Chinese Export Furniture
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.
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Wood, Elm, Lacquer
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Wood, Elm
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Wood, Elm
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Elm
Early 1800s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Wood, Elm
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Elm
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Elm
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Elm, Lacquer
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Elm
1990s Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Wood, Elm
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Elm
Mid-19th Century Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Elm
Late 19th Century Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Lacquer
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Elm, Paint
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Elm
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Elm, Lacquer
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Cypress
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Fir
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Beech, Rosewood
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Cypress
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Wood
1990s Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Wood, Elm
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Brass
1990s Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Wood, Elm
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Elm, Bentwood
1990s Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Wicker, Rattan, Wood, Lacquer
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Beech
Early 20th Century Tibetan Chinese Export Furniture
Wood
1880s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Elm, Lacquer, Paint
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Wood, Elm
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Wood, Elm
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Beech
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Lacquer, Wood, Elm
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Rattan, Elm, Bentwood
Early 1800s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Wood, Elm
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Pine, Lacquer
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Elm
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Elm
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Elm
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Wood
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Elm
1990s Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Wood, Elm, Paint
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Elm
1880s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Elm
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Lacquer, Wood
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Elm
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Elm
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Marble
1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Copper, Brass
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Wood
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Wood
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Wood
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Elm
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Lacquer
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Wood