Brown Wood Framed Qing Dynasty Portraits
Antique Early 19th Century Chinese Paintings
Glass, Wood, Paint, Paper
Antique 19th Century Chinese Paintings
Canvas, Plexiglass, Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Silk, Bamboo, Glass, Wood, Paint, Paper
Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood, Paint, Paper
Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood, Paint, Silk
20th Century Qing Figurative Paintings
Linen, Wood, Paint, Pigment
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Paintings
Paint, Paper
People Also Browsed
Early 20th Century Chinese Decorative Baskets
Metal
20th Century Chinese Ming Ceramics
Terracotta
1970s American Modern Nude Photography
Silver Gelatin
Antique 1890s Chinese Chinese Export Metalwork
Copper, Enamel
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Antique 1880s Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Canvas
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Stools
Ceramic, Porcelain
Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Lacquer
Lacquer
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Vases
Celadon
Antique Early 1900s Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Silver Leaf
1970s Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings
Glass, Wood, Paper
Antique Early 1900s Tibetan Decorative Art
Fabric
Antique 19th Century Chinese Decorative Art
Paper
Recent Sales
20th Century Qing Portrait Paintings
Wood, Glass, Paint
Early 20th Century Qing Portrait Paintings
Glass, Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
20th Century Qing Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Paintings
Metal
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Paper, Glass, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood, Paint, Paper
Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Silk, Glass, Wood, Masonite, Paper
A Close Look at qing Furniture
The last imperial dynasty from 1644 to 1912 was a time of change in China, beginning with the invasion by Manchurian forces that ended the Ming dynasty and established the Shunzhi Emperor. The expansion of exportation and trade that had bolstered the arts during the Ming era continued, as Qing dynasty furniture involved the same attention to craftsmanship with expert construction techniques in hardwood pieces that were assembled with mortise and tenon joints rather than nails or glue. Together, these eras comprise a golden age of Chinese furniture design.
Ming-style furniture is simple and elegant with clean lines. Chairs of the period and other Ming furniture made an impression on Scandinavian modernist Hans Wegner and his streamlined seating, for example. Whereas Qing-style furniture is elaborate, with an increasing influence from the West leading to lavish carving inspired by the European Baroque and Rococo styles. And while many of the forms that define examples of the latter are common within classical Chinese furniture, such as curving and folding chairs as well as large screens, Qing designs are laden with ornamentation. Frequently, the carved motifs and inlaid designs in mother-of-pearl were auspicious, such as peonies for wealth or dragons for luck. Bats were symbols of happiness in the design of Qing furniture, with one of the characters in the word for bat, bianfu, being a homophone for fu, or “fortune.”
While several types of wood were used in the construction of Qing beds, tables, storage pieces and seating, today’s collectors know that the most prized were the rare rosewoods zitan and huanghuali. They were both sourced from Hainan, China’s largest island, and are marked by a rich luster that occurs naturally, without the application of lacquer or other decorative materials. Many of the most popular woods were imported from southeast Asia, adding to their value. Red sandalwood was also sought after for its durability and connection with Chinese medicine, with some chairs being made for health benefits.
Find a collection of antique Qing tea tables, stools, benches, decorative objects and more furniture on 1stDibs.