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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
Chinese Ming period Dynasty Buddhist Incense Burner with a Rock Crystal Finial
Located in Hudson, NY
The Ming period or Great Ming Period is the last Han ruled dynasty in Chinese history. Considers a high mark culturally and influenced by great events at ho...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Rock Crystal

Chinese Ming Dish Blue & White porcelain, Tianqi or Chongzhen Circa 1620-1644
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a hand painted Chinese Export porcelain dish, which we date to the 17th century, Ming Dynasty, Tianqi or Chongzhen c.1620-1640 The dish is fairly thickly potted with a fai...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Red Coral Carving of Guan Yin over Lotus Flower
Located in Gainesville, FL
Chinese red coral carving of Kwan Yin over the lotus flower. The figure is attached to the wooden stand with overall dimension 6 " tall, 2 1...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture

Materials

Coral

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 ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture

Materials

Elm

Vintage Coastal Cerused Knotty Pine Ming Coffee Table
Located in west palm beach, FL
Stunning vintage Ming coffee table. A beautiful high profile on a cerused knotty pine finish. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate
Category

Late 20th Century North American Ming Furniture

Materials

Pine

Magnificent Court Attendants in Terracotta - Ming Dynasty, China 1368-1644 AD TL
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
A magnificent pair of male and female courtiers from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE) in excellent condition. They are wearing traditional Daopao robes in green and black garments wit...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Terracotta

Ming Style Arm Chair
Located in Pasadena, TX
James Mont Ming Style Lounge Chair Solid wood ebonized frame with traditional Ming legs. Rich burl back inset. Turquoise cushion.
Category

Late 20th Century American Ming Furniture

Materials

Burl

Antique 17C Chinese Porcelain Ming China Swatow Zhanghou Blue Ground
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Description A very beautiful plate, rare monochrome blue ground. Great study material. Condition Overall condition; 2 large crackle line in central plate, 1 running out in a hairline. 1 more crackle line from base rim. also 2 small chips. Size: 165 x 28 mm or 6.5x1.1" Period 16th Century 17th...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

17th Century Ming Dynasty Carved Stone Barrel #02 (Pair or Individually)
Located in Chicago, IL
- Sold individually or as a pair - 17th Century Ming Dynasty carved stone barrel, with Foo Dog handles, floral reliefs and bat wing decoration. The Chinese symbol for bat and for go...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Marble

17th Century Ming Dynasty Carved Stone Barrel #01
Located in Chicago, IL
17th Century Ming Dynasty carved marble garden seat with Foo Dog handles, floral reliefs and bat wing decoration. The Chinese symbol for bat and fo...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Marble

Chinese Ming Style Alter Cabinet or Sideboard
Located in Kastrup, DK
Chinese Ming dynasty style altar cabinet or sideboard from Shanxi province, China. Elm and dark yellow lacquer with a beautiful age-related patina. Three drawers over two bi-fold d...
Category

Mid-19th Century Asian Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Elm

Antique Chinese Food Presentation Covered Box
Located in Forney, TX
A remarkable antique food box from the Shanxi province, North China, late Ming (1368-1644) to early Qing (1644-1912) Dynasty. An extraordinary e...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

Chinese Wanli Blue & White Porcelain Precious Objects Shallow Dish
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A good quality antique Chinese Ming period blue and white porcelain dish or bowl decorated with precious objects dating from the Wanli reign 1573 to 1619. This finely made bowl stand...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Large Ming Dynasty Cizhou Hand Painted Vessel
Located in London, GB
Cizhou stoneware vessel, dating to the Ming dynasty, 17th century. Traditional urn-shaped stoneware, decorated with dark brown brushwork on a ligh...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Stoneware

Chinese 17th/18th Century Huanghuali Document Box with Baitong Mounts
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A Chinese Huanghuali document box with baitong mounts Late Ming/Early Qing dynasty, 17th/18th century H. 6 x W. 34.8 x D. 17.5 cm Proven...
Category

Late 17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Brass

Max Kuehne Chinese Ming Style Coffee Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Ming style coffee table in a lacquered finish with carved floral decoration and silver leaf tone. Signed by Max Kuehne a German born artist who worked in America became part of the Rockport artist...
Category

Mid-20th Century Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

19th Century Chinese Red Lacquered End Table
Located in London, GB
Chinese red lacquered end table, dating to the 19th century designed in the Ming style. Dimensions: H48 x W39.5 x D30 cm.
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Antique Chinese 16/17C Chinese Porcelain Ming Transitional Kraak Plate FROG
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Description A very nicely decorated plate with a Frog on on a rock in a landscape scene. Wanli, Tianqi or Chongzhen Period 1590 – 1640 With a nice moulded double chrysanthemum ...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Museum Quality Antique Chinese Pillar Rug with Lotus Flowers
Located in Milan, IT
A very unusual long and narrow pillar rug, decorated by large lotus flowers with tracery in a manner reminiscent of Ming period weavings. It is very finely ...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Wool

Chinese Ming Style Early 20th Century Brown Drink Table with Pillar Strut Motifs
Located in Yonkers, NY
An antique Chinese Ming Dynasty style brown wooden side table from the early 20th century, with reeded apron, pillar strut motifs, hump back stretchers an...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Chinese Porcelain Charcoal Container Ming Period Landscape Figure
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Description Dating to the early 17th century most likely. Of absolute lovely quality painting with a figural landscape scene. Matching storage box included. Condition fritt...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Elm Cabinet , Ming style
Located in Kastrup, DK
Cabinet, Ming style made in Jumo (Elm) wood. From Suzhou China, located close to Shanghai. Was formerly the largest city in Jiangsu province. Each panel made of one piece of wood. "...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Metal

Ming Dynasty Style Coffee Table with Green Lacquer Top and Natural Patina
Located in Yonkers, NY
A vintage Chinese Ming Dynasty style low square-shaped coffee table from the mid 20th century with green lacquer top and horse hoof legs. Created in China during the Midcentury period, this Ming style table features a dark green lacquered top with central board, sitting above a waisted apron with curving accents. Raised on four legs with horse hoof extremities, the table boasts a nicely distressed patina, slightly different on all sides. With its clean lines, contrasting colors and rustic flair, this vintage Ming Dynasty style Chinese low coffee table...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood

Asian Modern Lounge Chairs Style of Michael Taylor
Located in Rochester, NY
Pair of Asian Modern walnut lounge chairs with original ultra-suede type upholstered seat and back cushions. In the style of Michael Taylor - Far East Collection for Baker Furniture....
Category

Mid-20th Century American Ming Furniture

Materials

Ultrasuede, Walnut, Latex

Ming Dynasty Bronze Gu Beaker Vase
Located in Dallas, TX
Chinese bronze vase, Gu, the trumpet-shaped upper section cast with four blades filled with archaic designs. Center and lower sections depicting Toadies with very intricate backgroun...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Korean Ceramic Water Dropper Joseon Dynasty
Located in Atlanta, GA
A small Korean ceramic water dropper in square form circa 19th century late Joseon Dynasty. It features an underglaze blue painting of a full cluster of ...
Category

19th Century Korean Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Antique Chinese Blackened Huanghuali Chair
Located in Cape Town, WC
This huanghuali chair from the Ming dynasty is a revised iteration from the previous Song dyntasty; in which archaistic expressions were drawn upon a...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Chinese Ming Style Waisted Stool with Horsehoof Legs and Rattan Inset
Located in Yonkers, NY
An antique Chinese Ming Dynasty style wooden waisted stool from the early 20th century, with rattan inset, horse hoof legs and cloud motifs. Born in China during the early years of t...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture

Materials

Rattan, Wood

Large and Narrow Chinese Altar Console, 20th Century
Located in Miami, FL
Large and narrow Chinese altar console, 20th century Scrolling and geometrical motifs Nicely distressed patina, with dark red/burgundy hue We ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture

Materials

Elm

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, ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood

Ming Dynasty Style 19th Century Red Rose Console Cabinet with Everted Flanges
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Ming Dynasty style red rose butterfly console cabinet from the 19th century, with everted flanges, double doors and carved panels. Step into the world of ancient elegance with this...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Antique Chinese Porcelain 17th C Kosometsuke Literati City Kosometsuke
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Description A very nicely decorated kosometsuke plate with a rare scene of a scholar and attendant reaching a city. The lower boats shows some fishermen in boats and waves. The border has fans and geometric designs. Underglaze blue enamels. Keeping save Box included Symbolism A traveller in a...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Ayutthaya Lacquered And Gilt Bronze Buddha Head 15th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
Ayutthaya Lacquered and Gilt Copper Bronze Buddha Head Circa 15th Century A beautifully lacquered and gilt bronze Buddha head from the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, Thailand, circa 15th ...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Thai Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Antique Pair of Late Ming Dynasty Silk Road Carved Stone Guardian Lions
Located in Kastrup, DK
Rare pair of large Chinese carved stone foo dog guardian lions. Originated from a house of a mandarin (a public official in the Chinese Empire), located on The Silk Road. Here they were placed in front of the gate, with the gate doors mounted on the base behind the lions. The pair consist of a male with a ball on his back, and a female holding a puppy. The ball represents the world and the puppy represents nature or a nurturing spirit. One stand lightly carved with a horse, the other with a deer. The front of the stand is carved with camel...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Stone

19th Century, Ming Style Official's Hat Chair
Located in Kastrup, DK
Chinese "Official's Hat Chair" in elmwood. Ming style. Named "Official's Hat Chair" as the chair mimics the brimmed hats of Chinese government workers in th...
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Elm

19th Century Antique Chinese Carved Bi Disks, Set of 3
Located in Forney, TX
An exceptional antique trio of hand carved Ming Dynasty Chinese bi disks, dated to the late 19th century, featuring three distinctive circular stones wit...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Stone

Antique Chinese Porcelain Ca 1600-1640 Kosometsuke Plate Shou Lao 8 Immortals
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Lovely and rare Chinese porcelain plate from the early 17th century. Central scene of the well known Shou Lao, God of Longevity, flying on a crane among the clouds. In the front of him are the 8...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Northern Chinese Kang Opium Bed with Chow Legs and Hand Carved Frieze
Located in Yonkers, NY
A large antique northern Chinese Ming Dynasty style kang opium bed from the early 20th century, with bulging chow legs and hand-carved frieze in scroll pattern. Born in China during ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood

Mint Antique Imperial Chinese Ningxia Throne Back Cover with Lion Dogs
Located in Milan, IT
A rare example of Ningxia Chinese throne back cover of Imperial quality in pristine condition. A true gem distinguished by a plethora of shades of red, ...
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Wool

Antique Asian Temple Stone Relief Carved Architectural Element
Located in Forney, TX
A magnificent, rare, one of a kind, ancient Asian temple stone architectural panel, likely frieze fragment. Born in Asia, pre-18th century, most likely mu...
Category

18th Century Asian Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Stone

Extra Large Martaban Vase
Located in Houston, TX
Large Martaban Ming dynasty stoneware storage vase with dragons, 14th century. Beautiful Ochoa and yellow brown glaze with decorated dragons and Ming clouds. Applied dragon...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Asian Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Chinese Vintage Ming Dynasty Style Elmwood Low Prayer Table with Fretwork Top
Located in Yonkers, NY
A vintage Chinese Ming style elmwood prayer table from the mid 20th century, with fretwork top and horse hoof feet. Created in China during the midcentury period, this low elmwood prayer table captures our attention with its square fretwork top sitting above a waisted apron. Raised on four straight legs with horse hoof extremities, the table is adorned with a discreetly carved apron on all sides. With its clean lines and warm patina, this Ming style Chinese prayer table...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture

Materials

Elm

Chinese Two Blue & White Porcelain Glazed Yuan-Style Weights
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Two Chinese Blue & White under glazed porcelain weights in the Yuan (1279-1368) style but probably later. The weights are of tapered square-section shape with a rounded pierced top w...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Oriental Chinese Side Chair
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Asian Chinese Ming style side chair in solid wood. Handcrafted in Hong Kong. Great to use as en entry chair, side chair or office chair. Very g...
Category

Mid-20th Century Hong Kong Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood

Red Lacquer Altar Table
Located in Greenwich, CT
Red lacquer altar table with everted flangers.
Category

1930s Chinese Vintage Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood

Early Chinese Kangxi Period '1662-1722' Ningxia Rug with Blossom Palmettes
Located in Milan, IT
A very unusual Chinese rug, possibly used originally as a dais cover, which had been previously attributed to the Western region of Gansu (H. König, Gansu, Hali 138, London 2005, pl. 13, p. 58). However both the structure and the colours are fairly typical of Ningxia weavings from the Kangxi period (1662-1722), which marks the first Qing Dynasty empire following the Ming Dynasty and which still carries much of its iconography. Of particular note are the four stylised blue dragons on a coral background which decorate the corners of the composition. A true masterpiece of early Chinese textile art.
Category

Early 18th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Wool

Asian Hard Stone Disc
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine Chinese hard stone disc on black metal stand, beautiful form, color and texture. Measures: 7" wide, 8.2" total height included stand. Stone disc itself...
Category

20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture

Materials

Stone

Antique Indigo Blue Geometric Ningxia Chinese Rug with Rosettes in Compartments
Located in Milan, IT
A rare and unusual Chinese rug decorated with an all-over pattern of eight-petalled rosettes, joined together to form a lattice in the negative of which is the longevity motif, that ...
Category

1880s Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Wool

Very Fine Chinese Porcelain Vase Mounted as Table Lamp
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Chinese porcelain vase mounted as a lamp with a round tiered gilt bronze or brass base embossed with berries and leaves. The lamp with cameos and panels of florals and birds that are...
Category

20th Century Asian Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Late Ming Era Documented Glazed Pottery Horse
Located in Kastrup, DK
An elegant Chinese Ming dynasty pottery figurine depicting a horse in a standing pose with polychrome finish (aubergine, light brown and g...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Pottery

Chinese Ming Dynasty Glazed Pottery Attendants
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of Chinese Ming Dynasty glazed earthenware figure of Attendant The condition of these 5 century old glazed pottery tomb figures is outstand...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Pottery

Pair Large Chinese Ming Dynasty Glazed and Painted Pottery Figures, 16th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A striking pair of large Chinese glazed and painted pottery figures, Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644), circa 16th century, China. The impressive and realistically modeled figures each portrayed standing upright upon a sancai (three color) glazed pedestal of kang table form. The man is dressed in a short black surcoat over a long robe and pants, a smart cap upon his head. His face is warm and welcoming, with wide eyes and a slight smile on his lips. He holds his hands out in front of him, palms up, almost as if shrugging, though presumably originally holding an object or offering, now lost. The woman of slightly smaller stature, and dressed in a longer surcoat over a long robe and skirt. She wears a fitted cap upon her head. Her hands also held out in front, grasping long lost objects. Her face is slightly more severe, with a somewhat pinched look, and slight frown upon her lips. The size of these figures is remarkable, as is the realism and attention to detail, almost as if they were modeled after real people, as opposed to the more common and generic Ming Dynasty pottery...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Pottery

17thC Ming Chinese Jar porcelain Hand Painted Blue & White with hardwood Stand
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a hand painted 17th century, Ming dynasty, porcelain Jar or small Vase complete with a hand carved hardwood stand. The Jar is fairly thickly potted with no foot rim as is...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain, Hardwood

Large Chinese Wooden Lacquered Box Decorated with Birds and Vegetal Motif
Located in Brea, CA
Chinese Art. A large wooden lacquered box decorated with birds and vegetal motif China, Ming dynasty, 17th century. 36cm x 6.5cm. Condition see more pictures.
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Lacquer

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

Pair of 19th Century Ming Dynasty Style Chairs
Located in Charleston, SC
A pair of Chinese hardwood chairs in well worn patina, crafted in the Ming dynasty style, late 19th century. Perfect accent chairs of very fine...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

17th Century Pair of Painted Terra Cotta Chinese Gentlemen on Horses
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a unique pair of painted Chinese terra cotta gentlemen in native costumes on horseback, purported to be Ming.
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Clay

Ming Square Table, circa 1890
Located in Somis, CA
An extraordinary 19th century oversize Ming square table. The table top is constructed of four frame members and rests on the waist and apron that connect to four rounded legs. Such ...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique 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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