Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
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.
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Bone, Silk
1940s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Giltwood
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Giltwood
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Boxwood
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Brass, Pewter
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Marble
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Serpentine
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Bone
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Limestone
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Stoneware
1860s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Hardwood
18th Century Indian Antique Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
20th Century Thai Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Metal, Bronze
Mid-20th Century Japanese Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Bronze
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Soapstone
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Metal
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Giltwood
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Brass
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Hardwood, Giltwood
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Wood