[slantedview]

Some of the more revered MCM is not exactly minimalist - like maybe the Brasilia line, but I'd say that most of it is, at least more than average furniture. Consider this generic MCM styled dresser which I randomly found on Google:

http://scene7.targetimg1.com/is/image/Target/17214249_Alt01?...

It's basically a box frame on a pedestal. That's a pretty classically styled MCM dresser design, and it doesn't get much more minimalist than that: a box set on legs. But outside of the MCM era, that pure of a design was nowhere to be seen for the prior decades. In a typical house right now you're much more likely to find something like this (random from Google):

http://homesteadfurnitureonline.com/images/Dressers/master-d...

A mishmash of design elements from various periods. To me, the average MCM piece is more minimalist.

[prawn]

I think my minimalist is probably too simple - my reaction to your first example is that if the legs weren't tapered or there wasn't that inset lower base, or the legs were removed or it had inset rather than jutting handles - then that would be minimal.

But Google images suggests minimal is pretty loose! I guess it's relative.