Ming Dynasty Glazed Pottery Horseshoe-Back Chair

Ming Dynasty, c. 1550-1600, North China

This rare and exquisite Ming Dynasty pottery model of a horseshoe-back armchair (jiao yi), dating to circa 1550–1600, showcases the refined elegance of imperial Chinese furniture design. Crafted as a burial ware (mingqi), the chair is adorned with rich pigments, with deep blue covering most of the frame and legs, while vibrant turquoise highlights the gracefully curved spine and footrest, adding further decorative contrast.

The elegantly arched backrest, which terminates in outwardly sweeping ends, enhances the chair’s distinguished form, while the gracefully curved armrests contribute to its refined silhouette. The openwork base, complete with an integral footrest, reflects the meticulous craftsmanship associated with high-status furniture. The intricately incised cross-hatching on the seat suggests soft upholstery, mirroring the plush materials used in full-sized Ming-era chairs.

The horseshoe-back chair originated during the Song Dynasty (960–1279), evolving from the traditional folding stool into a symbol of status and refinement. By the Ming period, it had become the seat of honor for aristocrats, often placed at the center of a formal reception hall. While full-scale wooden versions have survived, pottery models such as this were specifically created as funerary objects, intended to accompany the deceased into the afterlife.

This exceptional miniature replica serves as a testament to the grandeur of Ming Dynasty furniture design, making it a prized addition to any collection of Chinese antiques, funerary art, or historical ceramics.

Excellent condition. Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age and use, fading to glaze pigment in scattered areas, and light earthen deposits, otherwise intact. Size approx. 17,8cm x 11,3cm x 8,6cm.

Provenance: British private collection.

For a similar examples see:

Model of armchair, Asian Civilisations Museum, Accession Number: 1993-00115 (https://www.roots.gov.sg/Collection-Landing/listing/1148519)

Chair, The Minneapolis Institute of Art, Accession Number: 99.85.3 (https://collections.artsmia.org/art/9737/chair-china)

References and further reading:

The Matter of Tang Tomb Figures; A New Perspective on a Group of Terracotta Animals and Riders, Lucien Van Valen & Isabelle Garachon, The Rijksmuseum Bulletin, Volume 62. pp. 218-239, 2014.

Dream of Ideal Life in Ancient China: Ceramic Miniatures of Architectures, Household Goods, People and Animals, Aichi.ken Toji Shiryokan, Seto, 2005, no. 14, p. 34.

Antecedents of Sui-Tang Burial Practices in Shaanxi, Mary Fong, Artibus Asiae 51, no:s. 3–4 (1991), pp. 147–98.

Mingqi - Items for the next world, Jan-Erik Nilsson, Gotheborg.com (https://gotheborg.com/glossary/mingqi.shtml)

Immortality of the Spirit: Chinese Funerary Art from the Han and Tang Dynasties Exhibition Catalogue, Jill J. Deupi, Ive Covaci & Leopold Swergold, Immortality of the Spirit - Ephemera. 1, Fairfield University, 2012. (https://digitalcommons.fairfield.edu/immortality_ephemera/1)

The Vibrant Role of Mingqi in Early Chinese Burials, Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, Heather Colburn Clydesdale, Independent Scholar, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, April 2009. (www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mgqi/hd_mgqi.htm)