Chinese Export Lighting
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
Chinese Export Green Painted and Gilt Tôle Tea Canister Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Of cylindrical form with incurved top; elaborately decorated with a central cartouche enclosing a Mandarin figure leaning against tea chests set above the number 11, flanked by pseud...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Pair of Blanc De Chine Vases Mounted as Table Lamps
Located in Morristown, NJ
20th c., a nice quality pair of blanc de chine vases mounted as table lamps. These are decorated with garden florals and figures in low relief. Decorative elements also include lion ...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal
Chinese Porcelain Vase Mounted as Lamp
Located in Bradenton, FL
This is a rather stunning Chinese porcelain vase made for export to the West in the early 20th century. The vase has been mounted on a heavy brass base.
The porcelain is painted wit...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of 19th Century Cloisonné Lamps
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a lovely pair of cloisonné turquoise lamps painted overall with colorful figures and images, situated on pierced rosewood bases, 19th century.
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal
Famille Rose Ginger Jar Mounted as Lamp
Located in Norwood, NJ
Antique Chinese famille rose porcelain ginger jar mounted as a lamp. Porcelain cover and square wood base. Colorful figures with children and dragon. Orange, pines and greens.
Orange...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Wood, Porcelain
Mid Century Modern Chinese Abacus Table Lamp, circa 1960
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Chinese abacus table lamp in hardwood with an ebonized counting frame and brass accents. Used for centuries in the Near East. This particular lamp is...
Category
1960s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
Blue and White Cherry Blossom Vase Lamp on Gilt Wood Base
Located in New York, NY
Blue and white cherry blossom vase lamp on gilt wood base. Late 19th Century hand-painted blue and white Chinese vase in the cherry blossom pattern...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain, Giltwood
Pair of Mid-Century Style Turquoise Table Lamps
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Striking pair of table lamps crafted in porcelain in a classic asian form with an alluring blue glaze and presented on lucite bases.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain, Lucite
Pair Chinese Hand Painted Porcelain and Gilt Decorated Pheonix Motif Lamps
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Pair Chinese hand painted porcelain and gilt decorated pheonix motif lamps.
Two large, heavy polychrome Chinese vases with auspicious decorations of Phoenixes encircling peonies a...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain, Wood
Pair of 19th Century Chinese Export Crackle Ware Vase Lamps on Carved Wood Bases
Located in New York, NY
Pair of 19th century Chinese Export crackle ware vase lamps on carved hardwood square bases. Entirely hand decorated, each slightly different from the other.
The lamps retain origin...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Hardwood, Ceramic
Pair of Chinese Famile Verte and Coral Tall Table Lamps
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a gorgeous pair of Chinese Famile verte and coral tall table lamps.
Mid 20th century circa 1960-80.
These are Chinese export in the Famile Verte pattern famous in Canton Region of China.
Beautiful detail with Courtesan’s in landscape/garden scenes. Green, white, yellow and unusual purples.
The top sections and the bases plinths are coral in color and we believe are a type of cinnabar.
Each has a slightly different polished coral finial.
Fully working and in very good condition with no chips or cracks.
These are a very desirable and imposing pair of lamps !
Provenance: From a Quality Dallas Private Collection.
Condition: Very Good.
Dimensions: 37 inches Tall with a shade diameter of 20 inches.
Famille jaune, noire, rose, verte are terms used in the West to classify Chinese porcelain of the Qing dynasty by the dominant colour of its enamel palette. These wares were initially grouped under the French names of famille verte (“green family”), and famille rose (pink family) by Albert Jacquemart in 1862. The other terms famille jaune (yellow) and famille noire (black) may have been introduced later by dealers or collectors and they are generally considered subcategories of famille verte.[1][2]Famille verte porcelain was produced mainly during the Kangxi era, while famille rose porcelain was popular in the 18th and 19th century. Much of the Chinese production was Jingdezhen porcelain, and a large proportion were made for export to the West, but some of the finest were made for the Imperial court.
Famille verte (????, Kangxi wucai...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Ceramic
Antique Chinese Orange and White Dragon Motif Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) table lamp made from a round, luster porcelain vase with an orange and gold hexagonal patterned ground against two white cartouches depicting dra...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Chinese Reticulated White Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Asian Chinese-style white filigree porcelain table lamp with floral design and black round base.
Category
20th Century Unknown Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Pair 19th Century Chinese Rose Medallion Vases / Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
Pair 19th century Chinese Rose medallion / Cantonese spill vases, each with the classical Green ground, wonderful floral and foliate decorati...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinese Carved Green Jadeite Quartz Lamp
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A relatively large Chinese carved stone lamp mounted on a stepped brass and a carved wood base. The carved stone is often referred to as Jadeite or Quartz but is in fact from the flu...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Quartz
Antique Chinese Orange and Gold Crane 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 decorated with a gold crane design on one side and...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Chinese Pink Floral and Bird Design Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Chinese pink ceramic table lamp made from a baluster-shaped vase decorated with colorful birds, florals and koi on a wooden base with brass hardware.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Chinese White and Blue Figurative Scene Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) table lamp made from a white and blue baluster-shaped porcelain vase depicting a mother and children playing outside,...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Chinese Porcelain Hand Painted Porcelain Lamp
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A hand painted Chinese porcelain lamps with an imperial yellow background. The white porcelain with cartouches of aristocratic women in a floral background with intricately detailed ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
Vintage Chinese White Porcelain Jar Table Lamp
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Chinese table lamp made from a white porcelain urn painted with a floral red roses design around mounted on a brown wooden base and fi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Export Black Ceramic Table Lamp with Floral and Bird Design
Located in Savannah, GA
Chinese Export table lamp made from a graceful vase decorated with colorful birds, dogwood branches and fruit on an orange peel surface. The hardware is brass and the vase is perched...
Category
1930s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pair of Vintage Chinese Fu Dog Lamp
Located in Sheffield, MA
A wonderful pair of vintage Chinese Foo dog statues converted into small table lamps. These dog lamps were the property of Valley Castle in Cornwall Connecticut.
Fu dogs are actual...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Ceramic
Pair of Chinese Off-White Orange and Pink Floral Motif Porcelain Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of similar Chinese porcelain table lamps made from off-white, urn-shaped vases with pink, orange and green florals, berries, leaves and snap dragons with wooden bases and brass ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Sang De Boeuf, Ormolu Mounted Vase, by Rookwood 1936, Now as a Lamp, Dark Glaze
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Sang de Boeuf, Ormolu Mounted Vase, by Rookwood Pottery 1936, now as a Lamp, Light Glaze
Beautiful glazed vase raised on four ormolu elegant paw feet, attributed to E.F. Caldwell (O...
Category
1930s American Vintage Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Chinese Republic Era Ornately Hand-Painted Vase or Table Lamp Base
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique and intricately hand-painted vase is signed on the base, but we were unable to identify the maker, but originates from China and dates to approximately 1920 and done in ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Famille Verte Vase / Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 18th century style Chinese Famille verte vase / lamp. Having bold classical Chinese scenes of courtiers under pagoda buildings and in gardens playing games and on...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Pair Chinese Cloisonné Vases / Lamps, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very decorative pair of late 19th century Chinese cloisonné enamel vases / lamps. Each having wonderful turquoise ground and exotic flowers, with gilded ormolu mounts.
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
Pair of Antique Chinese Champlevé or Cloisonné Lamps
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of antique Chinese champlevé or cloisonné lamps.
Lovely pair of antique Chinese bronze champlevé or cloisonné table lamps. Offered champleve or cloisonne lamps are executed in ...
Category
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair 19th Century Rose Medallion Vases / Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of 19th Century Chinese Cantonese vases / lamps. Each with classical green ground, wonderful exotic floral decoration, butterflies and birds.
The vases can be co...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Large Pair 19th Century Rose Medallion Vases / Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality pair of 19th century Chinese Rose medallion vases / lamps. Each with wonderful bold classical Cantonese birds, flower, butterflies in Green, white and pink, inset...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Ceramic Cream, Orange, and Green Fish Motif Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) table lamp made from a porcelain vase intricately painted with orange fish swimming amidst green plant life framed by colorful geometric bands ab...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass, Metal
19th Century Chinese Famille Noure Vase / Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very decorative 19th Century Chinese Famille Noure lidded vase with classical gilded floral and motif decoration to the whole. Mounted with gilded ormolu base and light fitting.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese White and Floral Column Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Chinese white porcelain table lamp made from a column-shaped vase painted with a crane alongside a blooming pink peony, a wooden base, and brass hardware.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Chinese Pink Floral and Duck Design Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Chinese pink ceramic table lamp made from a baluster-shaped vase decorated with ducks in natural surroundings emphasized with linework and orange dragonflies, on a wooden base with b...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass, Metal
Pair of Chinese Off-White Floral and Bamboo Design Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Chinese porcelain table lamps made from off-white, urn-shaped vases decorated with a winding natural scene of flowers and bamboo growing from behind a decorative gate mounted...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass, Metal
Pair Century Chinese Vases / Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very decorative pair of 20th Century Chinese porcelain vases / lamps.
Each with blue coloured classical motif decoration boarders and Deer head handles, inset hand painted panels ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Porcelain Vase Table Lamp
Located in Baltimore, MD
This is a colourful antique Chinese porcelain vase, depicting a traditional Chinese scene with exotic birds and landscape, converted into an elegant table lamp with a fine linen shad...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Hardwood, Porcelain, Linen
Chinese White Floral Patterned Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Chinese white ceramic table lamp made from a bulbous vase decorated with colorful florals, mounted on a wooden base and fitted with brass hardwar...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Chinese White Porcelain Ginger Jar Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Asian Chinese style (19th Century) white porcelain ginger jar form lamp with foliate & bird details mounted on a round wood base.
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain, Wood
19th Century Chinese Bronze Urn as Lamp
Located in Norwood, NJ
19th century Chinese bronze urn as lamp. Decorated with florals and dragon in high relief. Surmounted by two handles depicting phoenix...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Chinese Powder Blue Vase / Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A striking 19th century Chinese power blue vase / lamp with French gilded ormolu mounts to the top and plinth base.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
Famille Noir Vases as Table Lamps - Pair Available
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
These are very decorative Famille Noir vases with colorful flowers and leaves painted overall on a black background, situated on pierced rosewood bas...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Orange and Gold Bouquet Design Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) table lamp made from a round, orange, luster porcelain vase with with a gold floral bouquet design, mounted on a brown wooden base and fitted wit...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
19th Century Famille Noire Porcelain Vase Lamp
Located in London, GB
A late 19th century famille noire porcelain vase, decorated with butterflies and abundant fruit trees in polychrome glazes. Now mounted as a table lamp with hand-turned giltwood base...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Ceramic, Porcelain
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 Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
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 Lighting
Materials
Wood
Chinese Pink Floral and Crane Design Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Chinese pink porcelain table lamp made from a baluster-shaped vase decorated with cranes and sparrows in natural surroundings emphasized with li...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
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 Lighting
Materials
Wood
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 Lighting
Materials
Quartz
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 Lighting
Materials
Ceramic, Porcelain
Pair Chinese Celadon Porcelain Vases / Lamps, circa 1900
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very decorative pair of late 19th century Chinese Celadon porcelain two handled vases, each with embossed classical motif decoration. Mounted on faux Sienna marble plinths and wire...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
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 Lighting
Materials
Porcelain, Wood
Chinese White and Blue Gaming Scene Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Chinese white and blue porcelain table lamp made from an urn-shaped vase depicting a group of figures around a game table under a tree, ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Pair of Chinese Celadon Porcelain Vases / Lamps, circa 1920
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very decorative pair of 18th century style Chinese Celadon porcelain two handled vases / lamps, raised on carved pierced hardwood stands, circa 1920.
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Blue Tole Palm Tree and Man Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Chinese light blue tole table lamps depicting a man holding a fan sitting in the shade of a palm tree. (PRICED AS PAIR).
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
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 Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
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 Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Antique Chinese Orange and White Cartouche Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) table lamp made from a round, luster ceramic vase with an orange and gold hexagonal patterned ground against two white cartouches depicting natur...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Chinese Export lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Chinese Export lighting 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 lighting created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, asian art and furniture, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, porcelain and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Chinese Export lighting 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 lighting, popular names associated with this style include The Marbro Lamp Company, CANTON FAMILLE ROSE, Capodimonte, and Chapman Manufacturing Company. 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 lighting differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $200 and tops out at $24,680 while the average work can sell for $2,406.
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