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Qing Side Chairs

QING STYLE

The last imperial dynasty from 1644 to 1912 was a time of change in China, beginning with the invasion by Manchurian forces that ended the Ming dynasty and established the Shunzhi Emperor. The expansion of exportation and trade that had bolstered the arts during the Ming era continued, as Qing dynasty furniture involved the same attention to craftsmanship with expert construction techniques in hardwood pieces that were assembled with mortise and tenon joints rather than nails or glue. Together, these eras comprise a golden age of Chinese furniture design.

Ming-style furniture is simple and elegant with clean lines. Chairs of the period and other Ming furniture made an impression on Scandinavian modernist Hans Wegner and his streamlined seating, for example. Whereas Qing-style furniture is elaborate, with an increasing influence from the West leading to lavish carving inspired by the European Baroque and Rococo styles. And while many of the forms that define examples of the latter are common within classical Chinese furniture, such as curving and folding chairs as well as large screens, Qing designs are laden with ornamentation. Frequently, the carved motifs and inlaid designs in mother-of-pearl were auspicious, such as peonies for wealth or dragons for luck. Bats were symbols of happiness in the design of Qing furniture, with one of the characters in the word for bat, bianfu, being a homophone for fu, or “fortune.”

While several types of wood were used in the construction of Qing beds, tables, storage pieces and seating, today’s collectors know that the most prized were the rare rosewoods zitan and huanghuali. They were both sourced from Hainan, China’s largest island, and are marked by a rich luster that occurs naturally, without the application of lacquer or other decorative materials. Many of the most popular woods were imported from southeast Asia, adding to their value. Red sandalwood was also sought after for its durability and connection with Chinese medicine, with some chairs being made for health benefits.

Find a collection of antique Qing tea tables, stools, benches, decorative objects and more furniture on 1stDibs.

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Style: Qing
Antique Chinese Red Lacquer Elm Ming Style Slat Back Desk Side Accent Chair
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Qing dynasty red lacquer side chair. Made from elm with angled back, panelled accents and distressed accents. Dimensions: 18.5" x 20" x 40"h, seat 19.5"
Category

20th Century Qing Side Chairs

Materials

Elm, Lacquer

Pair of Antique Chinese Hardwood Side Chairs Qing Dynasty
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of antique Chinese side chairs circa 19th century, late Qing Dynasty. Made from highly grained Hong Mu, a hard wood that resembles the Chinese rosewood, Huanghuali. These chai...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Side Chairs

Materials

Wood

A Pair of Ebonised Chinese Folding Occasional Hall Side Chairs Late Qing
Located in Llanbrynmair, GB
A characterful pair of late 19th Century, early 20th Century Chinese Folding Travel Chairs. Great form and colour, with ebonised frames and original woven nett seats. A simplistic,...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Side Chairs

Materials

Beech

Chinese Qing Dynasty Red Lacquer Traveller's Folding Chair with Woven Seat
Located in Yonkers, NY
An antique Chinese Qing Dynasty period red lacquered folding traveller’s chair from the 19th century, with carved birds and foliage, scalloped footrest and woven fabric. Created in C...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Side Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Chinese Qing Dynasty Lamp Hanger Chair with Carved Splat and Two Toned Finish
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Qing Dynasty period lamp hanger chair from the early 20th century, with hand-carved medallion on the back splat, two-toned finish and side ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Side Chairs

Materials

Wood

Chinese Qing Dynasty Period 19th Century Wooden Side Chair with Rattan Accents
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Qing Dynasty period dark brown lacquer wooden side chair from the 19th century with rattan seat and back, carved scrolls and meander motifs. Created in China during the Qin...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Side Chairs

Materials

Wood, Rattan

Chinese Qing Dynasty 19th Century Elmwood Armchair with Slatted Back and Arms
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Qing Dynasty elmwood armchair from the 19th century with slatted back and arms. Created in China during the Qing Dynasty, this elmwood chair features a pierced slatted back...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Side Chairs

Materials

Elm

Pair of Chinese Spindleback Side Chairs, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
These 19th-century elmwood chairs owe their graceful design to the refined styles and carpentry techniques that emerged during the Ming dynasty, the golden age of Chinese furniture d...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Side Chairs

Materials

Elm

Near Pair of Chinese Qing Dynasty 19th Century Yoke High Back Decorative Chairs
Located in Yonkers, NY
A near pair of Chinese Qing dynasty period yoke high back chairs from the 19th century, with carved aprons and side stretchers. Created in China dur...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Side Chairs

Materials

Wood

Qing Dynasty Rosewood Side Chair with Open Fretwork and Marble Medallion
Located in Yonkers, NY
A late Qing Dynasty period rosewood side chair from the early 20th century, with marble medallion inlay and open fretwork. Crafted during the early years of the 20th century, this ex...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Side Chairs

Materials

Marble

Pair of Chinese Black Lacquer Ladies' Chairs, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
These unusual ladies' chairs exemplify the beauty of exaggerated proportions. Each chair features a small, round seat, charmingly counterbalanced by wide back panels. A black lacquer...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Side Chairs

Materials

Elm

Pair of Chinese Rose Chairs, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
For many years, rose chairs were thought to have been exclusively used by women due to their floral name. However, they were a universal form of seating, of...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Side Chairs

Materials

Elm

Very Rare Original Liberty's London Signed Qing Dynasty Chair Floral Carving
Located in GB
We are delighted to this stunning and exceptionally rare original Liberty’s London signed Qing dynasty chair I have never seen one of these chair...
Category

Early 1900s Chinese Antique Qing Side Chairs

Materials

Wood

Pair of Chinese Yokeback Chairs, c. 1750
Located in Chicago, IL
In the West, this type of chair is commonly called a "yokeback" chair because its top rail looks like a yoke for an ox. However, in China, the name translates to "lamp hanger" chair, describing how the form as a whole looks like an ancient oil lamp stand...
Category

Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Qing Side Chairs

Materials

Elm

Antique Chinese Red Lacquered Folding Traveller’s Chair with Footrest and Fabric
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese late Qing Dynasty period red lacquered folding traveller’s chair from the early 20th century, with carved motifs, footrest and woven fabric. This early 20th-century antique...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Side Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Pair of Chinese Spindleback Armchairs, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
These 19th century spindleback armchairs owe their graceful design to the styles and techniques that emerged during the Ming dynasty, the golden a...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Side Chairs

Materials

Walnut

Low Chinese Bentwood Chair, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This bentwood chair was created over a century ago in northern China by moistening, bending, and heating willow to form its desired shape. It is beautifully carved with auspicious flowers and is considerably smaller than most roundback chairs. As the height and size of chairs were traditionally marks of status in Chinese culture, it is likely that this artful chair...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Side Chairs

Materials

Elm

Pair of Chinese Rose Chairs with Quatrefoil Cutouts, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
For many years, rose chairs were thought to have been exclusively used by women due to their floral name. However, they were a universal form of seating, typically used for writing d...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Side Chairs

Materials

Walnut

Chinese Lacquered Spindle Back Armchair, c. 1800
Located in Chicago, IL
This curious 19th century spindleback chair defies traditional Qing-dynasty forms. A collection of moments from previous eras, the chair incorporates elements drawn from Chinese carp...
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Side Chairs

Materials

Elm

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Pair of 1950s California Design Iron and Tropical Hardwood Side Chairs
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Chinese Qing Dynasty Painted Cabinet
Chinese Qing Dynasty Painted Cabinet
H 76.5 in W 51 in D 21.5 in
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Pair Chinese Export Black Lacquer Gilt Painted Side Chairs, Mid 20th Century
Located in Austin, TX
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Pair of Chinese Red Lacquer Roundback Chairs, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
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Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Side Chairs

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Pair of Late Qing Dynasty Armchairs
Located in Chicago, IL
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19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Side Chairs

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Elm

Pair of Late Qing Dynasty Armchairs
Pair of Late Qing Dynasty Armchairs
H 15.56 in W 9.65 in L 15.56 in
Chinese Lacquered Spindle Back Armchair, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
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Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Side Chairs

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Chinese Cloud-Form Emperor Chair, c. 1850
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This 19th-century Emperor-style chair features an exaggerated cloud-motif crest rail and a backsplat carved with the Shou character, a symbol of longevity. The grand chair's smoothly...
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Chinese Cloud-Form Emperor Chair, c. 1850
Chinese Cloud-Form Emperor Chair, c. 1850
H 49.75 in W 22.5 in D 17.5 in
Lovely circa 1900 Japanese Chinese Export Throne Armchair Original Faded Finish
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Early 1900s Japanese Antique Qing Side Chairs

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Qing Dynasty Chair
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This chair is from Hernan, China and dates to the middle-Qing dynasty. The back splat has carvings in floral and nature motifs and there is additional car...
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19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Side Chairs

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Qing Dynasty Chair
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H 37.8 in W 23.63 in L 37.8 in
Pair of Qing Dynasty Armchairs
Located in Chicago, IL
These handsome elm chairs prominently feature a deer carving on their back splat, a Chinese symbol of longevity. The pair originates from Hernan, China and date to the middle-Qing dy...
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19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Side Chairs

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Pair of Qing Dynasty Armchairs
Pair of Qing Dynasty Armchairs
H 42.13 in W 24.41 in D 19.3 in
Pair of Late Qing Dynasty Chinese Armchairs
Located in Chicago, IL
Made out of elm wood, these chairs feature a beautifully aged patina with a cloud motif on the apron, and horse hoof feet. Dating to the late-Qing dynasty, these chairs are made in t...
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19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Side Chairs

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Pair of Late Qing Dynasty Chinese Armchairs
Pair of Late Qing Dynasty Chinese Armchairs
H 38.19 in W 23.63 in D 18.51 in
Pair of Late Qing Dynasty Chinese Official’s Hat Armchairs
Located in Chicago, IL
These beautiful elm wood chairs feature a rounded frame construction with intricately carved Chinese motifs. Dating back to the late-Qing dynasty, the honey color of the elm and the ...
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19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Side Chairs

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Pair of Qing Dynasty Armchairs
Located in Chicago, IL
These handsome elm chairs feature floral and cloud scroll pattern carvings. Dating to the Qing Dynasty, the chairs are made up of two parts: a waisted stool and an upper back-rest th...
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19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Side Chairs

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Pair of Qing Dynasty Armchairs
Pair of Qing Dynasty Armchairs
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Qing side chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Qing side chairs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage side chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, hardwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Qing side chairs made in a specific country, there are Asia, China, and East Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original side chairs, popular names associated with this style include and Liberty of London. 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 side chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $895 and tops out at $11,780 while the average work can sell for $3,000.

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