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.
20th Century Ming Style Altar Console Table
Located in Houston, TX
20th Century Ming style altar console table with waterfall edge and scrolled legs. Possibly newer lacquering, wear commensurate age and use.
Wood
Asian Red Mahogany Console Table, Ming Style, 54"
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine quality Chinese mahogany console table raised on carved tapered legs joined by stretchers, circa 1950's
Mahogany
Walnut Top and Black Lacquer Chin Hua Console Table
Located in Pasadena, TX
A beautiful Ming style console table, supporting a walnut top. Classic elegant silhouette with a touch of flair at the top and at the feet. Sides have a very dark brown lacquer that...
Wood, Walnut, Lacquer
Tomlinson Rosewood Ming Style Console Table
By Tomlinson
Located in Delray Beach, FL
A beautiful Ming style console table made by Tomlinson. Made in the mid 20th century. Supporting a rosewood top. Classic elegant silhouette with a touch of flair at the top and at ...
Wood
Century Furniture Black Lacquer and Brass Ming Style Console
Located in Pasadena, TX
This console table was made in the Ming style. The table resembles an altar table. It's lacquered in Black and has beautiful brass pulls, There are 2 drawers for storage.
Wood, Lacquer
Ming Style Carved Walnut Draw Leaf Altar / Console Tables by Drexel, Pair
By Drexel
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a pair of 1970S flip top console tables with Ming styling by Drexel Heritage. They open and slide into great serving surfaces! Form, function and fun!
Walnut
$7,040Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Chinese Elm Console Table with Hand-Carved Ruyi Motifs
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
19th Century Chinese Qing Dynasty Elmwood Altar Console Table, Shanxi Province An exceptional 19th-century Chinese Qing Dynasty altar table handcrafted in Shanxi Province from solid...
Elm
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...
Wood
Chinese Antique Carved and Painted Altar Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A notable late 19th century carved wood altar table in old red and black paint now worn to a nice patina with a particularly decorative form. The plank top with tenons and carved edg...
Wood
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...
Burl, Elm, Lacquer
Sofa Console Table Ming Chow Leg Style Attributed to Schnadig Intl. Furniture
Located in Topeka, KS
Stunning chinoiserie chow leg Ming style sofa table with two beveled glass inserts and burl wood inlays. They are attributed to Schnadig Furniture I...
Glass, Wood, Burl
Asian Modern Grasscloth Wrapped Ming Style Console Tables Att. Baker Furn. -Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a pair of Ming style grasscloth wrapped console tables attributed to Baker Furniture Company. They both are in very good condition. The textured grasscloth is a deep almost o...
Grasscloth, Wood
Chinese Early 20th Century Shop Sign Console Table with Carved Calligraphy
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Ming Dynasty style shop sign console table from the early 20th century, with calligraphy and cylindrical legs. Created in China during the early years of the 20th century, ...
Wood
1970s Ming Style Michel Taylor For Baker Furn. Console Alter Table
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is such a good size! This is burl wood console table design by Michael Taylor for Baker Furniture as part of his Far East Collection. It is marked and in very good condition. M...
Burl
Ming Dynasty Style Vintage Elm Waisted Table with Humpbacked Stretcher
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Ming Dynasty style vintage waisted altar console table from the mid-20th century, with horsehoof legs and humpbacked stretcher. Delve into the elegance of classical Chinese design ...
Elm
Mid-20th Century Large Chinese Rosewood Center Table
Located in Dallas, TX
An exceptional carved rosewood center table in the Ming style in large old timber from the mid 20th century. This piece is very high quality and style. It would easily work with Eu...
Rosewood
Ming Dynasty Style Red Lacquered Console Table with Gilt Accents, Carved Apron
Located in Yonkers, NY
An antique Chinese Ming Dynasty style red lacquered altar console table from the 19th century, with everted flanges, carved apron and gilt accents. Born in China during the 19th cent...
Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Ming-Style Black Lacquer Console Table
Located in Toluca Ter, CA
A substantial black lacquer console table, designed in a restrained Ming-style and produced in China c. 1930s. Measuring 74 inches wide, the table has a long, narrow profile with fou...
Brass
Antique Lacquered Chinese Console Table Side Desk Inlaid Jumu Elm Early 20th C
Located in London, GB
An extremely charming lacquered Chinese table in lovely antique condition. Traditionally crafted in China, most likely in the early Twentieth C...
Brass
$2,109 / set
H 32.68 in W 35.44 in D 12.41 in
Postmodern Ivory Lacquered Walnut Wall Mirror and Console Table, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. This set features a walnut frame, with ivory lacquered parts. They might show slight traces of use since they are vintage, such as their original patina, but t...
Mirror, Walnut
Louis XV Console Black Lacquered with Natural Wood Top
Located in London, Park Royal
Louis XV console, hand carved in solid wood. Black lacquered finish with bronzes ornaments with French polished natural wooden top 3 x drawers available. Made by La Maison London. ...
Wood
Mid Century Style Lacquered Console Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Modern lacquered three drawer console with three brushed wenge veneered self closing drawers. Dimensions: 66" W x 14" D x 33" H
Wood
Chinese Walnut Console Table, Hand-Carved, Ming Style, c. 1850, China
Located in New York, NY
A graceful 19th century Chinese hardwood altar table, with a carved apron. The table features for decorative carved elements, one on each side, between the top and stretcher . Table...
Walnut
20th Century French Console Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
This 20th-century French console table embodies a light and airy aesthetic, blending functionality with artistic craftsmanship. Constructed from wrought iron with a patinated finish,...
Wrought Iron
Console Table, Italy, Mid-20th Century
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century console table standing on tapered legs with brass caps. The piece features a ribbed surface, three drawers, and profiled edges, with a subtle D-shaped front that adds ref...
Brass
Late 20th Century Victorian Style Mahogany Console Table
Located in Germantown, MD
A Late 20th Century Victorian Style Mahogany Console Table measuring 48" in width, 16" in depth and 30" in height
Mahogany
Jens Risom Rosewood Console Table / Side Table, 1960s
By Jens Risom
Located in Lejre, DK
Console table or side table crafted from rosewood, designed by Jens Risom in the 1960s. The table features a long rectangular top and can be used as a console table or side table. —...
Rosewood
Early 20th Century Swedish White Gustavian Style Console Table
Located in Round Top, TX
Early 20th century Swedish Gustavian style console table, crafted in pine. The table stands on tapered fluted legs topped by small carved medallions, while decorative applied carving...
Pine, Paint
$5,900
H 30.5 in W 77 in D 19 in
Hollywood Regency Mastercraft Black Lacquer and Brass Console, ca 1960s
By Mastercraft
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Asian Inspiried Mastercraft USA Elegant Black Lacquer and Brass Console, ca 1960s With maker's metal label 'Mastercraft' Stunning and long Mastercraft black lacquer and brass conso...
Brass
$2,795
H 27 in W 60 in D 16 in
1970s Modern Burl Walnut and Brass Parson’s Style Console Table / Slim Desk
By Tomlinson
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a 1970s modern brass console table with a dark burl walnut top. It was manufactured by Tomlinson and is marked. It is in very good condition.
Brass
$5,273
H 33.08 in W 85.83 in D 17.72 in
1970s Tommaso Barbi Style Brass and Burgundy Lacquered Wood Huge Italian Console
Located in Aci Castello, IT
An huge brass and lacquered wood console designed and manufactured in Italy in the Seventies, original good conditions. The console in the manner of Tommaso Barbi, exudes a captivati...
Brass
Ming Campaign Style Burl-Wood Console Table
Located in Southampton, NJ
An impressive, practical Ming style console table with Campaign design influences of Burl wood with banded Oak top. The table features one center drawer, distinctive brass accents an...
Brass
Sold
H 30 in W 73.5 in D 16 in
1980s Modern Ming Style Console Table Att. Alessandro For Baker Fueniture
By Alessandro
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a large scale 1980s modern Ming style console table attributed to Italian designer Alessandro. Alessandro had a brief collaboration with Baker Furniture. It does have the Bak...
Composition, Brass
Ming Dynasty Chinese Console With Raffia Top
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ming Dynasty Chinese wood console table with taffia top. Beautiful simple carvings and dark original finish. Rare to have the original raffia surface. Very modern form for the Ming D...
Wood
Vintage Asian Ming Carved Greek Key Ebonized Console Table
Located in West Chester, PA
Vintage Asian inspired console table with carved apron. Knee clearance 23.75” The color will appear to be close to black in many interior settings although it it is actually a very d...
Wood
Harrison Van Horn Ming Style Lacquered Grasscloth Wrapped Console Table
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a Harrison Van Horn Ming style wrapped console table in a deep red. The weave looks like the linen weave. This company has been known for its exceptional quality since the 1...
Grasscloth, Wood, Lacquer
Vintage Boho Grasscloth Ming Console Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Elevate your space with this vintage boho Ming-style console table wrapped in natural grasscloth. Its clean lines and elegant silhouette nod to traditional Asian design, while the te...
Rattan, Seagrass
Vintage Boho Grasscloth Ming Console Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Introduce a touch of natural elegance to your decor with this Vintage Boho Grasscloth Ming Console Table. Featuring a classic Ming silhouette wrapped in textured grasscloth, this con...
Seagrass, Wood
18th C Style Burton-Ching Ming Chinese Half Hexagonal Console Table
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
18th C Style Burton-Ching Ming Chinese Half Hexagonal Console Table.
Wood
Black Lacquer Ming Console Table in the Style of James Mont
By James Mont
Located in Dallas, TX
Very handsome console or sofa table in the style of James Mont. Black lacquer Asian style base with brass trim and glass top. Beveled glass top sits on round brass corner finials. Ve...
Brass
A Ming Style Yellow Lacquer Console Table
Located in New York, NY
A Ming Style Yellow Lacquer Console Table
Wood, Lacquer
Pair of Ming Style Red Chinoiserie Console Tables or Center Table
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Pair of Ming Style Red Chinoiserie Console Tables or Center Table
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...
Wood