Qing Scholar's Objects
QING STYLE
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.
Style: Qing
Color: Brown
Chinese Carved Longyan Wood Stand
Located in Austin, TX
An exquisite late Qing dynasty display Stand of longyan wood, carved as a miniature "kang" table.
The center panel features an amazing grain that delights the eye, while a soft glo...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Fruitwood
Chinese Qing Pair Jun-Ware Liver Red Glazed Foo Dogs
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A rare and attractive pair Chinese Qing Jun-ware Foo dogs decorated in liver red glazes and dating from around 1850. The porcelain dogs are heavily made and stand raised on rectangul...
Category
1850s Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Red Glass Snuff Bottle
Located in Chicago, IL
A mixture of finely powdered tobacco, herbs, and spices, snuff was introduced to China in the 17th century by Western diplomats. Initially reserved for ranking members of Qing-dynast...
Category
20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Glass
Chinese Qing Simulated Bamboo Brown Glazed Pottery Brush Pot
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An unusual and stylish antique Chinese simulated bamboo brush pot decorated in brown glazes and dating from the 19th century or possibly earlier. The ...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Pottery
Chinese Hardwood Scholar Tray with Brass Mounts, Late Qing Dynasty
Located in Austin, TX
A simple and elegant Chinese hardwood and brass mounted scholar tray, late Qing Dynasty, circa 1900, China.
The scholar tray crafted of a solid and heavy densely figured hardwood ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Brass
Magnificent And Fine Chinese Six-Panel Screen
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A six panel screen in black paint with overall gilt scrolled and carved and painted wood applied low relief decoration with some Mother-of-Pearl details. Scenes with pavilions and fi...
Category
19th Century Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Lacquer
Chinese Qing Dynasty Red Lacquered Scroll Box with Distressed Gold Chinoiserie
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Qing dynasty red lacquered lidded scroll box from the 19th century with distressed gold chinoiserie motifs. Resting on a scalloped plinth accented with discreet foliage, th...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Wood
Chinese Wood Puppet Head, 19th Century, Mounted on Contemporary Stand
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Chinese wood puppet head, 19th century, mounted on contemporary stand.
Simple puppet head of a male figure, carved out of a single piece of wood, with tapering neck, lightly carv...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Wood
Chinese Zitan Brush Pot with Soapstone Inlay, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Set alongside the four treasures of the study - the calligraphy brush, ink, paper, and inkstone - a brush pot, or bitong, was an essential fixture of the scholars' desk. This beautif...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Soapstone
Chinese Calligraphy Brush, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Along with paper, ink, and inkstone, the brush was among the four treasures found in a traditional scholar’s studio. The brush served as a direct link to the artist’s creative spirit...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Elm
Extraordinary Chinese Scholar Rock Yingde Stone on Stand
Located in Atlanta, GA
The Chinese scholar rock on offer here is a wonderful example of Yingde stone, a less common type than Lingbi or Taihu. Gray in color, it has an extraordinary upright form rising fro...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Stone
19th Century Pair of Chinese Scholar's Carved Bamboo Brush Pots Brass
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Hand carved intricate Chinese scholar's bamboo brush pots with brass rings and script. Original warm patina and some cracks as photographed present, c...
Category
1880s Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Bamboo
Qing Dynasty Burl Scroll Pot 'Scholars Pot', China
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Qing dynasty (1644-1911) burl scroll pot (Scholars Pot), China.
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Wood
Chinese Carved Zitan Table-Form Stand, Republic Period, Mid-20th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A finely carved zitan wood display stand in the form of a round table, China, Republic Period, mid 20th century.
The circular display stand carved from rare and precious zitan wood. Fashioned as a classical Chinese round table...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Zitan
Chinese Carved Hardwood Scholar's Tray, Qing Dynasty, 19th Century, China
Located in Austin, TX
A sophisticated Chinese carved and pierced hardwood scholar's tray, Qing Dynasty, 19th century, China.
The tray of rectangular form with high sides and rounded corners. The sides...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Hardwood
19th Century Monumental Chinese Carved Rosewood Brush Pot
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rare and unusual 19th century monumental Chinese rosewood brush pot carved from a large, solid trunk. Beautiful crafted with a subtle hourglass cylindrical shape. Featuring rich and ...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Rosewood
Chinese Literati Tea Tray, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This petite late 19th century tray reflects the Qing-dynasty literati's taste for fine materials and balanced proportions. Once used to serve tea or hold scholarly implements, the tr...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Hardwood
Chinese Early Qing Dynasty Walnut Folding Table, 17th-18th Century, China
Located in Austin, TX
A very fine and rare Chinese Qing Dynasty walnut wood (hetao mu) kang table with folding legs, 17th to 18th century, China.
Crafted in walnut wood (hetao mu), this ingenious table...
Category
Early 18th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Walnut
Chinese Literati Tea Tray, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This petite 19th century tray reflects the Qing-dynasty literati's taste for fine materials and balanced proportions. Once used to serve tea or hold scholarly implements, the tray is...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Hardwood
Large Zitan Huanghuali Hardwood Brush Pot Bitong, Qing Dynasty, China
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Large Zitan Huanghuali hardwood brush pot bitong, Qing Dynasty, 18th century, China
Measures: Height 12 diameter 12.75 in.
Category
18th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Zitan
Chinese Huanghuali Brush Pot
Located in Atlanta, GA
Chinese Huanghuali brush pot
18th century
Carved cylindrical Chinese scholar’s brush pot, composed from the extincted Huanghuali wood. Beautifu...
Category
18th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Wood
Chinese 19th Century Dengguayi Scholar's Lamp-Hanger Armchair with Sinuous Splat
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese antique Qing dynasty scholar's lamp-hanger armchair from the late 19th century, with sinuous pierced splat, dark patina, curving arms and side stretchers. Born in China in the later years of the 19th century, this scholar's lamp-hanger chair...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Wood
Chinese Burled Hardwood Scholar Rock, Republic Period, 20th Century
Located in Austin, TX
An unusual and striking Chinese scholar rock, gongshi, of polished and lacquered burled hardwood, set into a hardwood base, mid-20th century.
The hardwood scholar "stone" meant to i...
Category
1940s Chinese Vintage Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Hardwood, Burl
Straits Chinese Carved Hardwood Bamboo Inlay Display Stand, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
A remarkable straits Chinese (also known as Peranakan or Nyonya) carved hardwood and bamboo inlaid and embellished table-form stand, originally for dis...
Category
Early 20th Century Indonesian Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Bamboo, Hardwood, Lacquer
Chinese Calligraphy Brush, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Along with paper, ink, and inkstone, the brush was part of the four treasures found in a scholar’s studio. Arguably the most important tool, the brush served as a direct link to the ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Wood
Chinese Stone Dali Panels
Located in Somerton, GB
This is a set of four antique Chinese Dali stone panels which depict wonderful landscape images. The stone is set in an ebonized panel frame. They look wo...
Category
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Marble, Brass
Carved Chinese Soapstone Water Dropper
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A carved Chinese soapstone water dropper, boat shaped receptacle with spout and handle, carved with trailing floral stems and a domed cover with a bird f...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Soapstone
Chinese Eighteen Luohan Walnut Shell Snuff Bottle, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A mixture of finely powdered tobacco, herbs, and spices, snuff was introduced to China in the 17th century by Western diplomats. Initially reserved for ranking members of Qing-dynast...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Plastic, Walnut
Chinese Double Gourd "Root" Amber Snuff Bottle, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A mixture of finely powdered tobacco, herbs, and spices, snuff was introduced to China in the 17th century by Western diplomats. Initially reserved for ranking members of Qing-dynast...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Other
Chinese Flora and Fauna Inkstone, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Scholarly pursuits such as painting, calligraphy, and poetry were a highly respected and revered subculture in ancient China, and demanded their own set of tools that were not only f...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Stone
Jiulongbi Mountain Meditation Stone
Located in Chicago, IL
A well-chosen stone is a focal point of both a traditional Chinese garden and a scholar's studio, evoking the complexities of nature and inspiring creative thought. Polished to bring...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Stone
China Fine Old Snuff Bottle Jumping Fish & Lily
Located in South Burlington, VT
Rare snuff bottle form.
China, a finely carved cream colored snuff bottle of a jumping fish - a significant bottle ornament with a light brown calcifie...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Agate
Chinese Table Screen Mirror, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Screens served numerous functions as portable architecture in Chinese homes. The largest examples sectioned off entire rooms, allowing a family to shape the spaces in their home to a...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Hardwood, Mirror
Chinese Carved Jadeite Vase and Cover, Qing Dynasty, Ex. C.T. Loo
Located in Austin, TX
A stunning carved and pierced Chinese jade vase, Qing Dynasty, 19th century. The vase is carved with a design of birds, flowers and trees, each rife ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Jade, Silver
Chinese Qing Dynasty Porcelain Spotted Deer Brush Washer, Mid-19th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A charming and elegant Chinese brush washer in the form of a recumbent spotted deer, Qing dynasty, circa 1850.
The graceful animal modeled with ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Calligraphy Brush, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Along with paper, ink, and inkstone, the brush was part of the Four Treasures found in a scholar’s studio. Arguably the most important tool, the brush served as a direct link to the ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Elm
Chinese Meandering Tea Tray, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Beautifully carved of a fine-grained hardwood, this late 19th century tray reflects the Qing-dynasty literati's taste for fine materials and balanced proportions. Once used to serve ...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Hardwood
Chinese Gnarled Brush Pot, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
A brush pot, such as this one made in Hainan province, may once have sat on the desk of a learned scholar next to his brushes, inkpot, and ink stone. Made of rustic, gnarled wood...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Elm
Chinese Calligraphy Brush, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Dated to the early 20th century, this fine calligraphy brush would have been an essential tool for a Qing-dynasty scholar-official, used to draft official documents or compose poetry...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Hardwood
Chinese Peachbloom-Glazed Beehive Water Pot, Taibai Zun, Guangxu Mark
Located in Austin, TX
An elegant and beautiful Chinese peachbloom-glazed beehive shaped scholar's water pot, taibai zun, Gaungxu six character mark in underglaze blue, and possibly of the period (1875 to ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Qing Dynasty Haunghuali Table Form Display Stand, circa 1800
Located in Austin, TX
A truly gorgeous Chinese huanghuali wood display stand in the form of a table.
The single plank top with edge molding featuring an attractive grain and rich luster. A narrow waist ...
Category
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar's Objects
Materials
Hardwood
Qing scholar's objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Qing scholar's objects 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 scholar's objects created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include asian art and furniture, decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, stone and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Qing scholar's objects made in a specific country, there are Asia, China, and East Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 scholar's objects differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $98 and tops out at $29,500 while the average work can sell for $1,315.
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