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Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

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
Box in Lacquered Wood, Vietnam 20th Century, Black and Orange -Red Color
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Beautiful Lacquered Wooden Box, Vietnam, 20th Century This exquisite lacquered wooden box from Vietnam, crafted in the 20th century, is a stunning example of traditional Vietnames...
Category

20th Century Vietnamese Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Wood

Late 19th Century Engraved Chinese Brass Box with Carved Nephrite White Jade Lid
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Antique carved nephrite white jade from a ruyi, mounted to the hinged lid of a conforming brass box. The inside of the lid and outer surfaces are engraved with propitious symbols. C...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Jade, Brass

Asian Brass Mounted Rosewood and Felt Lined Jewelry Box
Located in Germantown, MD
This is a Chinese jewelry box that is made out of rosewood with beautiful Chinoiserie brass trim. It is a nice heavy box that measures 12”W x 8”L x 6”H. The top layer inside holds 5 ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Hong Kong Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Brass

Vintage leather clad hand painted Chinese dresser box.
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a vintage hand painted leather clad dresser box. This dresser box was handmade in Canton China. This box has two small drawers at the front and a lid that opens up and presen...
Category

1990s Chinese Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Leather

Late 19th Century Antique Chinese Wooden Jewelry Box, Cosmetic Box
Located in Pomona, CA
This beautiful antique Jewelry box was made from solid wood with original mirror and antique hardware on it. The top of the jewelry box c...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Wood

Antique Chinese Cinnabar Lacquered Rectangular Box and Cover, China, circa 1880,
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Red lacquer box with the lid representing a scholar and children playing in a mountainous garden, the outer sides covered with repeated geometric patterns. This box was made in China...
Category

Late 19th Century Asian Antique Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Chinese Box, with Flower Pattern Decor, Lacquered 19th Century
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Small lacquered painted box, with floral decorations in yellow, red and green, it was made in China in the 19th century.
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Wood

Rectangular Brass and Bronze Wood Jewelry Box, 1950's
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Sturdy rectangular hinged trinket box for display or functional for jewelry. Wonderful piece to add to existing collection. Marked on the bottom, China
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Metal, Brass, Bronze

19th Century Chinese Hand Carved Meal Delivery and Lunch Box
Located in Pomona, CA
This Antique lacquered lunch box from Shan Xi, China has over 140 years history and still maintained very good condition. There are some traditional carving works on the two sides handle and shows the traditional style of Northern China's cultural. This antique lunch box...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Wood

1950s Mid-Century Chinese Rosewood+Brass Turtle Hinged Jewelry Box Chinoiserie
Located in Hyattsville, MD
An older mid-century Chinese export/souvenir Jewelry Box. Inside it has two removable separators, outside is has brass decorations, hinges, and a wond...
Category

1950s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Brass

Antique Chinese Wooden Jewelry Box or Vanity Dresser Chest with Intricate Inlay
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This very elaborate jewelry box or vanity dresser makeup chest is unsigned, but presumed to have been made in China in approximately 1850 in the period Chinese Export style. The box ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Metal

Pair of Antique Chinese Table Top Vanity Jewellery Box Cabinets Folding Mirrors
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning pair of antique Chinese Export table top vanity mirror cabinets circa 1900 A good looking and well made pairing, most likely used ...
Category

Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Brass

Large Jewelry or Decorative Box Brown Red colors Color Japan 19th
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Jewelry or Decorative Box Brown Red colors Color Japan 19th
Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Wood

Vintage Jewellery Box, Oriental, Dressing Table Keepsake Case, Circa 1970
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage jewellery box. An Oriental, mahogany and brass keepsake case, dating to the late 20th century, circa 1970. A finely presented sto...
Category

1970s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Brass

Chinese Export Rose Wood, Brass Koi Lock Box
Located in New York, NY
Exotic Rose Wood keepsake, document box with a heay brass koi lock with red tasseled key. Box lined in paper with chinese characters.
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Brass

Early 20th Century Chinese Hand-Painted Wooden Box
Located in Pomona, CA
This is a traditional style of Chinese painted wooden Box from Shan Xi, China. It has about 100 years history. Normally it was used to store jewelry and valuable accessories as well ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Wood

Large Rond Jewelry Box, Color with with Internal Compartments, Japan 19th
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This is an rond large box. It has been decorated with gilted drawing. It has been made in Japan, during the 19th Century. In red and gold color. It is a jelwery box.
Category

19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Wood

Early 20th-Century Chinese Hand Painted Wooden Jewelry/Fruit Box
Located in Pomona, CA
Antique Chinese decorated Jewelry/fruit box. Beautiful decorated Chinoiserie box used to serve fruits and special treats or store Jewelry and valuable things. Hand painting over red ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Wood

Early 20th-Century Chinese Hand Painted Wooden Jewelry/Fruit Box
Located in Pomona, CA
Antique Chinese decorated Jewelry/fruit box. Beautiful decorated Chinoiserie box used to serve fruits and special treats or store Jewelry and valuable things. Hand painting over red ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Wood

Large Oval Jewelry Box, Color with with Internal Compartments France 19th
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This is an Ovale large box. It has been decorated with a sivered color metal plate and lid. It has been made in France, during the 19th Century. In brown color. It is a jelwery box.
Category

19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Metal

Large Jewellery Box, with a Mirror Inside, Vietnam from the End of 19th Century
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Large box from Vietnam. Manufactured at the end of the 19th century. Red in color slightly pinkish, with magnificent fish decorations in white and yellow colors. This box locks, the ...
Category

Late 19th Century Vietnamese Antique Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Mirror, Wood

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Antique Staffordshire Painted Hen on Nest covered Box or Tureen, Circa 1880
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
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Previously Available Items
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Located in Harlingen, TX
A vintage George Zee Chinese jewelry storage box. This beautifully crafted chest is constructed of wood and adorned with brass accents including ...
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Early 20th century lacquered vanity box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
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Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

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Chinese Bone Double Deck Trinket Box
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a bone double deck hand carved and painted trinket box. The lid depicts a Chinese family scene of a mother with her siblings. The front and...
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20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

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Bone

Chinese Bone Double Deck Trinket Box
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H 2 in W 2.25 in D 1.3 in
18th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Chinoiserie Table Cabinet
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
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Located in Haddonfield, NJ
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Vintage Chinese Carved Cinnabar Red Lacquer Box, Republic Period
Located in Vero Beach, FL
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Chinese Jade and Gilt Metal Vanity Box, Casket Box
Located in Manhasset, NY
Chinese jade and gilt metal vanity box, casket box. This sweet jade antique casket or vanity jewelry box is simply stunning with its bronze mounted ador...
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Antique Chinese Jewelry Box with Jade Inset
Located in Sheffield, MA
Antique Chinese jewelry box with jade insets on the doors and sides with corner brass mounts. Three silk lined drawers with side compartme...
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19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

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Antique Chinese Jewelry Box with Jade Inset
Antique Chinese Jewelry Box with Jade Inset
H 8.25 in W 5.75 in D 4.63 in
Antique Chinese Jewelry Box with Lid
Located in Sheffield, MA
Chinese 19th century antique brass mounted wooden jewelry box with metal mounts and inset carved jade piece on the lid. Silk lined center compartment with two side sections for ring storage.
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Rosewood

Antique Chinese Jewelry Box with Lid
Antique Chinese Jewelry Box with Lid
H 2.75 in W 6.5 in D 4 in
Chinese Cosmetic Chest Makeup Box with Mirror
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Chinese black lacquer makeup box / cosmetic chest with mirror. A lovely addition to the dressing table or ladies closet - the black lacquer box folds down o...
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20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Chinese Jewelry Box with Brass Hardware
Located in New York, NY
This exceptional Chinese jewelry box was realized in rosewood, circa 1950. What separates this piece from other examples of the period are its stunning details, including wood joiner...
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Brass

Brilliant Orange Japanese Lacquer Box with Wood and Brass Detailing
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Brilliant orange Japanese lacquer box with wood and brass detailing, a lovely box ready for the most precious of finery or a simple group, fr...
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Chinese Export jewelry boxes for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Chinese Export jewelry 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 jewelry boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Chinese Export jewelry 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 jewelry boxes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $250 and tops out at $2,995 while the average work can sell for $656.

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