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.
Chinese Yellow and Russet Jade Mythical Beast, Ming Dynasty or Earlier
Located in Austin, TX
A superb Chinese yellow and russet nephrite jade carving of a mythical beast, Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644) or earlier, China The mythical beast is portrayed with feline features, i...
Jade
Chinese Carved Celadon and Russet Jade Mythical Animal, Ming Dynasty or Earlier
Located in Austin, TX
A fine and unusual carving of a mythical animal, possibly a pixiu, of celadon and russet nephrite jade, Ming Dynasty or earlier, China. The mythical animal masterfully carved as a...
Jade
Ming Dynasty Style Scholar's Lamp-Hanger Chair with Rattan Inset Seat and Back
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Ming Dynasty style antique scholar's chair from the early 20th century, with inset rattan back splat and seat. This Ming Dynasty style scholar's chair from the early 20th century e...
Rattan, Wood
Assembled Chinese Late Yuan / Early Ming Dynasty Bronze Garniture
Located in Austin, TX
Consisting of a large baluster vase (H: 14.25") with arrow handles and a near pair of smaller baluster vases with mythical beast loop handles. The large vase, of yuhuchunping form, ...
Bronze
Antique 16th C Ming Jiajing Stemcup Chinese Porcelain Blue and white in Tibet
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Sharing with you this lovely stemcup with wrapping. Dating: Jiajing, 16th century. Condition: Size: DiameterxHeight Condition Rimfritting, 3 hairlines. Size 13 x 10.5cm Period 16t...
Porcelain
Chinese Elmwood Dark Patina Dengguayi Scholar's Lamp Armchair with Pierced Splat
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Ming Dynasty style elmwood scholar's lamp-hanger armchair from the late 19th century, with carved splat, dark patina, curving arms and side stretchers. Born during the Qing...
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 ...
Leather, Wood
Hand-Carved Stone Pillar on Wood Stand, Ming Style, Hunan, China, 1560
Located in New York, NY
A hand-carved stone pillar on a wood stand. Hunan, China, circa 1560. Not unlike the smaller Scholar's rocks, this stone pillar was placed in gardens as...
Stone
Chinese Rare Large Yellow Jade Bi Disc with Vibrant Colors
Located in South Burlington, VT
A rare handsome Chinese Heavenly jade Bi disk carved in a rarely found combination of mutton fat yellow and green jade with patches of brown accents in the stone that depict a green ...
Jade
19th Century Chinese Carved Giltwood Panel
Located in San Diego, CA
Antique 19th century Chinese carved gold gilt and painted wood wall panel or plaque with scholar and warrior figures scene. Signed on back as p...
Quality Chinese Scholar Rock
Located in Norwood, NJ
Chinese Scholar stone, Meditation stone, Appreciation stone or Dream stone. All names for this beautiful natural stone that when studied evokes and por...
Stone
Old Japanese Scholar's Stone/"Suiseki"/Appreciation Stone
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an old vermilion suiseki from Japan. Not only in China but also in Japan, rocks from mountains have been quarried and shaped for appreciation since ancient times. These deco...
Stone
Chinese Scholar Rock Chrysanthemum Stone
Located in Atlanta, GA
An extraordinary specimen created by nature millions of years ago, this large and stunning Chinese black chrysanthemum stone features white crystalline mineral (calcite and chalcedon...
Stone
Chinese Carved Lapis Lazuli Scholar Stone
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Chinese scholar rock carved from a natural lapis stone and displayed on a brocade wrapped stand circa late 19th century Qing Dynasty. The brightly blue lapis was considered as am exotic gemstone in China and mostly imported from Persia through the silk road. While not a conventional rock types of materials for scholar stones, it is occasionally carved and polished into smaller Gongshi to be displayed and meditated upon in the scholar's study. Similar approaches were also done with jade, malachite and turquoise, even petrified wood, Chenxiang Agarwood, roots in spirited form, porcelain and even bronze in rock forms. The lapis was carved into a mountain form with stacked rocks...
Stone
Chinese Jade Finely Carved Libation Cup, early Qing Dynasty.
Located in Sarasota, FL
Chinese light celadon jade libation cup from early 19th, possibly 18th century. The item is executed in archaistic Ming style.
Jade
$2,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 42 in W 10.5 in D 1.25 in
A Framed Group of Five Chinese Dali Marble Scholar’s Stones, Late Qing Period
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Although sometimes referred to as ‘paintings’ or ‘dream stones’, these are sections of Dali marble, quarried from the Cangshan mountain range in Western China and carefully chosen &a...
Marble, Brass
$356Sale Price|58% Off
H 7.4 in Dm 7.5 in
16th Century Chinese Ming Provincial Porcelain Jar with Floral Design
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a Chinese handcrafted porcelain provincial jar or vase, all hand painted in cobalt blue and dating to the Ming period of the early 16th century or possibly earlier. The jar ...
Ceramic, Porcelain
Antique Chinese Cizhou Style Pottery Jar, Ming Dynasty Period
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Antique Chinese pottery storage jar in the manner of Cizhou ware, likely dating to the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). The vessel features a rounded baluster form with a narrow neck and ha...
Pottery
A Chinese Cizhou Stonweare Vessel, Ming Dynasty, 17th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Chinese Cizhou Stonweare Vessel, Ming Dynasty, 17th Century Description: Produced in Northern China, Cizhou ware was especially popular from the Song to Yuan dynasties (11th–14th ...
Stoneware
$1,450
H 31.5 in W 21.75 in D 18.5 in
Pair Louis XVI Style Painted Fauteuils with Canned Seat Back and Silk Upholstery
Located in Morristown, NJ
Mid 20th c., a custom pair of Louis XVI style painted fauteuils with caned backs and upholstered seats on tapering fluted legs. The chairs are hand painted in cream with details pick...
Wood, Cane, Upholstery, Silk
Sold
H 4.34 in Dm 0.04 in
Rare Pair Wanli Miniature Chinese Blue & White Ewers ca1600 Bird & Floral Decor
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Rare Pair of Late Wanli Period Miniature Chinese Porcelain Ewers (ca. 1600–1620) A charming and unusual pair of miniature blue and white ewers, beautifully hand-painted with bird an...
Porcelain
Set of Two Opium Bowls
Located in Chicago, IL
Unusual set of two clay opium pipe bowls for China c. 1850 One 19th century opium pipe bowl is sculpted of dark clay to an eight-sided form with a tapered mouthpiece and fitted with ...
Clay
Chinese Bamboo Calligraphy Brush Holder Carved With Scholars in a Garden
Located in Stamford, CT
Chinese Ming style hand carved bamboo brush pot carved in the round with various scenes against the background of a bamboo forest. Two women make tea on a stove while two scholars si...
Bamboo
Vintage Chinese Porcelain Horses Pattern Brush Pot
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Chinese Porcelain Horses Pattern Brush Pot. Chinese exquisite horse pattern porcelain vase, Chinese Qing Dynasty crackle glaze ceramic ...
Ceramic, Porcelain
Chinese Late Ming Fahua Glazed Biscuit Figure of Guanyin
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very fine antique Chinese glazed biscuit pottery figure of Guanyin dating from the late Ming period or possibly slightly later. The figure sits raise...
Pottery
Antique Chinese Elaborately Carved Scholar’s Bench
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A very fine antique bench with masterful carving, superb proportions and in all original condition. The crest rail and back with openwork panels of confronting dragons in the clouds....
Stone
Important Ancient Chinese Zodiac Collection, Ming Dynasty 1368-1644
Located in South Burlington, VT
Important Ancient Chinese Zodiac collection ten figures each holding a zodiac attribute, Ming Dynasty 1368-1644. Superb quality. Includes the sought after -Year of the Dog- the zodi...
Ceramic, Pottery
"Flowing Stream, " Black and White Chinese Meditation Stone
Located in Chicago, IL
Graphic sculptural scholars' rock depicting a flowing stream on custom hand-carved wooden mount.
Stone