Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
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 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Wood
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Paper
1960s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Glass, Giltwood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Lacquer
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Soapstone, Brass
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Silk, Elm
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paint
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Giltwood, Paint, Paper
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Giltwood
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Soapstone, Brass
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Glass
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paint
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Paper
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Soapstone, Brass
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Soapstone
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Plexiglass, Wood, Paint, Paper
1860s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Glass
Mid-19th Century Antique Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Silk, Glass, Giltwood
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Lacquer
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Silk, Giltwood, Paper
1880s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood, Paint
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Glass, Hardwood
1880s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Glass
1940s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Stone
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Thread, Wood, Glass
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Paint
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Glass
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Wood, Lacquer
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Glass
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Glass, Giltwood, Paint
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Glass
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Silk, Bamboo
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Soapstone, Brass