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.
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...
Brass
$85Sale Price|66% Off
Vintage Chinese Lacquer Box Sea Shell Shape
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Vintage Chinese handcrafted lacquer wood handpainted jewelry box in a shape of sea shells clam.
Wood
Antique Brass Asian Street Vendor Noodle Cart
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, an antique brass Asian street vendor noodle cart. Used by vendors to serve noodles and dumplings. The base opens to hold hot coals to keep food warm. The top...
Brass
Chinese Blue & White Double Happiness Box
Located in Chicago, IL
Glazed in the classic, blue-and-white manner, this petite porcelain box offers a blessing of happiness and good fortune. Painted on the lid is the symbol for "double happiness" (shua...
Porcelain
$1,196Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Decorated Tea Caddy Box
Located in Atlanta, GA
Chinese for the English market, 19th century. A fine quality antique Chinese export tea caddy decorated with beautiful gilding surfaces, a hinged lid which opens to reveal a tooled ...
Pewter
Early 20th-Century Chinese Porcelain Geisha Trinket Box
Located in Pomona, CA
This product is an antique Geisha Trinket Box made of porcelain with hand painted Geisha girl on the lid. Originating from China dated back to 1920s. It...
Porcelain
$636Sale Price|20% Off
Mid-Century Chinese Black & Gold Cloisonné 'Good Luck' Circular Table Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Mid-Century Chinese black & gold cloisonné 'good luck' circular table box. The tall circular box of exceptional quality, The conforming removable lid enameled with the Chinese character for 'Happiness' A stately piece, its an unusual example in black cloisonné fish...
Brass
Antique Tibetan Painted Leather And Iron Chest or Trunk
Located in Bradenton, FL
AntiqueTibetan chest, beautifully aged painted leather with original iron hardware. Chest has a spacious wooden interior, offering a large amount of storage. Outside features polychrome painted dragons and Asian...
Wood
Vintage solid brass and jade Chinese export trinket box
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a solid brass ornately decorated Chinese made trinket box. This trinket box has four medallions on each corner of the top with a center medallion that has a carved jade inset...
Brass
Antique Chinese Carved Cinnabar & Enamelled Box with Imperial Dragon Top
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique decorative box is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from China, and date to approximately 1920 and done in a period Chinese...
Brass
$262Sale Price|25% Off
Antique Chinese blue and white porcelain trinket/Rouge box
Located in Pomona, CA
The item in the image is an antique Chinese blue and white porcelain Rouge/trinket box with a fish design. These small boxes a...
Sterling Silver
wonderful antique silver cigarette case from china
Located in Munich, DE
another piece from my personal collection. wonderful handmade cigarette case from china. made by an unknown artist and retailed by the company woshing / shanghai. the stamp dates the...
Silver
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.
Wood
Chinese Export Black Lacquer Game Box
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular hinged shaped top enclosing small trays. Conforming case with gilded feet.
Lacquer
Antique Chinese Export Silver Cigarette Case
Located in New York, NY
Chinese export silver cigarette case, ca 1910. Curved and rectangular with push tab. On cover engraved tail-chasing dragon—all talons and horns and scaly serpentine body. Back plain....
Silver
Chinese Export Blue and White Porcelain Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage cobalt blue porcelain box decorated with pagodas in a riverscape, interior fitted with two compartments, made in 20th Century Width 7.5 inches / depth 4 inches / height 3 inc...
Porcelain
Chinese Export Black Lacquer Game Box
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular box with lid opening to game boxes. conforming case. Very good condition for this kind of piece.
Wood, Lacquer
$278Sale Price|60% Off
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...
Brass
Antique Regency Chinese Export Lacquer Handpainted Work Sewing Writing Box 1820
Located in Portland, OR
A fine quality antique Regency period Chinese Export Lacquer Work Sewing Box, Circa 1820. The box having a hinged lid that is sumptuously decorated with a gilded design of Imperial...
Bronze
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...
Wood
Collectible Gilt Metal Tibetan Box with Turquoise 1950s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Collectible Chinese Tibetan Gilt Brass Metal Filigree with Turquoise and Coral beads round Box Handcrafted round Tibetan, Nepalese decorative brass trinket wish box with pull-off lid...
Metal, Brass
Vintage Chinese Red and Gold Carved Handled Box
Located in Queens, NY
"Vintage Chinese red and gold painted decorative wooden box with a metal latch and band around the base and an ornately carved handle featuring a ...
Wood
Antique Chinese Patinated Bronze Incense Burner Box wit Lion Lid
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful decorative solid bronze incense burner box with lid . circa 1970's can be used as a trinket box . Nice patina.
Bronze
Chinese Red Lacquered Box With Brass Mounts, Mid 20th Century
Located in Stamford, CT
Chinese red and black lacquered box with fine brass mounts in the Chinese Export style. Lovely color. A refined and classic decorative box, beautiful craftsmanship. 20 wide 14 deep ...
Brass
Vintage Bronze Cloisonne Powder Box with Prunus - Unsigned - China - Mid-20th C
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage bronze cloisonne lacquer powder box featuring Prunus blossoms - removeable lid - unsigned - China - mid 20th century. Excellent vintage condition - no loss - no damage - n...
Bronze, Enamel
Chinese Round Black Lacquer Box with Mother of Pearl Inlay, likely 20th Century
Located in Cathedral City, CA
Chinese Round Black Lacquer Box with Mother of Pearl Inlay, likely 20th Century Beautiful and useful 20th century. Chinese lacquer box of circular shape, the domed cover with flora...
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Lacquer
$360Sale Price|20% Off
Canton Chinese Porcelain Box
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Canton Chinese porcelain box. Chinese export. Circa 1920 origin China. Rectangular format. With internal divisions. Family Rosse style. Box...
Porcelain
Two Famille Rose Cosmetic Boxes, Qing Dynasty, Yongzheng Period
Located in seoul, KR
Circular form with flattened doomed covers, the covers with a medallion of flower with full bloom, the bowls with two round borders. Period : Qing Dynasty, Kangxi-Yongzheng Period P...
Ceramic, Porcelain
19th-Century Chinese Export Black and Gilt Lacquer Wood Box
Located in San Francisco, CA
There are small, decorative wood boxes from many cultures. Some are ideal for holding hand sewing tools. Others, equipped with a lock, like this example, might hold those bulky bangl...
Wood, Lacquer
$1,580Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Chinese Canton Export Lacquered Giltwood Tea Caddy on Shishi Feet
Located in Haarlem, NL
Clover or quartreform shaped mid-19th century Chinese canton export tea caddy in gold lacquered wood on a black background. Decorated with palace scenes...
Pewter
Asian Chinese Box Hand Painted with Depiction of a Village Gathering
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese hand painted large box decorated with of a small village gathering
Paint
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...
Wood
Antique Cleric's Swing Out Case, Chinese, Travelling Box, Qing, Victorian, 1890
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique cleric's swing-out case. A Chinese, hardwood travelling box, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1890. Charmingly provincial box, presented in original tim...
Hardwood
Round Chinese Box in Carved Red Lacquer Blue Enamel Interior
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
1960's Chinese Box in Carved Red Lacquer, Bronze Hardware and Blue Enamel Interior. Marked with Chinese export sticker
Bronze, Enamel
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.
Wood
Vintage Chinese Cloisonné Lapis Blue Round Lidded Box or Bowl
Located in Doylestown, PA
A striking Chinese lapis blue cloisonné round lidded box or bowl, early 1980s. Vibrantly decorated with a green border, ombre cherry blossoms, a single butterfly, gilded accents and ...
Metal, Enamel
$525Sale Price|56% Off
19th Century Antique Distressed Lidded Box, Chinese Paper Mache
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Century Antique Distressed Lidded Box, Chinese Paper Mache.
Paper
Chinese Mid-Century Inlaid Metal 4-Drawer Jewelry Box / Cabinet
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese Mid-Century small rectangular hardwood box / cabinet features 2 hinged swing doors both carved and inlaid with faux white jade above a bottom drawer with incised metal scroll...
Fabric
Vintage Chinese Black and Red Lacquer Floral Painted Lidded Wooden Basket Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Chinese Black and Red Lacquer Floral Painted Lidded Wooden Basket Box. Circa Early to Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 11" H x 12" W x 12" D.
Wood
ANTIQUE CIRCA 1920 CHiNESE KUT HING PEWTER & WOOD CARVED DRAGON JEWELLERY BOX
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this exquisite Circa 1920 Kut Hing Chinese Pewter & Mahogany carved and embossed jewellery trinket box ...
Pewter
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...
Leather
Chinese Export Cloisonné Box
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Lovely Chinese export cloisonné box made of brass and enameled with a beautiful floral pattern in beautiful colors of red, green, blue and red. The box rests on ball feet. This chino...
Brass, Enamel
Chinese Hexagonal Cast Brass Tea Caddy
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A Chinese hexagonal cast brass tea caddy, early 20th century. Each rectangular side with a shou symbol surrounded by five stylized bats on blue enamel ...
Brass
ANTIQUE CiRCA 1900 CHINESE KUT HING PEWTER & WOOD CARVED DRAGON JEWELLERY BOX
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this exquisite Kut Hing Chinese Pewter & Mahogany carved and embossed jewellery trinket box A good look...
Pewter
Chinese Wooden Small Rectangular Chest with Hand Painted Exotic Birds
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese Mid-Century small rectangular hinged chest with metal latch and two side ring handles, hand painted featuring two exotic birds (depicted on the top and front), pine, berries,...
Wood
$254Sale Price|55% Off
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 ...
Wood
$242Sale Price|50% Off
Mid 20th Century Chinese Hand Painted Sewing Box, Jewelry Box
Located in Pomona, CA
This unique vintage Chinese sewing box is 100 percent hand made and hand painted with traditional Chinese painting on the side and lid of the box. It wa...
Wood
Pair of Chinese Mahogany Tole Hinged Figural & Foliage Bird Tea Bins, Circa 1840
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of Chinese mahogany tole demilune hinged poly chromed tea bins with gilt figural stenciling and decorative landscape scenes with foliage and bird motif, M...
Brass, Metal
Antique Chinese Export Silver Box by Wang Hing
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Chinese export silver dragon box; an addition to our collection of boxes and cases This fine antique C...
Silver
Chinese Export Black Leather Box On Stand
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular box with brass tacks and hinged lid set in a brass base.
Brass
Antique 1900s Chinese Silver Vinaigrette
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Chinese silver vinaigrette in the form of a purse; an addition to our silver boxes collection This excep...
Silver
Antique Chinese Carved Wooden Gold and Red Decorative Box
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese circular wooden box with carved top character design and carved geometric foot, painted in gold and red with a fitted lid and fine black painted border pattern.
Wood
Small Handcarved Chinese Chest
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A hand carved Chinese large table box with hinged lid. Intricately carved all-over with Asian carvings resting of four paw feet. Bronze lock plate on front.
Hardwood
1920s Chinese Export Silver Box
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Chinese Export silver box; an addition to our collection of boxes and cases. This exceptional an...
Silver
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...
Wood, Lacquer
Chinese Export Porcelain Famille Rose Snuff Box- European subjects
Located in Downingtown, PA
East Meets West: Rare Chinese Export "European Subject" Porcelain Snuff Box Circa 1750–1760 A superb mid-18th century Chinese Export porcelain snuff box, finely painted in famille rose and puce enamels, featuring rare "European Subject" decoration. The rectangular box, after a European silver form, features a slightly domed cover and is fitted with its contemporary chased gilt-metal (ormolu) mounts and hinge. The exterior walls are painted with a continuous frieze of European figures—gentlemen in 18th-century frock coats...
Porcelain
Fine Antique Collectable Chinese Table Top Cabinet Jewellery Collectors Storage
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage circa 1920's hand painted and lacquered oriental Chinese table chest or jewellery box. A very good looking and well made pie...
Hardwood
19th Century Asian Wooden Decorative Storage Box
Located in Germantown, MD
Mid 19th Century Asian Wooden decorative storage box with lid. Measures 13.5"W x 11"D x 11.5"H.
Metal
Small Chinese Export Cloisonné Lidded Box decorated with peaches, Circa 1930
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very decorative Chinese Export cloisonné lidded box which we date to the 20th century, Circa 1930. The box has a cylindrical shape, with its original lid and is all beauti...
Bronze
Chinese Export Porcelain oval Lidded Box Hand Painted, circa 1920
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a Chinese Export porcelain Lidded Box, hand painted with a figural decoration, made in China, circa 1920 The box is well potted in an oval shape, the lid having a domed top...
Porcelain