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Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

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
Chinese Export Silver Beaker, circ 1890's
Located in Sarasota, FL
Chinese export repousse beaker, circ 1890. Wieght 3.3 oz., 4 3/8" tall
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Silver

Antique Custom Shanxi Province Elmwood Cabinet - Pair
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique custom Shanxi province elmwood cabinet - pair. These custom cabinets made in the Shanxi Province of China has two drawers and two shelves. A...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Elm, Paint

Chinese Floral Islamic Style Cloisonné Enamel and Ormolu Vase
Located in London, GB
Chinese floral Islamic style cloisonné enamel and ormolu vase Chinese, early 20th century Dimensions: Height 13cm, diameter 13cm This beautiful bowl...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu

Antique Shanxi Province Red Lacquer Elm Side / Dining Chair
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Shanxi Province Red Lacquer Elm Side / Dining Chair This beautiful red elm side chair from the Shanxi Province of China can be used as a statement...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Wood, Elm, Lacquer

Rare Large Chinese Export circa 1900 Shoushan Stone Sculpture Pandas Crane Birds
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning and very rare original Chinese Export circa 1900 Shoushan stone carving of mountain lions on rocks I h...
Category

Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Stone

Small Antique Chinese Red Elm Ancestral Shrine
Located in Chicago, IL
Small Antique Chinese Red Elm Ancestral Shrine This hand carved and crafted antique Chinese shrine is used to place fruits and flowers offerings, usually use...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Elm, Lacquer

Chinese Export Porcelain Dish with Dutch Decoration of a Voc Ship
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A Chinese export porcelain dish with Dutch decoration of a VOC ship Circa 1700-1710, the Dutch decoration circa 1720-1730 Diam. 21.5 cm ? Originally l...
Category

Early 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Anglo-Chinese Carved Teak and Inlaid Stand, circa 1880
Located in San Francisco, CA
19th century Anglo-Chinese carved teak and inlaid stand, circa 1880 From the China Trade, clipper ship, period. Very in vogue and exotic decor popular in Europe and America in the late 19th century. Ornately carved and inlaid decoration. Boxwood and bone inlays on the top and legs. A "tour de force" Chinese pavilion...
Category

1860s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Bone, Boxwood, Teak

Chinese Silver Repousse Dragon Handle Sauce Boat by Luen Wo
Located in Sarasota, FL
Chinese Export silver repousse sauce boat with dragon handles. Marked for Luen Wo.. Very fine decoration. 7 1/4" long, 4 " tall, 3 1/2", 7 oz weight.
Category

1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Silver

Sublim Nest of 4 circa 1880 Chinese Export Brown Lacqurered Tables Hand Painted
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this sublime nest of four original Chinese brown lacquered tables with dragon carved feet and gold leaf detailing A good looking, decorative and...
Category

1880s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Wood

Pair of 1900 Chinese Blanc de Chine Roosters
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Could be late 19th Century. No cracks, repairs or damage to these.
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Vintage Shanxi Province Elmwood Side Table
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage shanxi province elmwood side table Chinese elmwood side table having a rectangular top. Beautifully aged patina.
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Wood, Elm

Antique circa 1920 Chinese Export Floor Standing Bell with Wrought Iron Stand
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this exquisite circa 1920 Chinese Export floor standing bell on wrought iron stand A very well made and decorative...
Category

1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Brass, Wrought Iron

Chinese Ormolu and Cloisonné Enamel Vase for the Islamic Market
Located in London, GB
Chinese Ormolu and Cloisonné enamel vase for the Islamic Market Chinese, early 20th century Dimensions: Height 19cm, diameter 23cm Crafted in China...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu

Antique Chinese Ormolu and Cloisonné Enamel Vase for the Islamic Market
Located in London, GB
Antique Chinese ormolu and cloisonné enamel vase for the Islamic Market Chinese, early 20th century Dimensions: Height 10cm...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu

Antique Shanxi Province Rare Top Hat Court Official Elm Bench
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Shanxi Province Rare Top Hat Court Official Elm Bench The Antique Shanxi Province Rare Top Hat Court Official Elm Bench is a stunning piece of furnit...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Wood, Elm, Lacquer

Antique Chinese Ormolu Bowl Produced for Export to Islamic Market
Located in London, GB
Antique Chinese ormolu bowl produced for export to Islamic Market Chinese, early 20th century Measures: Height 13cm, width 31cm, depth 22cm This ch...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

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 Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Nest of Four circa 1900 Chinese Chinoiserie Lacqurered Tables Hand Painted
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely nest of four original Chinese Chinoiserie black lacquered tables A good looking, d...
Category

Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Wood

Vintage Chinese Natural Elm Tall Tea / Side Table with Decorative Feet
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Chinese Natural Elm Tall Tea / side table with Decorative Feet This Vintage tall tea table/side table ia made of elm and has unique decorative feet. This table has its origi...
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Elm

Lovely Chinese Burr & Burl Elm Apothecary Chest of Drawers with Cupboard Base
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely small Apothecary Burl Elm Chinese chest of drawers with cupboard base A good looking and decorative piece, it’s the right size as a ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Elm

Pair of Chinese Export Footed Dishes
Located in Los Angeles, CA
No breaks, cracks or fractures. Beautifully detailed.
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Marbel Topped Tea or Coffee Table Using Vintage Carved Giltwood Panels
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage marble topped Chinese tea table constructed with vintage circa 1940 hand carved giltwood panels A very good looking and well...
Category

1940s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Marble

19th Century Chinese Export Solid Silver Dragon Epergne, Hung Chong & Co c 1890
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique late-19th century Chinese very unusual solid silver eperne, the central trumpet shaped vase and twin baskets are highly decorated with pierced bamboo leaves, cherry blossom a...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Silver

Chinese Export Silver Dragon Repousse Tanakard
Located in Sarasota, FL
Chinese Export silver tankard with detailed repousse dragons and dragon handle. The tankard is 5 3/4" tall, 3 1/4' in diameter, 4 1/8" at the handle....
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Silver

19th Century Chinese Export Footed Dish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful color. No breaks, cracks or fractures.
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

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 Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

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 Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

One-of-a-kind Carved Chinese Style Tableaux, 19th Century
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Gorgeous and unusual pair of wood carvings in the Chinese taste, set in beautiful, gold-colored, faux-bamboo frames.
Category

19th Century Unknown Antique Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Beech

Three-drawer box of Chinese scope, late 19th century with floral decoration
Located in Vicenza, VI
hree-drawer box with closing panel of Chinese ambit, datable to the late 1800s. The box is made of lacquered wood, on all sides there are plant and floral decorations, having as sub...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

18th Century Chinese Export Famille Rose Vases, circa 1750
Located in London, GB
A pair of 18th century famille rose vases painted and applied decoration of squirrels flowers and leaves.
Category

18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Chinese Box, Black Lacquered Rectangular Double Handled Box
Located in Buchanan, MI
A 19th century Chinese box. Black lacquered rectangular double handled box with gilt decoration throughout 7" x 25" x 21". Would make a great ...
Category

19th Century Antique Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Wood

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 Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Shanxi Province Elm Stool
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Shanxi Province Elm Stool Antique Shanxi Province Elm Seat with Original Color and Patina
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Wood, Elm

Antique Shanxi Province Red Lacquer Elm Side Tables, Pair
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Shanxi Province Red Lacquer Elm side tables - pair These Antique Shanxi Province Elm Side Tables have been wrapped in linen and painted with red...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Linen, Wood, Elm, Lacquer

Chinese Export asian art and furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Chinese Export asian art and furniture 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 asian art and furniture 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 wood, ceramic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Chinese Export asian art and furniture 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 asian art and furniture, popular names associated with this style include Wang Hing & Co., Europa Antiques, Luen Wo, and Hung Chong & Co.. 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 asian art and furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $59 and tops out at $145,000 while the average work can sell for $2,132.

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