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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
Chinoiserie Chow Leg Ming Style Sofa Console Table Attributed to Schnadig Intl
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...
Category

Late 20th Century American Ming Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood, Burl

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

Large Set of Chinese 17th Century Porcelain Ming Dynasty Plates Chenghua Marked
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
The exact selection can vary from the picture due to stock changes. A set of 30 plates from the early 17th century. Variation on a theme. Late Ming dynasty blue and white...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Bobyrug’s Wonderful Antique Chinese Pictural Embroidery with Silk and Metal
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Exquisite Early 20th Century Chinese Embroidery Discover a stunning piece of art from the early 20th century – a Chinese embroidery masterpiece. This work of art features a mythologi...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture

Materials

Metal

Kosometsuke Antique Chinese Ming Dynasty Shonzui Porcelain Cup, 17th Century
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Beautiful bowl in blue and white. Shonzui marked and style, but 19th c japanese. With matching storage box Additional information: Material: Porcelain & Pottery Region of Origin: C...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

1970s Vintage Broyhill Ming Dynasty Collection Chinoiserie Bar
Located in Charleston, SC
Broyhill "Ming Dynasty" Premier Collection buffet server / bar. This beautiful piece features a solid wood frame of dark stained maple with olive ash burlwood insets surrounded by bo...
Category

1970s American Vintage Ming Furniture

Materials

Cherry, Maple, Burl

Antique Ming Chinese Porcelain Tazza on Foot Landscape Scene, Early 17th Century
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Tazza Early 17th Century Sharing with you this lovely and unusual tazza on tall, spreading stem with flat, unglazed base. Low cup with flaring rim. Decorated in underglaze blue is a...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Porcelain Serving Dish Lotus, 17C Ming Dynasty
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Beautiful serving dish in blue and white with central a reverse decorated floral lotus scene, the walls with branches and the border with geometric design. The base has a six charact...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Blue and White Jars with Phoenix amid Clouds, Mid-Late Ming Dynasty
Located in seoul, KR
This blue and white porcelain jar was produced at a southern folk kiln (minyao) during the mid to late Ming dynasty. It features a well-balanced form with rounded shoulders, a short ...
Category

17th Century East Asian Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Petite Ming Shipwreck Medicine Jar, c. 1500
Located in Chicago, IL
The eroded surface of this petite, Ming-dynasty medicine jar tells a story of trade, tradition and lost treasure. A porous, matte surface texture suggests the jar spent many years su...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Earthenware

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

An Impressive Large Celadon Charger, 20th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
An Impressive Large Celadon Charger, 20th Century Provenance: Private Melbourne Collection Dimension: Height: 8.5 cm Diameter: 76 cm
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture

Materials

Celadon

Chinese Ming Celadon Oil Bottle, c. 1500
Located in Chicago, IL
This petite ceramic vessel is a Ming-dynasty (1368-1644) bottle originally used for storing cooking oil or condiments. Dated to the 15th/16th century, the bottle has a gracefully cur...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Earthenware

Pair of Chinese Calligraphy Scrolls in Mark Humphrey Gallery Frames
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A pair of boldly brushed Rice Paper Calligraphy Panels having a particularly fine Asian presentation. One panel with 10 Calligraphic characters and the other with 4 and both with red...
Category

20th Century Asian Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paper

Unusual 17th Century Chinese Porcelain Ming Period Incense Container Tianqi
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Sharing with you this lovely and unusual Chinese porcelain incense container from the late Ming period, Tianqi period most probably. Jingde...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Ming Kneeling Man Oil Lamp, c. 1500
Located in Chicago, IL
This curious ceramic form is a sculptural Chinese candle stand or oil lamp from the late Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Rustic and highly textured, the sculptural ceramic form is thick wi...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Chinese Ming Buddhist Oil Lamp, c. 1600
Located in Chicago, IL
This sculptural ceramic object is a Chinese oil lamp from the late Ming dynasty, originally used in altar displays for Buddhist ceremonies and ritual offerings. The vessel is a varia...
Category

Early 17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Pair Of Silver Gilt Chinese Horseshoe Armchairs
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Pair of Chinese round back horseshoe armchairs with carved center back splat, the base with a box form stretcher and in a silver gilt finish. The chairs are accompanied by blue fine ...
Category

20th Century Ming Furniture

Materials

Silver Leaf

Chinese Ming Cobalt Brushed Rice Bowl, c. 1550
Located in Chicago, IL
This Ming-dynasty (1368-1644) bowl is attributed to the kilns of Yunnan province, painted in dark cobalt underglaze with floral motifs and sweeping brushstrokes. Dated to the 15th/16...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Earthenware

18th C Style Ming Chinese Bamboo Center Table by Burton-Ching
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
18th C Style Ming Chinese Bamboo Center Table by Burton-Ching.
Category

Early 2000s American Ming Furniture

Materials

Bamboo

Pair of Chinese Yellow and Natural Scene Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of antique Chinese (late 19th-early 20th Century) export porcelain yellow ceramic vases wrapped in large scale branches teeming with birds, flowers and foliage (PRICED AS PAIR)....
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Provincial Onion Shape Porcelain Bottle Vase
Located in Bishop s Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stylish antique Chinese Provincial Ming pattern porcelain onion shape bottle vase dating from the late Ming or early Qing period. The vase stands on a narrow round unglazed foot ri...
Category

18th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Tianqi Kosometsuke Antique Chinese Porcelain 17c Ming Dynasty Ni Zan
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Sharing with you this beautiful dish Visible is a typically painted scene for this period. Mountain landscape with bamboo and clouds house in the right centre. The shape is very nice...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Ming 1620-1644 Chinese Porcelain Kosometsuke 5 Horses Plate Tianqi
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A Chinese blue and white porcelain Dish of beautiful shape and design. Central scene of 5 horses. Early 17th century, marked at base. In symbolism a horse is a wish for a Good job. ...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Ming Dynasty Polychrome Lacquer and Gilt Iron Figure of Ananda
Located in Austin, TX
Ananda is portrayed in a typical fashion, as a youthful monk with a shaved head and dressed in simple robes. He stands upon a double lotus pedestal with hands clasped in front of him...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Iron

Vintage Chinese Horseshoe Back Armchair with Carved Splat and Apron
Located in Yonkers, NY
Gracefully proportioned and sculptural in silhouette, this vintage Chinese horseshoe back armchair draws on centuries of tradition while offering a quiet, natural presence. The conti...
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood

Chinese Wanli-Era Cast Iron Bell
Located in Chicago, IL
A cast iron bell, when struck with a wooden beam, announced the time of day to villagers. This monumental example is covered in relief casts of chrysant...
Category

Early 17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Iron

1970s American Of Martinsville Burl Queen Anne Style Writing Table
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a burl writing table with Queen Anne styling. It has heavy brass hardware and is marked on the inside. It opens two nice storage drawers. Manufactured by American of Martinsv...
Category

Late 20th Century American Ming Furniture

Materials

Brass

Cube Stone Top Table
Located in New York, NY
Cube table with inset antique street stone tops. Solid Elm wood with an Antique street stone set into the top. Minimalist design that originated in the Ming Dynasty. Color dark bro...
Category

1980s Chinese Vintage Ming Furniture

Materials

Cast Stone

Mid-18th Century Ming Style Chest in Black Lacquer
Located in Kastrup, DK
18 century chest in original black lacquer. This Ming style chest is constructed of wood with multiple layers of original black and red lacquer, acco...
Category

Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood

Fine Modern Altar Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Altar table featuring rich dark finish with scrolled apron, picture frame supports on square legs ending in a slightly scrolled foot. Dimensions: 60" (w) x 17" (d) x 32.5" (h) Cond...
Category

20th Century Asian Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood

Fine Minimalist Antique Peking Chinese Rug with Tone-on-Tone Pattern
Located in Milan, IT
The minimalist effect achieved by this Chinese carpet is very much favoured by decorators outfitting many of today’s most stylish interiors. The field is decorated by a subtle tone o...
Category

Early 1900s Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Wool

Rare set of 5 17th c Chinese Porcelain Ming Period Kosometsuke Dishes Reclusion
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Sharing with you this fantastic set of 5 Chinese porcelain serving dishes with underglaze blue. All painted with a fantastic river landscape scene of a scholar contemplating nature. ...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

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

Kosometsuke 17C Chinese Porcelain Ming Period Kaiseki Dish Tianqi / Chongzhen
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Sharing with you this lovely and unusual Chinese porcelain Kaiseki dish from the late Ming period, Tianqi/Chongzhen period most. Jingdezhen made for the Japanese market. Origin: C...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Wanli Ming Chinese Porcelain Kraak Plate 2 Deers Classic Design
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely potted and painted kraak plate of a desirable quality. Stunning piece with beautiful and classical scene. Absolute top Quality kraak ware Condition some fleebites to ...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Large Nanban 19C Edo Period Japanese Plate Charger Japan ca 1800-1830
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nice shaped polychrome dish. Unusual shape and painting. With overglaze blue. Absolute top quality. Marked with Ju character (felicitation or longevity) at base. late Edo per...
Category

19th Century Dutch Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Rare antique Ming Dynasty Period Painting With Flowers
Located in Kastrup, DK
Large Ming dynasty period painting, China 1365-1644. Oil or tempera painted on thin canvas (or silk), mounted on wood. The painting displays a vase of...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Canvas, Wood

Antique 16C Chinese Porcelain Phoenix Fenghuang Dish Cloud Motif Marked
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely decorated Plate, 4th quarter 16th century. Small dish on footring, wide flat rim. Decorated in underglaze blue with a striding phoenix in schematically rendered landscape with a cloud motif. The sides and rim are undecorated. On the base a mark in seal script, possibly shou (long life) Pictured in: A Selection from the Collection of Oriental Ceramics...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Pair Blue and White Porcelain Vases - Ming Double Gourd Urns
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Breathtaking pair of Chinese blue and white porcelain urns Double gourd form with intricate hand painted arabesques and motifs Classy pair ready to add light and oomph to any room Pl...
Category

1980s Vintage Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

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

Antique Chinese Porcelain Hatcher Cargo Kraak Ghendi Porcelain, South China
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Sharing with you this very nicely decorated kraak Ghendi with a geometrical decoration. The piece was part of the Hatcher Collection. Auctioned by Christies Amsterdam in 1984. It is...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Petite Ming Shipwreck Medicine Jar, c. 1500
Located in Chicago, IL
The eroded surface of this petite, Ming-dynasty medicine jar tells a story of trade, tradition and lost treasure. A matte texture and traces of marine life suggest the jar spent many...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Earthenware

Antique Wanli / Tianqi Ming Chinese Porcelain Kraak Chinese Taste Figural Plate
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Sharing with you this new arrival and very happy with it. Late Ming period Kraak plate of exceptional quality in cobalt blue of larger size. In general the piece is already of high q...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Porcelain Ming Wanli / Tianqi Playing Go Landscape Plate
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
15-7-19-1-2 Typical late Ming landscape dish. A very nice example! Condition Overall condition A (Very good) rimfritting, filled chip and 2 hairlines. Size 160 mm Period...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

1970s, Ming Style One Drawer Side Tables with Protective Glass Tops, a Pair
Located in Germantown, MD
A pair of 1970s Ming style one drawer side tables with protective glass tops in very good vintage condition. 100% All real hard wood. Rock solid pieces. Protective Smoke glass tops.
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Ming Furniture

Materials

Rosewood

Asian Wood and Marble Drinks Table or Plant Stand, Small
Located in New York, NY
A Chinese carved hardwood drinks table or plant stand with a rose marble top, early-20th century, China. Piece is a rich dark brown carved hardwood with ball and claw feet and a rose...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Furniture

Materials

Marble

Petite Ming Bronze Mirror with Ingot Knob, c. 1400
Located in Chicago, IL
Cloaked in rich patina and verdigris oxidization, this petite Chinese bronze mirror has the simple beauty and undeniable texture of an ancient object. Though an exact date is unknown...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Petite Ming Bronze Mirror with Ingot Knob, c. 1400
Located in Chicago, IL
Cloaked in rich patina and verdigris oxidization, this petite Chinese bronze mirror has the simple beauty and undeniable texture of an ancient object. Though an exact date is unknown...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Ming Bronze Mirror with Ingot Knob, c. 1450
Located in Chicago, IL
Cloaked in rich patina and verdigris oxidization, this Chinese bronze mirror has the simple beauty and undeniable texture of an ancient object. Though an exact date is unknown, the m...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair Mid 20th Century Ming Style Rosewood Side Table Cabinets with Glass Top
Located in Germantown, MD
An exquisite Pair of Mid 20th Century Ming Style Rosewood Side Table Cabinets with protective Glass Tops. Pristine vintage condition with very light signs of use. Feature a single t...
Category

Mid-20th Century Hong Kong Ming Furniture

Materials

Brass

Large Jumu Wood Low Table
Located in Greenwich, CT
Large Jumu wood low table, antique kang table, can be used as coffee table.
Category

Early 1900s Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Wood

Large Jumu Wood Low Table
Large Jumu Wood Low Table
$3,840 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Chinese Red Lacquered Ming Style Lined Small Chest or Trunk
Located in Doylestown, PA
Antique Chinese red lacquered Ming style lined small chest or trunk, circa 1920. This handsome chest features unique oversized brass hardware, a fabric lined interior and two side h...
Category

1920s Chinese Vintage Ming Furniture

Materials

Brass

Antique Chinese Porcelain Ming Wanli Chinese Plate Rare Decoration
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nicely decorated plate with a rare size 14-11-18-1-1 Condition Overall condition a (Good) lots of rimfrits as to be expected from this type of kraak porcelain. ...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Top Quality Wanli / Tianqi Antique Ming Period Chinese Porcelain Crane Waves
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Description A very nicely potted and painted early 17th century dish of a desirable cobalt blue! Stunning piece with unusal reverse decorated design. Visible are cranes, different k...
Category

17th Century Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Porcelain Hatcher Cargo Kraak Ghendi porcelain South China
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Sharing with you this very nicely decorated kraak Ghendi with a geometrical decoration. The piece was part of the Hatcher Collection. Auctioned by Christies Amsterdam in 1984. It is in very good condition. The Hatcher Junk...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Cloisonne Arrow Vase Early Possibly Ming 16th Century
Located in Wilton, CT
Antique Chinese cloisonne on copper arrow vase, possibly Ming Dynasty 16th century. Bottle form with pair of "arrow" tubes on either side of ...
Category

16th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Copper

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...
Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Ming Furniture

Materials

Lacquer

Pair of Sarreid Ltd. Brass Asian Campaign Style Side Tables or Coffee Table
Located in Kennesaw, GA
These Sarreid Ltd. side table date to the 1970s. They are unique in that they combine low profile modern styling with Asian and campaign influences. They are marked. The tables have ...
Category

1970s Spanish Vintage Ming Furniture

Materials

Brass

Asian hand carved Hexagonal Center Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Asian hand carved hexagonal center table distinguished by geometric forms and clean graceful lines featuring picture framed top with carved apro...
Category

20th Century Asian 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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