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.
Qing Dynasty Chinese Four Panel Screen c. 1850
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
A testement to Qing Dynasty craftsmanship this folding panel features wonderful lattice windows. The panel still features its original hinges that allows for many ways to position th...
Wood
Pair of Chinese Turned Square Courtyard Panels, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Designing the intricate patterning of these 19th century northern Chinese lattice panels was like solving a puzzle. Skilled craftsmen pieced together handcut lengths of wood, precisely interlocking them to create a repeating diamond pattern...
Elm, Paper
Chinese Export Six Panel Coromandel Screen Gilt Courtyard
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Stunning 20th century Chinese export lacquered six-panel coromandel screen depicting a lush courtyard over a dramatic gold leaf ground. The lacquered panels are incised and painted w...
Brass
Chinese Export Six Panel Coromandel Screen Gilt Courtyard
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Exceptional 20th century Chinese export six panel coromandel screen featuring a busy idyllic courtyard scene with a dramatic gilt background. The screen has six panels lacquered and ...
Brass
19th Century Chinese Window Lattice Panel Screen
Located in New York, NY
19th Century Window Lattice Screen. Very special Lattice Screen Window Panel from Shanxi China 19th century. Wonderfully assembled sculpted pieces of Cypress wood with each face ro...
Cypress
Set of 4 Chinese Watercolor Landscape Panels
Located in Queens, NY
Set of 4 Asian Chinese style (19th Cent) vertical wall panels of watercolor landscape scenes on paper within silver faux bamboo frames.
Paint, Paper
$385
H 10.5 in W 8.75 in D 0.75 in
Mid 19thC. Chinese Pith Painting of A Female Flautist Framed; Oval Matte C. 1850
Located in Incline Village, NV
A female flautist is proudly on display in this circa 1850 Chinese watercolor pith painting; as the subject portrays an element of Chinese culture wanting to be expressed and shown t...
Paint, Paper
$3,900Sale Price|74% Off
H 115.5 in W 97 in D 2 in
19th Century Antique Chinese Handcraft 5 Panels Wooden Screen / Room Divider
Located in Pomona, CA
Size: 115 1/2"H x 19 1/2"W x 2"D each All together: 97 in W Origin: Shan Xi, China Circa: 1850 Material: Elm wood Condition: Original finished, very good condition. hand made, hand ...
Elm
Set of 6 Antique Chinese Lattice Panels
Located in Kastrup, DK
Set of six wood carved Chinese 17-18th century Qing dynasty panels or room divider. Each panel features an main section with an open fretwork design lattice panel window, comprised by a pattern of a connecting cherry blossoms. Relief foliate lattice design on the top and bottom of the window. The bottom panels are designed with solid wood panels adorned with a hand painted flower motif at the bottom. Panels such as these were used to easily divid- or open up a room. These Qing panels...
Wood
$7,800
H 84.5 in W 117 in D 2 in
Chinese Antique Six-Panel Folding Screen with Stained Glass Geometric Motifs
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese antique six-panel folding screen from the early 20th century, with green, blue and yellow stained glass, geometric motifs and wooden panels. Created in China during the first half of the 20th century, this large folding screen features six panels each adorned with a careful arrangement of opaque octagonal motifs surrounded by colorful stained glass with scrolling or textured motifs. The lower section is made of delicately raised panels surrounded by recessed accents. Folding screens likely originate back to the Han Dynasty, circa 200 BC as evidence in tombs shows. The Chinese considered screens as objects of contemplation and a source of spiritual and creative inspiration. The screens were used to protect from drafts, to provide a sense of privacy or to simply partition a room. With its nice proportions and complimenting colors, this Chinese antique stained glass folding screen...
Stained Glass, Wood
$21,000Sale Price|25% Off
H 96 in W 212 in D 0.75 in
Chinese Qing Twelve Panel Lacquered Coromandel Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Early 20th century Chinese late Qing dynasty twelve panel lacquered coromandel screen. The grand screen features a royal pavilion courtyard...
Brass
Neo-Gothic Flemish hand carved panel in solid oak, ca. 1850
Located in Meulebeke, BE
Belgium / 1850 / panel / oak / Neo-Gothic / Antique Highly decorative 19th century Flemish panel with hand carved Neo-Gothic decorations in oak. The panel consist of four rectangle ...
Oak
Chinese Export Six Panel Lacquered Coromandel Screen Courtyard
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Vibrant 20th century Chinese export coromandel screen depicting a walled pagoda courtyard. The lacquered panels are incised and decorated with colorful pigments of green, red, and wh...
Brass
$5,462 / set
H 45.28 in W 18.51 in D 0.99 in
Pair of Large Framed Chinese Black Lacquer Mother Of Pearl Relief Hanging Panels
Located in London, GB
Pair of Large Framed Chinese Black Lacquer Mother Of Pearl Relief Hanging Panels C.1920 Depicting birds amongst flowering branches. In very good condition commensurate of age. Plea...
Lacquer
Set of Four 19th Century Chinese Lattice Scholars Panels
Located in Chicago, IL
The grand height and exquisite decorations make this set of four 19th century lattice panels a truly rare find. Likely the once courtyard doors of a fine Qing dynasty home in souther...
Fabric, Walnut
Set of Eight 19th Century Chinese Scholars Utopia Panels
Located in Chicago, IL
The grand height and exquisite decorations make this set of eight 19th century lattice panels a truly rare find. Likely the once courtyard doors of a fine Qing-dynasty home in southern China, these tall panels were crafted with light and open latticework framed by densely carved panels. These detailed carvings depict Qing-dynasty scholars in courtly settings as they cultivate their creativity and transcendent knowledge. Tiered pavilions, garden scholars' rocks, and intricate latticework set the scene for these scholarly pursuits and illustrate the esteem with which scholars were held in Chinese culture. Abstract dragons top...
Cotton, Walnut
Set of Four 19th Century Chinese Lattice Scholars' Panels
Located in Chicago, IL
It is unusual to find such a fine set of 19th century Chinese lattice panels hand carved from walnut. Despite their grand height, the panels feel light and delicate thanks to open la...
Walnut
Chinese Green Lacquer Lattice Window Panel
Located in Chicago, IL
This lattice window panel likely originated in an aristocratic Chinese home with neutral and balanced interiors. The geometric lattice pattern is linear and open, and was designed or...
Cedar
19th Century Chinese Sign of Honor
Located in Chicago, IL
Offered to an honoured friend of the community to mark a moment and then hung prominently, this sign proclaims “prosperity for posterity” beautifully scripted in gold ink. Made of no...
Elm, Paint
19th Century Chinese Honeycomb Lattice Headboard
Located in Chicago, IL
Drawn to its open lattice design and graphic lines, we fashioned this striking headboard from a railing found in a 19th-century courtyard home. Common in railings such as this one, as well as in portable screens...
Elm
Pair of Chinese Carved Doors with Glass Window Panels, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A hallmark of Qing-dynasty domestic architecture, these hand carved doors were originally used in a Provincial courtyard home to allow light and air i...
Glass, Elm
Set of Six 19th Century Chinese Courtyard Lattice Panels
Located in Chicago, IL
The sweeping elegance of these six 19th century courtyard doors, with their intricate lattice panels, hides the mathematical brilliance required to create them. The panels recall lif...
Fir
Set of Four 18th Century Chinese Floral Lattice Courtyard Panels
Located in Chicago, IL
The sweeping elegance of these four 18th century courtyard doors, with their intricate lattice panels, hides the mathematical brilliance required to create them. The panels recall li...
Elm
Set of Four Chinese Treasure Lattice Panels, 19th Century
Located in Chicago, IL
A hallmark of Qing-dynasty domestic architecture, hand-carved lattice panels such as these were originally used in Provincial courtyard homes to a...
Elm
Late 19th Century Chinese Geometric Lattice Panel
Located in Chicago, IL
Elegant in its simplicity, this 19th century lattice window panel was designed to allow light and air into a room while providing a degree of privacy. Distinct from carving or perfor...
Elm
Chinese Four-Panel Lattice Screen
Located in Chicago, IL
With open lattice panels, this four-part screen allows light and air to stream into a room while still providing privacy. A versatile feature to an aristocratic Chinese home, screens...
Elm