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.
Erotic Chinese Baitong Opium Box, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
A petite white brass (baitong) canister once used to store a smoker's personal supply of opium paste. Dated to the 19th-century, the box is an example of Qing-dynasty erotica, incorp...
Brass
Petite Chinese Brass Opium Box with Dragon Etching
Located in Chicago, IL
This petite metal canister was once used to store a smoker's personal supply of opium paste. Providing an airtight seal, the small box is formed of brass with an etched and stamped d...
Brass
18th Century Chinese Beijing enamel snuff box
Located in Basildon, GB
An 18th Century Chinese Beijing enamel snuff box finely painted to the lid and sides with typical Chinese scenes, the base painted with a leafy gourd. The lid is mounted in gilt bron...
Bronze, Enamel
Petite Etched Chinese Opium Box, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A petite 19th-century canister once used to store a smoker's personal supply of opium paste. A keepsake from a bygone era, the small box is formed of brass with a copper interior and...
Brass, Copper
Etched Chinese Opium Box, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
A small brass canister once used to store a smoker's personal supply of opium paste. A keepsake from a bygone era, the small box dates to the 19th century and is decorated with etchi...
Brass, Copper
Chinese Copper Coin Opium Box, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A petite 19th century canister once used to store a smoker's personal supply of opium paste. A keepsake from a bygone era, the small box is formed of antique coins and copper and pro...
Copper
Petite Chinese Opium Box, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
A petite 19th century canister once used to store a smoker's personal supply of opium paste. A keepsake from a bygone era, the small box is formed of brass and provided an airtight s...
Brass
Antique Chinese Snuff Bottle Lapis Lazuli Gemstone Carved Late Qing Dynasty Blue
Located in Palm Beach, FL
A rare carved antique Chinese lapis lazuli stone snuff bottle of the late Qing Dynasty. Finely carved from a solid piece of genuine lapis lazuli exhibiting rich and vibrant blue tone...
Lapis Lazuli
Chinese Hand Carved Peking Glass Snuff Bottle Reverse Painted Dragon Pearl Gourd
Located in Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite Chinese Hand Carved Peking Glass Snuff Bottle. Hand painted on the reverse with a dragon chasing the pearl design. This beautiful Chinese snuff bottle is hand made of th...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Cut Glass
Asian Chinese Snuff Bottle Fluorite Gemstone Oriental Tobacco Box Qing Carved
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rare beautiful asian chinese snuff bottle hand carved from purple fluorite gemstone. Truly a unique oriental snuff tobacco box from the late Qing Dynasty. Gemstone snuff bottles ar...
Multi-gemstone
Glass Chinese Snuff Bottle Qing Dynasty Qianlong Famille Rose Imperial Yellow
Located in Palm Beach, FL
A very rare and exquisite asian glass Chinese snuff bottle from the late Qing Dynasty. This exceptional snuff bottle bears a later Qianlong mark and is designed in the iconic famille...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Milk Glass, Paint
Chinese Bronze Opium Box, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A petite bronze canister once used to store a smoker's personal supply of opium paste. A keepsake from a bygone era, the small box dates to the early 20th century and provided an air...
Bronze
Chinese Bronze Opium Box, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A petite bronze canister once used to store a smoker's personal supply of opium paste. A keepsake from a bygone era, the small box dates to the early 20th century and provided an air...
Bronze
Handcrafted Antique Tinned Copper Metal Betel Box, India
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Beautiful handcrafted antique tinned copper decorative octagonal betel box with with lid, handle and brass latch. The metal is delicately and int...
Brass, Copper, Tin
Antique Asian Wood Opium Container with Lid and Brass Pull
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Decorative Antique Asian round wood box container with lid and brass pull. Vintage collectible Asian wooden tobacco or opium round container. Round shaped lidded opium container...
Wood
Antique metal Pill Box inlaid to lid, English Edwardian period
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a small oval shaped antique metal Pill Box with Inlay to the lid and dating to the Edwardian or late Victorian period. The box is made ...
Stone, Brass, Bronze
Moorish Micro Mosaic Jewelry Box by Rajhastani, India, 1950
By Rajhastani
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moorish style micro mosaic marquetry inlaid jewelry box with lid. Intricate inlaid Anglo Indian box with floral and geometric Islamic Moorish mosaic Sadeli design in a square shape form with mosaic inlay and marquetry, very fine artwork, lined in red velvet. Museum collector piece like the one in Doris Duke Islamic Art Museum. The repeating geometric patterns of Sadeli Mosaic are what give it beauty and richness. This decorative technique is a type of micro mosaic featuring repeating geometric patterns. A highly skilled craft, it has had a long history in India and the Middle East with early examples dating back to the 16th century. In the 1800s, it became popular as a decoration on a variety of boxes, card cases, and chess boards imported from India. Since Bombay became a center of making them, they became known as Bombay boxes...
Wood
$266Sale Price|20% Off
H 4.41 in W 8.15 in D 4.81 in
Indochinese Box in Wood and Mother of Pearl circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Nice wooden and mother-of-pearl box from the 1900s. The mother-of-pearl inlays form plant motifs (flowers and foliage), incised to give volume to the different parts. It closes with ...
Wood
Antique Handmade Wood Money Box with Hardware from 19th Century, China
Located in Yonkers, NY
An antique handmade Chinese money box with metal hardware from the 19th century. This rectangular box is made of two-tone wood. The front displays a ...
Brass
$950
H 7.5 in W 10.5 in D 10.5 in
Large Asian Decorative Wooden Jewelry Box with Hammered Brass Metal Overlay
By Rajhastani
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large Asian decorative wooden jewelry box with brass overlay. Large ethnic Indian hand painted decorative jewelry wood box with brass metal hammere...
Brass
$7,196
H 1.97 in W 7.17 in D 5.4 in
Chinese Mother of Pearl Mounted Box with Four Boxes and Counters, 18th Century
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An exceptional and rare Chinese mother of pearl mounted games box with four matching interior boxes containing gaming counters and dating from the 18th century. The rectangular shape...
Mother-of-Pearl
$3,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.5 in W 5 in D 4 in
Fine Meiji Period Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Box with Dragon Trinket Box
Located in Long Island City, NY
A finely executed Japanese cloisonné enamel box dating to the Meiji period, executed entirely with gilt wire cloisons. The lid is centered with a dynamic coiled dragon set against a ...
Enamel
English 18th Century Gold-Mounted Agate Snuff-Box
Located in Paris, FR
Agate box or snuff-box in of circular form with gently bombé sides, the gold mounted lid is chased with scrollwork. Probably Georges II period. Unmarked gold...
Agate, Gold
$1,021
H 1.58 in W 0.87 in D 1.78 in
Antique Asian Chinese Opium Box in Cloisonné Enamel, Snuff Box Floral Motif
Located in Leuven , BE
Antique Chinese Opium Box in Cloisonné Enamel, decorated with Floral Motifs and Interior Scenes French Private Collection
Metal
Old Chinese Jewelry Box Jewelry Box Jade Brass
Located in Poperinge, BE
Old Chinese wooden jewelry box with brass fittings and a jade plaque centrally placed on the lid, inside a pink/fuchsia lining with gold floral decoration, second half of the 20th ce...
Jade, Brass
Chinese Openwork Brass Dross Box, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
By the 18th century, opium use had become as central to Chinese social life as taking tea or smoking tobacco, fostering a subculture rich with its own customs, traditions, and exquis...
Brass
Chinese White Brass Dross Box Toggle, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A small pocket toggle of white brass and copper designed as a portable dross box, a container used to collect spent opium ash (dross). The toggle has a perforated design of interlock...
Brass, Copper
Chinese Repoussé Lotus Opium Box, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
A petite 19th-century canister once used to store a smoker's personal supply of opium paste. Providing an airtight seal, the small box is formed of brass with a copper lining and is ...
Brass
Chinese Bronze Opium Box, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A petite bronze canister once used to store a smoker's personal supply of opium paste. A keepsake from a bygone era, the small box dates to the early 20th century and provided an air...
Bronze
Fine Chinese Cloisonné Opium Box, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This petite cloisonné box is a pocket-sized canister once used to store a smoker's personal supply of opium paste. Providing an airtight seal, the box is finely decorated with an abs...
Copper, Enamel
Chinese Silver Dragon Snuff Box Hung Chong
Located in Newark, England
Circa 1910 From our Chinese collection, we are pleased to offer this Chinese Silver Dragon Snuff Box. The snuff box of oval form having a hammered decoration to the exterior with a ...
Silver