Chinese Huge Colored Glaze Ceramic Foo Dog

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.

Antique, new and vintage statues can bring depth and distinctive charm to your home’s interiors or your meticulously maintained outdoor garden area.

Introduce an assortment of textures and colors as well as a refreshing air of drama by decorating with stoic sculptural works in any living room, dining room or bedroom, no matter the size or shape of the statues you choose. You don’t have to haul a 19th-century life-size hand-carved work of Italian Carrara marble into your hallway unless, of course, that is the kind of decorative touch that your interior would benefit from. A large sculpture bust placed in your happy home office or positioned as a centerpiece on a table with other decorative objects in your foyer, for example, can prove welcoming to guests and invite rich conversation about your interests.

For a sculpture, an outdoor setting on a lawn or in a garden can open up a whole new world of beauty and meaning. While traditional stone cherub figures can promise tranquility, you can heighten the ogs/the-study/outdoor-dining-spaces/ target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">experience of outdoor family meals or garden parties with provocative statues to help frame the dining area in your yard. Lend an air of permanence to the perimeter of your garden with a pair of bronze lion statues or use abstract works of metal to contrast the clean, geometric lines of your manicured shrubbery and thoughtful landscape design.

We know that your garden is an invaluable retreat for when you need some relaxation and that introducing art to your home’s interiors has innumerable benefits. On 1stDibs, find a wide variety of antique, new and vintage statues for all of your decorating needs.