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Chinese Export Ceramics

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
Large Pair of Chinese Export Vases in the Rockefeller Palette
Located in Montreal, QC
This pair of baluster vases, painted in the manner of the Export ware of the 18th century, combine a highly decorative gilt and painted ground with large and playful scenes in reserv...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Rare Large Antique Bowl or Jardinière Celadon
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Antique perfect Celadon bowl : interesting for connoisseurs. It's from 18th century and it's perfect. It was in a private Italian collection. O/481.
Category

18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of 19th Century Cantonese Vases
Located in Uckfield, Sussex
A good quality pair of 19th century Cantonese, rose medallion vases. Each having hand painted panels depicting courtiers and classical scenes set amongst flower and foliate decoration.
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Provincial Blue and White Tea Leaf Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
Tea has an auspicious beginning—it was purportedly enjoyed by the Buddha himself, and cakes of tea as large as wagon wheels were given to Chinese emperors as tribute. Tea drinking wa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Chinese Blue and White Mythical Bowl with Deer
Located in Chicago, IL
Beautiful to behold yet liable to dart away at any moment, the deer is an apt symbol of wealth and prosperity. On this bowl, the artist used rapid and free-flowing brushwork to depic...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Hand-Painted Chinese Export Flower Vases
Located in Westwood, NJ
A fine pair of Chinese blue and white wide mouth hand-painted flower decorated flared top vases. Dimensions: 10" W x 10" D x 21.5" H.
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of circa 1800 Chinese Export Tobacco Leaf Plates
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of 7.875" diameter round porcelain plates with over all design in bright, bold colors known as the "tobacco leaf" pattern. Central leaf shape reserve containing script monogram ...
Category

Early 1800s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Monumental Fish and Flora Blue and White Gooseneck Vase
Located in Chicago, IL
Revered for centuries for its elegant designs and rich cobalt blue and pure white colors, traditional Chinese blue-and-white porcelain lives on in this hand-painted bottleneck vase. Delicately rendered with fish and flora beneath fanciful waves, the vase's whimsical motif draws from these traditional Chinese symbols...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Export Prunus Vase, Now as a Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Chinese Export Prunus Vase, Now as a Lamp Early 20th Century, China Dimensions: Height: 24 in Diameter: 7 in Bring home this beautifully crafted Chinese E...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain, Wood

Pair of Hand Painted Porcelain Tea Caddies with Floral and Bamboo Motifs
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful pair of antique Chinese hexagonal form hand painted Porcelain tea caddies with floral and bamboo motifs. Each is beautifully hand painted on porcelain with a rich brown ground and golden tan flowers. They are of hexagonal form with beautifully hand painted peonies...
Category

1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Lidded Floor Vase
Located in San Diego, CA
Large Chinese porcelain enamel painted lidded floor vase with mythic phoenix birds and chrysanthemum floral decoration. Figural lion dog top han...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Antique Blue Chinese Porcelain Octagonal Shaped Fishbowls with Cartouches, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A fabulous and unusual pair of antique blue Chinese porcelain octagonal shaped fishbowls/ jardeniers painted with cartouches of flowers, birds, ...
Category

1910s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Yongzheng Chinese Export Style Famille Rose Large Charger, 20th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A large Yongzheng style Chinese porcelain charger decorated in beautiful famille rose enamels of pinks, blues, greens and yellows, 20th century, China. Painted in the Chinese expor...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Large Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Vase
Located in New York, NY
Chinese Famille Rose porcelain vase with a colorful decorative pattern. The piece dates from the mid-20th century and is in great ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Antique Chinese Rose Mandarin Porcelain Vase, 19th Century
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very fine, antique Chinese Rose Mandarin porcelain vase. With rich polychrome enamel decoration on a light celadon ground. An excel...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Vase with Black Background in the Style of Chinese Famille Verte
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Japanese Vase with Black Background in the Style of Chinese Famille Verte. Well decorated with woman in a garden. No chips, cracks or repairs, drilled for electricity 21" h to socke...
Category

20th Century Japanese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

19th century Rose Medallion Chinese Export Covered Chamber Bowl
Located in Savannah, GA
Rare early Canton Chinese Export porcelain Rose Medallion bowl with lid. Features include outstanding intricately painted birds, flower...
Category

Early 1800s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Export Famille Rose Pheasant With Ormolu Mounts, Late 19th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A gorgeous Chinese export famille rose enameled porcelain model of a pheasant mounted on an ormolu stand. The elegant bird is portrayed perched on a ...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Ormolu

Gilt Bronze Mounted Chinese Canton Famille Rose Porcelain Lamps
Located in London, GB
These elegant lamps are crafted from Chinese Canton famille rose porcelain and mounted with French gilt bronze (ormolu). The lamps featur...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Chinese Export Lamp
Located in Stockton, NJ
A blue and white motif Chinese export vase, now as lamp. Interesting raised dragon detail. Distress painted base. Two sockets. Shade for display purposes only. Vase measures 19"H.
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Shiwan Figural Pottery Lamp
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This hand sculptured, circa 1900 Chinese Shiwan pottery lamp depicts two Chinese scholars within a country landscape. Sometime in the mid-20th century t...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Pottery

Chinese Export Famille Rose Porcelain Large Dishes, circa 1765-1775
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export famille rose porcelain dishes, circa 1765-1775. The pair of Chinese Export famille rose large dishes are finely painted with a flowering branch design with two la...
Category

Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Three 18th Century Chinese Export Plates
Located in Buchanan, MI
Set of three Chinese export plates with floral decoration. Three 18th century Chinese exprort plates.
Category

18th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Unusual Chinese Longshan Black Pottery Vase
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Unusual Chinese Longshan Black pottery vase Late 20th century. Finely handcrafted in relief in archaic style with figures and inscriptions...
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Pottery

20th Century Polychrome Charger Plate
Located in Miami, FL
20th century polychrome charger plate.
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese Peony Fantail Vases, c. 1920s
Located in Chicago, IL
Resplendent with lush florals and brilliant color, this pair of porcelain vases combines stencil work with hand-painted foliage in a decorative style popular during the first two decades of the 20th century. The stenciled petals and blooms of the peonies, symbols of love and affection, create a graphic pattern of soft, modulated color, while the painted stems and small flowers punctuate the design with sharp detail. Innovative in decoration, the vases are firmly rooted in China’s time-honored ceramic tradition with their Classic fantail contours and butterfly handles.
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of 18th Century Chinese Export Porcelain Mancerinas or Trembleuses
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of Chinese export porcelain mancerinas or trembleuses likely made for the Spanish/Spanish Colonial market. Based on a silver form, the standing central ring was designed to su...
Category

Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Large Chinese Export Punchbowl with Staple Repairs, 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A remarkable large Chinese export blue and white punchbowl painted with a floral and brocade design, and featuring a stunning staple repair, 18th century...
Category

Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Iron

Large 18th Century Clobbered Chinese Export Vase
Located in Dallas, TX
Very large polychrome clobbered 18th century Chinese export porcelain vase decorated in England in the 19th century. The ba...
Category

18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Canton Porcelain Boxes, 1900 Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of rectangular Canton porcelain boxes. Polychromic and gold enameled decoration in the green and pink shades and composed of flowers and foliages with bouquets and scenes. The ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Export Porcelain Oval Famille Rose Dish
Located in Downingtown, PA
The Chinese Export porcelain dish in the famille rose palette is painted on the border with meandering vines and flowers which surrounds a central panel decorated with vases and pots of flowers...
Category

Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Pair of Imari Porcelaine Lamp Mounted Gilt Bronze
Located in Marseille, FR
19th century pair of porcelain lamp from Imari. Frame gilt bronze decorations of metal polychrome flowers.
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Fine Lively Modeled Porcelain Dogs
Located in Greenwich, CT
A pair of lively modeled porcelain dogs, Fine details and colors.
Category

Late 20th Century Asian Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Fine Pair of Chinese Porcelain Bottle Shaped Vases, Daoguang period (1821-1850)
Located in New York, NY
A fine pair of Chinese porcelain bottle-shaped vases, painted in the Islamic style, Daoguang period (1821-1850). Each vase finely handpainted in Henn...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of 19th Century Armorial Cachepots in the Chinese Export Style
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Striking pair of large-scale armorial cachepots in the Chinese export style on bronze bases.
Category

Mid-19th Century Asian Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

18th Century, Chinese Export Coral and Puce Porcelain Tea Service
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese export porcelain service spectacularly decorated with a smart coral scale ground with panels of puce flowers. The service com...
Category

Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Old or Antique Chinese Baluster Form Prunus or Hawthorne Pattern Vases
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine complementary pair of Chinese porcelain vases. In the baluster form. Painted with blue underglaze decoration in the Hawthorne pattern with prunus sprigs and a brushstrok...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Blue & White Prunus Blossoms Covered Ginger Jar Vase Early 20c
Located in Richmond, CA
Antique early 20c Chinese export blue and white covered ginger jar, hand painted in reserve with branches of plum blossoms all over, on cobalt blue ground, with a double circle mark ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Export Porcelain Serving or Shrimp Dish Rose Medallion, Qing Ca 1810
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very decorative, good quality Chinese export, porcelain, Large Shrimp or Serving Dish beautifully hand decorated in a Rose Medallion Pattern, which we date to the early 19t...
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Early 20th Century Chinese Porcelain Ginger Jar with its Lid
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
An interesting beginning of the 20th century antique Chinese porcelain ginger jar, with fitted lid, which appears to be a replacem...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Large 18th Century Chinese Porcelain Punch Bowl, Hunt Bowl Made Circa 1770
Located in Katonah, NY
The Chinese hunt bowl at its finest! Made in the Qianlong period, circa 1770, this exquisite hand-painted Chinese export bowl shows Western figures r...
Category

Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Blue and White Lidded Bowl or Tureen
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Chinese blue and white porcelain lidded bowl or tureen hand decorated with fauna and flora featuring floral handles on the sides and a figural handle on the top. Two are available.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

18th Century Chinese Shipwreck Porcelain Dish
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
A Chinese export porcelain shipwreck soup dish from the Hatcher Porcelain Cargoes, made in the early to mid-18th century. This Chinese porcelain soup dish was created specifically for export to the European market. It was used for soup or broth courses, which had become a dinner staple in Northern Europe following the influence of French table customs. This piece features an underglaze blue floral decoration, here comprising chrysanthemums, peonies, and a pomegranate. The floral sprigs appear to grow from a rock formation, partly obscured by the marine incrustations. On the border of the dish, three arrangements of lotuses balance the composition. The swiftness of the painter’s hand is evident in the strokes forming leaves and petals, as well as in the bleeding of some of the lighter cobalt washes coloring the flowers. Dimensions: 9 in. Dm x 1 1/4 in. H (22.9 cm Dm x 3.2 cm H) Condition: Salvaged condition. A few hairlines extending from the rim to the center, the longest about 6cm. We do not recommend cleaning or restoration, as the current condition speaks to an important stage in this object’s life. Provenance: Collection Mrs Marianne L. Dreesmann-van der Spek, Laren, inv. no J002; Collection Mrs Hetti T.G. von der Gablentz-Blanche Koelensmid, Amsterdam; Amsterdam, Christie's, The Hatcher Porcelain Cargoes, before 1987. Christie’s Amsterdam, Fine and Important Late Ming and Transitional Porcelain...
Category

18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

1920's Chinese Export Hand Painted Miniature Porcelain Vase
Located in New York, NY
1920's Chinese export miniature ceramic vase, with hand painted floral decoration., and gilt rim. Stamped Made In China on bottom.
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Porcelain Baluster Vases with Scholars
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Chinese porcelain baluster vases, the body of each depicting scenes with robed scholars conversing amidst rockwork under pine trees. Reverse...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Famille Rose Scholarly Gathering Baluster Jar, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
During the 18th century, Europeans provided an eager market for Chinese export porcelain, especially the colorful and fanciful ware known as “famille rose.” Named for a palette of op...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Blue and White Fu Lion Headrest
Located in Chicago, IL
This small ceramic block is actually a form of Chinese headrest or neck pillow. Popular during the Qing dynasty, rigid headrests such as this were used by upper-class women to protect their elaborate hairstyles by elevating the head during slumber. This example dates to the early 20th century and is glazed in the blue-and-white style with deep, cobalt-blue color. The headrest is decorated on all sides with mythical fu lion dogs playing with a brocade ball, a motif that evokes the idiom "may you and your descendant achieve high rank." A powerful and benevolent guardian, the fu lion (shizi) is the perfect force to protect against nightmares and bad energy. A geometric meander trims the edges and small bats frame coin...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Export Porcelain Figural Iron Red and Gilt Duck Tureen & Stand
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Chinese Export Porcelain figural iron red and gilt duck tureen & stand Later 20th century Of large size, realistically modeled and ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain, Hardwood

Pair of Gilt Bronze Mounted Chinese Export Iron Red Mandarin Vases
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair Gilt bronze mounted Chinese export iron red Mandarin vases The vases,China, 1900s The gilt bronze mounts, France This pair of Chinese export iron red Mandarin vases, mounted wi...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Bronze

Antique Blue & White Canton Chinese Export Porcelain Pitcher or Jug
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine Canton Chinese Export porcelain pitcher. Decorated with blue underglaze throughout depicting a Chinese village near the wate...
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Famille Rose Scholarly Gathering Baluster Jar, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
During the 18th century, Europeans provided an eager market for Chinese export porcelain, especially the colorful and fanciful ware known as “famille rose.” Named for a palette of op...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Export Porcelain Rose Mandarin Shell-Form Shrimp Dish, circa 1820
Located in Banner Elk, NC
Chinese Export Porcelain rose mandarin shell-form shrimp dish, also known as a Nappie or dessert dish, circa 1820, the shaped bowl with vividly enameled glazes and detailed gilding, ...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

18th Century Chinese Export Famille Verte Octagonal Plate
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
18th century Chinese export Famille Verte octagonal plate, exquisitely painted with a court scene with an iron red and grisaille border.
Category

18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Three 19th Century Samson Imari Porcelain Vases
Located in London, GB
A nineteenth century matched garniture of three Samson Imari porcelain vases, including a baluster vase with cover, together with a pair of square trumpet form vases, all decorated i...
Category

19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

Chinese Rose Mandarin Shrimp Dish with Elaborate Enameled Gilded Handle, c. 1820
Located in Banner Elk, NC
Chinese Export Porcelain Rose Mandarin Shell-Form Shrimp Dish, also known as a nappie or dessert dish, circa 1820, the shaped bowl with vividly enameled glazes and detailed gilding, ...
Category

1820s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Large Pair of Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Planters/Fishbowls/Jardinière
Located in New York, NY
A large and quite fine pair of antique Chinese blue and white porcelain planters / fishbowls / jardinières. Each finely decor...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Enamel

Antique Polychrome Enameled Chinese Porcelain Garden Seat
Located in Dallas, TX
A polychrome Chinese porcelain garden seat having a banded border of insects and other symbols above a large flora water lily motif. Cir...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Antique Chinese Famille Rose Vases with Hand Painted Luohans Decoration
Located in New York, NY
A fabulous pair of antique Bangchuiping, 'Rouleau' Chinese Famille Rose vases with hand painted Luohans figures. Each vase is of Rouleau form with gorgeous eighteen Arhats or Luohans...
Category

1860s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Export ceramics for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Chinese Export ceramics 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 ceramics 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 ceramics 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 ceramics, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, Imari Porcelain, Meissen Porcelain, and Samson & Cie. 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 ceramics differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $100 and tops out at $76,572 while the average work can sell for $1,495.

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