Chinese Export Furniture
CHINESE EXPORT STYLE
Expanded trade between Europe and East Asia, starting in the 16th century, led to a booming market for exported goods, particularly furniture. This was bolstered by the establishment of the Dutch and English East India Companies at the beginning of the 17th century. From folding screens and chairs to lacquer tables and silver, Chinese Export furniture was in demand and regularly copied and imitated, leading to styles like chinoiserie and Chinese Chippendale.
The expansion of exporting that had strengthened the arts during the Ming dynasty continued into the Qing dynasty era — Chinese designers made many furniture pieces specifically for export, resulting in distinctive designs that mixed traditional techniques with forms appealing to foreign buyers. For instance, cabinetmakers in Canton (modern-day Guangzhou) were prolific in crafting hardwood furniture for export in European styles that involved the expert joinery techniques of Chinese furniture. Designs for Chinese Export porcelain, cabinets, decorative objects and other furniture were often more ornately adorned than they would be for a local audience, such as with mother-of-pearl overlays or surfaces featuring lavish pictorial scenes or gold on black motifs. Some were even commissioned by wealthy European families to be adorned with their coat of arms.
Because lacquer furniture was especially prized, and the resin used to create it was difficult to import as it would harden during the long voyage, artisans in China and Japan exported numerous lacquer pieces. Long before lacquer made its way to Japan, the Chinese treated the material differently. They used it to create smooth, glossy surfaces, but also for carving, an art that began in the 12th century and is exclusively Chinese. These pieces are called cinnabar lacquer after the powdered mercury sulfide (cinnabar) employed to produce their characteristic red hue. A popular form for export was a compact cabinet with drawers, usually displayed on a small table. Undecorated furniture built in Europe was also shipped to China to be lacquered. The international exchange of design would influence furniture into the 19th century and later, informing styles such as Art Deco and Art Nouveau.
Find a collection of antique Chinese Export tables, beds, cupboards, table lamps and more furniture on 1stDibs.
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Style: Chinese Export
Pair of Chinese Black and Floral Motif Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Chinese black ceramic table lamps made from baluster-shaped vases decorated with birds amid blooming florals in pinks, yellows and blues, and wooden bases.
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Chinese Porcelain Light Green and White Cartouche Urn
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese (early 20th century) bulbous porcelain urn with a large white cartouche depicting a basket of botanicals on each side against a light green background patterned with ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Yoke Back Official's Hat Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Dramatic pair of Chinese yoke back official's hat chairs featuring a Shuangxi emblem on the backsplat. These carved chairs have a lacquer finish with...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Lacquer, Wood
Antique Chinese Three-Legged Occasional Table with Inset Marble Top & Carving
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This round antique occasional table shows no maker's markings, but is presumed to have originated from China and dates to approximately ...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Marble
Vintage Chinese Rectangular Tole Black and Gold Monestary Scene Tray
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Chinese rectangular tole serving tray with a painted gold design of a figures in a monestary courtyard on a black background surrounded by a shallow lip with rounded corners....
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Metal
Chinese Bronze Dragons Candlesticks Imperial Style
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Very decorative Chinese contemporary large bronze "Dragons" candlesticks; with relief design of dragons chasing pearls.
With a straight foot supporting a bell-shaped base surmounted...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Bronze
"Massage" Large White Porcelain Vase by Luce Raggi, Italy / China Contemporary
Located in London, GB
Luce Raggi, Massage (food porn), 2017 glazed porcelain 65 x 25 cm
Hand-painted vase representing police men, seductive women and amused saints, all dedicated to
their passion fo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Style Porcelain Imari Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Asian Chinese style porcelain table lamp with Imari style floral decoration on round wood base.
Category
20th Century Unknown Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain, Wood
Pair of, Vintage Decorative Vases, Oriental, Ceramic, Baluster Urn, 20th Century
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a pair of vintage decorative vases. An Oriental, ceramic baluster urn with painted detail, dating to the late 20th century, circa 1990.
Attractive vases with good detail
...
Category
Late 20th Century Asian Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Chinese Black and Green Leaf Glazed Porcelain Pear Vase
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese (17th Century-style) black glazed ceramic pear-shaped vase decorated with a green leaf on the front and back.
Category
17th Century Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Blue and Orange Fish Design Round Lidded Porcelain Jars
Located in New York, NY
4 antique Chinese (Mid 20th Century) similar porcelain vases with orange fish swimming around blue backgrounds - some displaying sponged effects - inspired...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Export Buddha's Hand Citron Altar Fruit on Tazza, Blanc de Chine
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Chinese Export Buddha's Hand Citron Altar Fruit on Tazza, Blanc de Chine. A rare form, realistically modeled
Chinese Buddha's Hand Citron, presented on a scalloped compote. This wo...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Off-White Cherry Blossom Tree and Bird Motif Porcelain Vases
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Chinese off-white urn-shaped porcelain vases depicting groups of birds perched on flowering branches of cherry blossom trees and one bird flying above, positioned between two...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Small Early 20th Century Chinese Green Quartz Lamp with a Jade Finial
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A relatively small but beautifully carved Chinese green quartz lamp with a removable carved bird top, set on a craved wood base. The lamp comes with ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Quartz
Lot of Four Chinese Hand-Painted Porcelain Bowls
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A lot of four Chinese handpainted
Porcelain bowls
late Qing dynasty.
Each painted in loose style with a leaping carp
with green colored cro...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Famille Rose Chinese Export Porcelain Bowl or Dish
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very fine small Chinese export porcelain bowl.
With famille rose decoration, blue underglaze cells, and a scalloped edge.
It was likely made for either the American or Europe...
Category
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Famille Rose Vases with Gilt Handles 19th Century Figurative Scenes
Located in DE
This beautiful famille rose vase with gilt handles and golden elements within the intricately painted vase is full of figurative as well as floral motifs.
The vase shows court scene...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair 19th Rose Medallion Ormolu Mounted Vases / Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A wonderful quality pair of mid 19th century Chinese Cantonese / Rose medallion vases / lamps, each with bold colours, exotic flowers, butterflies and motifs. Inset painted panels de...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Blue Chinese Rug. 8 ft 2 in x 9 ft 8 in
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful Room Size Antique Blue Chinese Rug, Country of Origin / Rug Type: Chinese Rug, Circa date: 1920. Size: 8 ft 2 in x 9 ft 8 in (2.49 m...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wool
Vintage Mid-Century Chinese Wooden Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Vintage mid-century Chinese style wood lamp with fretwork design carving.
Category
20th Century Unknown Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood
Chinese Export Silver Mirror
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exquisite Chinese export silver mirror is a work of exotic beauty. Elegantly shaped and monumental in size, this looking glass is held within ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
19th Century Chinese Rose Medallion Lidded Vase
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A wonderful late 19th century Chinese Cantonese (Rose Medallion) lidded vase, having bold classical colors, figural handles on either side and to the lids, inset hand painted panels ...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Langyao Emerald Green Glazed Footed Porcelain Vase
Located in New York, NY
Chinese bulbous footed porcelain vase crafted in the Lang kiln (Langyao) in a dazzling and uniform emerald green glaze with a strong glass-like luster, shift...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Green Painted Faux Bamboo and Gold Design Fireplace Screen
Located in New York, NY
Chinese green painted fireplace screen with a faux bamboo frame, accented in gold botanical and foliate designs centered on each side of the p...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood
Framed Antique Chinese Embroidery Textile Qing Dynasty Provenance
Located in Atlanta, GA
A piece of beautiful antique textile fragments from China, circa 19th century Qing dynasty, artistically displayed in a giltwood frame with contrasting teal blue color cloth matts. O...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silk, Giltwood
Chinese Altar Tables, 19th C. Lacquer
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is an unusual pair of Late Ching Chinese cinnabar-toned coromandel lacquer small altar or side tables. The tops of the tables feature complementary incised and painted scenes from Chinese every day life. Both tables are in very good condition considering their 100+ years of use. It is unusual to find a pair of coromandel incised lacquer...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Chinese White and Blue Vine Design Porcelain Urn
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) white porcelain urn decorated with an all-over blue vine and flower patterned ground, surrounding spaced bold, blue characters.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair 19th Century Chinese Hand Painted Scrolls of Processions
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A wonderful quality hand painted pair of Gouache and gilt paper scrolls. Each depicting processions of courtiers in carriages, walking, in boats and pagoda buildings. Mounted in ebon...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Paint
Late Qing Dynasty Large Baluster Famille Rose "Hundred Antiques" Jar
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A late Qing Dynasty Chinese large Baluster Famille Rose "Hundred Antiques" Jar, A multitude of decorative objects and flowers in polychrome enamels and ...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain, Wood
Chinese White and Blue Character and Floral Ginger Jar Vases
Located in New York, NY
3 antique Chinese (early 20th century) similar porcelain ginger jars with blue floral designs around bold, centered characters and geometric bands leading to unglazed rims (jars vary...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Black Nature Scene Motif Lidded Vases
Located in New York, NY
4 Chinese similar black porcelain vases painted with natural scenes depicting ducks amid florals and lily pads and geometric patterned bands at the tops and bases with finial-topped ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Framed Antique Embroidery Chinese Textile Qing Dynasty Provenance
Located in Atlanta, GA
A piece wonderful antique textile fragment from China, circa 19th century Qing dynasty, artistically displayed in a giltwood frame with white ...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silk, Giltwood
Chinese Export Gilt Lacquer Decorated Demi-lune Console Table Early 19th Century
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A Chinese-export gilt lacquer decorated
Demi-lune console table
First half 19th century.
Black lacquered demilune table, top decorated with pavilions
set within rocky and...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Lacquer
Chinese Parade Scene Rounded Porcelain Watermelon Jar
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) low, rounded white porcelain vase, known as a watermelon jar, depicting a spirited procession of participants holding flags and playing drums lea...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Maroon and Umber Lidded Porcelain Ginger Jar
Located in New York, NY
Chinese porcelain lidded ginger jar in a finish that shifts within a range of umber, red and maroon, adding dimension to its shape.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Export Enamel Gourd Cachepots
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Chinese Export enamel gourd cachepots, Each one realistically cast and modeled. Gold plated copper base. Shown with jade plants, not included. 2.5" ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Framed Pink and Green Painted Panel Depicting a Chinese Landscape
Located in New York, NY
Chinese partially distressed painted panel in green and pink against a crackle beige background depicting a landscape wtih trees ad architecture inside a floral border.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Acrylic, Wood
Vintage Pair of Chinese Abacus Lamps
By ABCO
Located in San Francisco, CA
Wonderful pair of mid century Chinese Abacus Lamps made in Honk Kong.
Category
1970s Hong Kong Vintage Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood
Chinese Carved Wooden Wall Plaque Depicting Riders on Horseback
Located in New York, NY
Chinese carved wooden wall panel depicting two riders on horseback attempting to capture a wild horse from its herd in a rectangular wooden frame.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood
Small Carved Lavender Opaline Jade Guan Yin Sculpture
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a small carved lavender “opaline” jade Guan Yin sculpture. The sculpture has some russet jade spots in the upper back. The back of her head is...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Jade
19th Century Chinese Black Lacquered Pigskin Trunk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rare 19th century Chinese pigskin trunk featuring a black lacquered finish. Beautiful distressed patina with a smooth soft finish. Brass-mounted ...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Brass
Chinese Green and Red Faded Floral Porcelain Urn
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white porcelain urn decorated with a faded green and red floral pattern and accented with pale pink scrolled handles along the neck.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Blue and Orange Fish Design Lidded Porcelain Jars
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Chinese (Mid 20th Century) lidded porcelain jars with orange fish swimming on blue, sponged backgrounds, inspired by patterns from the Ming Dynasty...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Hong-Mu Nest of Tables Set of Three
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Chinese nest of tables with slight carving on the aprons. The tops with a slight arched front and tapering sides with a slightly shorter back. T...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Chinese Orange and Metallic Bamboo Design Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) table lamp made from a round, orange, luster porcelain, lidded vase with a metallic bamboo design, mounted on a brown wooden base and fitted with...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Terra Cotta Huren Tomb Figure
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terra cotta tomb figure of a Huren (northern tribesmen) man dressed in red robes and a prominent hat, with one fist raised in the air.
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Terracotta
Pair of Antique Chinese Multi-Colored Cloisonne Rooster Sculptures
Located in New York, NY
Pair of early 20th century Chinese cloisonne rooster sculptures with red, white, blue, green, and yellow enamels standing on circular cloisonne bases...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Metal, Enamel
Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Terra Cotta Rider and Horse Tomb Figure
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terracotta tomb figure of a girl in a red garment holding an object riding a dark brown horse, standing on a textured base.
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Terracotta
Chinese White Figurative Scene Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) table lamp made from a white porcelain urn painted with a scene of children playing in orange, pink, and red, mounted on a brown wooden base and ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Antique Ivory Cloud Band Background Chinese Rug. 9 ft x 11 ft 7 in
Located in New York, NY
Oval Antique Ivory Cloud Band Background Chinese Rug, Country of Origin / Rug Type: China Rug, Circa date: 1920. Size: 9 ft x 11 ft 7 in (2.74 m x 3.53 m)
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wool
Chinese Ming Dynasty Style Paper and Silk King and Queen Portrait Hanging Scroll
Located in New York, NY
Set of 3 Ming King and Queen scroll wall hangings, shown seated with a paneled wall behind them and a brown rug with dragons underneath against a pale gold silk shantung background w...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood, Silk, Paper
Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Sancai Glazed Camels with Musicians Tomb Figure
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terra cotta tomb figure of two camels carrying a band of five musicians - four seated with instruments, and one central figure standing to sing. Th...
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Terracotta
Porcelain Ormolu Mounted Chinese Lamp
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A porcelain ormolu-mounted
Chinese export style vase
Now mounted as a lamp
Early 20th century, probably Samson
The vase is in the form of a meiping
In the Chinese export famil...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century Porcelain Dragon Vase Lamp
Located in London, GB
A late 19th century baluster form vase, the body decorated with a polychrome dragon upon a green glazed ground. Now mounted as a lamp and set upon a turned giltwood base.
Dimensio...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Porcelain
Chinese Lapis Lazuli Carved Group of Figures Sculpture
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a large heavy Chinese lapis lazuli well carved in details group of figures sculpture.`It depicts two young ladies very well dressed in southern and northern dynasty clothes with traditional Chinese hair...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Lapis Lazuli
Chinese Sky Blue Gourd Porcelain Vase
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese (late 19th century) sky blue porcelain vase with a bulbous base and thin neck flanked by two lug ears at its top.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Off-White and Light Blue Vine Motif Porcelain Urn Vase
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) off-white porcelain vase with an urn form decorated in a light blue, delicate vine and floral motifs and bold characters on 4 sides.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Lamps in Canton Porcelain and Gilt Bronze, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of baluster shape lamps in Canton porcelain and gilt bronze. Decor of pattern flowers surrounding a medallion which represents a genre scene. Chiseled and gilt bronze mount. Ape...
Category
19th Century Asian Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Chinese Export furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Chinese Export 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, decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, porcelain and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Chinese Export 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 Europa Antiques, Wang Hing & Co., Luen Wo, and Hung Chong & Co.. 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 $40 and tops out at $216,780 while the average work can sell for $1,998.
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