A pair of exceptional small patinated bronze castings of a male and female Chinese Deities or Gods possibly representing Shouxing God of Longevity Immortality and Good Fortune, and G...
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Bronze

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

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

Large Antique Chinese 19th Century Cabinet
Located in Kastrup, DK
A large Chinese cabinet with original lacquer. Two doors, fitted with traditional central hardware, open to reveal inner shelves. At the bottom th...
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Brass

Antique Chinese Peach wood 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

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 Ming Dynasty Style Side Table with Humpback Stretcher
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Chinese Ming Dynasty Style side table with humpback stretcher. Chinese Ming Dynasty style side table from the mid 19th century with humpback stretchers, horsehoof feet and waiste...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Rosewood

19th Century Islamic Blue and White Fritware Pottery Plate Signed by Maker
Located in COLMAR, FR
A mysterious, antique blue and white pottery plate. This is a fritware plate, hand-painted with a floral motif in underglaze cobalt blue...
Category

1860s Unknown Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Pottery

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

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

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

Chinese Ming Style Red Lacquer Console Table
Located in Kastrup, DK
A freestanding ming style console table. The table features humpback stretchers, horse hoof feet and original red lacquer with natural age-related patina. Presumably made of iron...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Hardwood

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

Antique Chinese Scenic Painted Carved Wood Doors, 19th Century
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Chinese scenic painted carved wood doors. Each door is beautifully carved on one side and candles painted on the other side with mang Ming sty...
Category

19th Century Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood

Chinese Ming Style Coffee Table
Located in Kastrup, DK
Chinese low rectangular coffee table made in walnut. Ming style. A fine and elegant example of classical Chinese furniture in cabinet-maker quality. Jiangsu Province 1860-1880.
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Chinese sideboard
Located in Kastrup, DK
Beijing "Altar" sideboard in original red lacquer with three drawers. Below, pair of doors with sides that can be opened. The lacquer color has a natural patina with a clear lacquer ...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Elm

Chinese Tiered Stand with Inset Rose Marble Top
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An antique stone-inlaid Chinese stand with two tiers enhanced by open work and hand carved motifs, indicative to these pieces, such as the scroll, ornamental vines and greek key and ...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Stone

Pair of Armchairs "Official Back", circa 1840
Located in Kastrup, DK
Pair of "Official Back" armchairs. In Chinese "Yoku Back" Untouched made in elm wood, burgundy lacquer and natural age-related patina with clear lacquer as surface finish. Called "...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Elm

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

Chinese Elm Audience Chair '1800s'
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

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

Early Chinese Stone Budha Hand Fragment
Located in Bradenton, FL
Early Chinese stone Budha hand fragment. A stone sculpture of a Buddha hand in a traditional gesture known as Verada Mudra, meaning Compassion / Sincerity. Once part of a large Buddha sculpture...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Stone

Antique Chinese Ming Style Carved Elm Split Reed Altar Bench Coffee Table
Located in Dayton, OH
Charming late 19th century Chinese Qing Dynasty bench. Made from solid elm wood in mortise and tenon construction with an inset split reed top. Feat...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Elm

Antique Chinese Carved Wood Buddha Sculpture Lamp
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Chinese carved wood Buddha sculpture lamp. Later electrified with Lucite base and custom made shade. Additional information: Materia...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Lucite

Pair of Early 19th Century Chinese 'Lazy Chairs' in Walnut and Black Lacquer
Located in Kastrup, DK
Pair of 'Lazy Chairs' in walnut, black lacquer with a natural cracked wear that gives the chairs an exciting and artistic look. Ming style, early 19th century China. The term 'Laz...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Walnut, Lacquer

Chinese Antique Table Ming Style Console Side Table
Located in Somis, CA
A solid wood table in Ming dynasty style. The solid top is set in a floating panel structure joined by mitered tenons and mortises. A narrow waist connects the top to the set of two ...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood

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

Antique Alter Sideboard, Beijing, c 1840-1860
Located in Kastrup, DK
Beijing Altar sideboard in original green - yellow - ocher lacquer color. Natural beautiful exciting patina. 3 drawers under the drawers a pair of doub...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Metal

Antique Meiji Period 19 / 20C Japanese Porcelain Swan/Geese Charger Arita
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Haring with you this very nice piece with what seems to be 2 flying swans. They could also be Geese. Unmarked at base. Condition Perfect, just some frits to base rim. Size: 37...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Fine Black Lacquer End Tables
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine black lacquer end tables. Simple and elegant form. Beautiful color and form. We carry fine quality furniture with elegant finished and has been appeared many times in "Architect...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Lacquer

Chinese Ming Dynasty Style Wooden Coffee Table with Hand-Woven Rattan Top
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Ming Dynasty style square-shaped wooden coffee table from the 19th century, with original distressed finish and hand-woven rattan top. Created in China during the Qing Dynasty period in the 19th century, this coffee table features the stylistic characteristic of the Ming Dynasty. The table presents a square top with woven rattan inset, adorned with a reeded edge on all sides. Showcasing its original finish with a nicely distressed patina revealing its age and use, the table is raised on four straight legs connected to one another through humpback stretchers. With its elegant Ming lines and great patina, this Qing Dynasty wood and rattan coffee table...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Rattan, Wood

19th c, Ming Style Hardwood Long Benches With Cloud Spandrels - A Pair
Located in Morristown, NJ
19th c., China,. A beautifully constructed pair of carved wood benches. The rectangular top is over inset legs topped with carved cloud spandrels and join...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Chinese Colorful Glazed Hand Carved Wood Horse with Rider
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Antique Chinese Hand Carved Glazed Wood Horse with Rider 22 tall x 22 w x 5.5 d Preowned Original vintage unrestored condition. Vintage patina present...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

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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