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Qing Decorative Boxes

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.

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Style: Qing
Provincial Chinese Wooden Box with Bone Chopstick Handles
Located in Chicago, IL
A narrow wooden box with a sliding lid and a pair of carved bone chopstick handles with contrasting dark inlay at the ends. The bone handles were likely originally affixed to chopsti...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood, Bone

Provincial Chinese Wooden Box with Bone Chopstick Handles
Provincial Chinese Wooden Box with Bone Chopstick Handles

Provincial Chinese Wooden Box with Bone Chopstick Handles

Chinese Double Handled Brass Brazier, circa 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
On a cold winter’s night in China’s Northern provinces, the well-to-do held their hands over this coal-filled brazier to ward off the chill. Handmade of brass, the exquisitely crafte...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Chinese Double Handled Brass Brazier, circa 1850
Chinese Double Handled Brass Brazier, circa 1850

Chinese Double Handled Brass Brazier, circa 1850

White-glazed Circular Box and Cover, Qing Dynasty, Kangxi Era, Circa 1690
Located in seoul, KR
White glazed box from the Qing dynasty Vung Tau cargo. An identical piece is included on page 459 of the Vung Tau catalog titled 'Christies Amsterdam 19...
Category

1690s Vietnamese Antique Qing Decorative Boxes

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

White-glazed Circular Box and Cover, Qing Dynasty, Kangxi Era, Circa 1690
White-glazed Circular Box and Cover, Qing Dynasty, Kangxi Era, Circa 1690

White-glazed Circular Box and Cover, Qing Dynasty, Kangxi Era, Circa 1690

Late Qing Dynasty Wood and Brass Lidded Box with Lateral Handles
Located in Yonkers, NY
A late Qing Dynasty Chinese wooden box from the early 20th century with brass hardware and lateral handles. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural hi...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Late Qing Dynasty Wood and Brass Lidded Box with Lateral Handles
Late Qing Dynasty Wood and Brass Lidded Box with Lateral Handles

Late Qing Dynasty Wood and Brass Lidded Box with Lateral Handles

Late Qing Dynasty Document Box with Brass Lock and Carrying Handles
Located in Yonkers, NY
An antique Chinese Late Qing Dynasty period wooden document box from the early 20th century with reddish brown lacquer, brass hardware and carrying handles. Created in China during the late Qing Dynasty period in the early years of the 20th century, this wooden document box features a domed lid opening thanks to a traditional brass lock...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Late Qing Dynasty Document Box with Brass Lock and Carrying Handles
Late Qing Dynasty Document Box with Brass Lock and Carrying Handles

Late Qing Dynasty Document Box with Brass Lock and Carrying Handles

Chinese Five Blessings Brass Brazier, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Filled with burning coals, this exquisitely crafted 19th-century brazier once warmed the cold hands of a wealthy woman on a winter night in northern China. The brazier is hand-wrough...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Chinese Five Blessings Brass Brazier, c. 1850
Chinese Five Blessings Brass Brazier, c. 1850

Chinese Five Blessings Brass Brazier, c. 1850

19th Century Chinoiserie Gilt Painted Box
Located in New York, NY
A 19th century Chinese chinoiserie gilt painted box. Lacquer work box of very high quality. Beautifully painted.  
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

19th Century Chinoiserie Gilt Painted Box
19th Century Chinoiserie Gilt Painted Box

19th Century Chinoiserie Gilt Painted Box

19th Century Chinese Elmwood Box with Canted Corners
Located in Dallas, TX
A 19th century Chinese elmwood box with brass hardware with canted corners. This unusual long and narrow box was probably custom made to house a musical instrument, it is very decor...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

19th Century Chinese Elmwood Box with Canted Corners
19th Century Chinese Elmwood Box with Canted Corners

19th Century Chinese Elmwood Box with Canted Corners

Chinese Qing Dynasty 19th Century Long Wooden Scroll Box with Brass Hardware
Located in Yonkers, NY
A long Chinese Qing Dynasty period wooden scroll box from the 19th century, with brass hardware. Created in China during the Qing Dynasty period, this un...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Chinese Qing Dynasty 19th Century Long Wooden Scroll Box with Brass Hardware
Chinese Qing Dynasty 19th Century Long Wooden Scroll Box with Brass Hardware

Chinese Qing Dynasty 19th Century Long Wooden Scroll Box with Brass Hardware

Qing Dynasty Hinged Box with Brass Hardware and Weathered Patina
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Qing Dynasty period hinged wooden box from the 19th century with brass hardware and nicely weathered patina. Crafted during the Qing Dynasty in the 19th century, this wooden box ca...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Qing Dynasty Hinged Box with Brass Hardware and Weathered Patina
Qing Dynasty Hinged Box with Brass Hardware and Weathered Patina

Qing Dynasty Hinged Box with Brass Hardware and Weathered Patina

Qing Dynasty Red Lacquered Scroll Box with Distressed Gold Chinoiserie Décor
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Qing dynasty red lacquered lidded scroll box from the 19th century with distressed gold chinoiserie motifs. This exquisite Chinese Qing dynasty red lacquered lidded scroll ...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

Qing Dynasty Red Lacquered Scroll Box with Distressed Gold Chinoiserie Décor
Qing Dynasty Red Lacquered Scroll Box with Distressed Gold Chinoiserie Décor

Qing Dynasty Red Lacquered Scroll Box with Distressed Gold Chinoiserie Décor

Circa 1860 Chinese Domed Top Pigskin Leather Scroll Case Box
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1860 domed top pigskin leather scroll case box, Chinese. Gilt frontice & side panel designs with handsome brass fittings. Deep red, the top rubbed away to burnt orange. Qing Dy...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Decorative Boxes

Materials

Hide

Circa 1860 Chinese Domed Top Pigskin Leather Scroll Case Box
Circa 1860 Chinese Domed Top Pigskin Leather Scroll Case Box

Circa 1860 Chinese Domed Top Pigskin Leather Scroll Case Box

Red Lacquer Wedding Chest with Hand-Painted Décor, Qing Dynasty
Located in Yonkers, NY
An antique Chinese Qing Dynasty period dark red lacquer wooden wedding chest from the 19th century with unusual shape, hand-painted floral décor and brass hardware. Created in China ...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

Red Lacquer Wedding Chest with Hand-Painted Décor, Qing Dynasty
Red Lacquer Wedding Chest with Hand-Painted Décor, Qing Dynasty

Red Lacquer Wedding Chest with Hand-Painted Décor, Qing Dynasty

Pair of Chinese Longevity Relief Scroll Cases, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Delicately carved of dense hardwood, these 19th-century scroll cases were an essential accessory for the esteemed Qing-dynasty scholar. The perfect size for a rolled-up scroll, the cases were once used to store and protect works of traditional calligraphy and landscape painting. The matching cases are hand-carved in low relief with all-over scrollwork and borders of geometric meanders. Each case is carved with repeated Shou characters, symbols of longevity and a blessing for a long and complete life. Amid the scrollwork flourishes are ribbon-clad objects known as the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism, including the eternal knot...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Decorative Boxes

Materials

Hardwood

Pair of Chinese Longevity Relief Scroll Cases, c. 1900
Pair of Chinese Longevity Relief Scroll Cases, c. 1900

Pair of Chinese Longevity Relief Scroll Cases, c. 1900

Chinese Yellow Cloisonne Dragon Box, Republic Period, circa 1920, China
Located in Austin, TX
A charming Chinese yellow cloisonne small trinket box with dragons, Republic Period, circa 1920, China. The small box sets on four bun feet and designed ...
Category

1920s Chinese Vintage Qing Decorative Boxes

Materials

Copper, Enamel

Chinese Yellow Cloisonne Dragon Box, Republic Period, circa 1920, China
Chinese Yellow Cloisonne Dragon Box, Republic Period, circa 1920, China

Chinese Yellow Cloisonne Dragon Box, Republic Period, circa 1920, China

Chinese Finely Woven Lacquered Trunk, c. 1800
Located in Chicago, IL
A work of art in itself, this finely woven Qing-dynasty trunk likely once stored prized painted scrolls. Framed in elmwood, the trunk’s panels are lined with thin reeds that were pai...
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Chinese Finely Woven Lacquered Trunk, c. 1800
Chinese Finely Woven Lacquered Trunk, c. 1800

Chinese Finely Woven Lacquered Trunk, c. 1800

Chinese Gourd-Form Presentation Box, circa 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This finely lacquered box was once presented as a gift, filled with popular snacks like roasted melon seeds, dried fruit, and cinnamon-toasted soy beans. The lightweight box is formed in the shape of a melon, a traditional symbol of perpetuity. Cloaked in layer upon layer of rich red lacquer, the box is intricately decorated with paintings of ruyi-framed lotus...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

Chinese Gourd-Form Presentation Box, circa 1850
Chinese Gourd-Form Presentation Box, circa 1850

Chinese Gourd-Form Presentation Box, circa 1850

Pair of Petite Chinese Red Lacquer Butterfly Chests, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
These late 19th century miniature tapered cabinets would have been kept in a woman's quarters, likely used as a jewelry box or cosmetics case. The carved door fronts are decorated wi...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Decorative Boxes

Materials

Elm

Pair of Petite Chinese Red Lacquer Butterfly Chests, c. 1900
Pair of Petite Chinese Red Lacquer Butterfly Chests, c. 1900

Pair of Petite Chinese Red Lacquer Butterfly Chests, c. 1900

Chinese Finely Woven Lacquered Trunk, c. 1800
Located in Chicago, IL
This finely woven circa 1800 trunk is a work of art in itself and was possibly used to store prized painted scrolls. A skilled artisan painstakingly wove thin-as-hair reeds to cover ...
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Decorative Boxes

Materials

Reed, Elm, Lacquer

Chinese Finely Woven Lacquered Trunk, c. 1800
Chinese Finely Woven Lacquered Trunk, c. 1800

Chinese Finely Woven Lacquered Trunk, c. 1800

Chinese Studded Nanmu Lock Box, c. 1800
Located in Chicago, IL
A special place for storing jewelry and other treasures, this early 19th-century lock box was created by a skilled artisan in China's Jiangsu province. The box is minimally decorated to showcase the rich, swirling grain of the nanmu wood, an esteemed softwood found throughout China. The interior contains a small lidded compartment and a removable dividing tray...
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Chinese Studded Nanmu Lock Box, c. 1800
Chinese Studded Nanmu Lock Box, c. 1800

Chinese Studded Nanmu Lock Box, c. 1800

Qing decorative boxes for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Qing decorative boxes for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage decorative boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, asian art and furniture, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Qing decorative boxes 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 decorative boxes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $276 and tops out at $57,280 while the average work can sell for $980.

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