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.
Pair of Chinese Style Silver Heron and Turtle Candelabras
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Asian Chinese-style (19th Century) silver 2 arm candelabra of heron standing on turtle with turquoise and rust enamel inlay. (PRICED AS PAIR)
Enamel
Pair Chinese Sang Du Boeuf vases / candelabra, circa 1880
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive and decorative pair of 19th century Chinese Sang Du Bouf lidded vases each with wonderful gilded ormolu Rococo style scrolling foliate candelabra mounts. Batch 83...
Ormolu
Pair of Chinese Export Porcelain and French Bronze Candelabra
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of candelabra consisting of a pair of 18th century Chinese export vases mounted in 19th century French bronze in the Louis XVI style. The porcelains are very decorative and do...
Bronze
Pair of Kerosene Lamps with Birds in Chinese Style
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of French antique kerosene lamps. The bronze paunch is decorated with birds on branches and flowers in Chinese style. What makes these lamps stun...
Bronze
Pair of Chinese Style Silver Heron and Turtle Candelabras
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Asian Chinese-style (19th Century) silver 2 arm candelabra of heron standing on turtle with turquoise and rust enamel inlay. (PRICED AS PAIR)...
Silver, Enamel
$565Sale Price / set|67% Off
H 14 in Dm 10.25 in
A 20th Century Chinese Porcelain Table Lantern (SINGLE ITEM)
Located in San Francisco, CA
THIS IS FOR ONE LANTERN ONLY<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< In the tradition of marriage lanterns. Composed of four parts each. Finely enameled decorated borders with butterflies on a pr...
Enamel
Pair of Silver Plated Louis XV Style Candelabra
Located in Essex, MA
Pair of silver plated bronze Louis XV candelabra. Five candles with beautifully worked body. Foliate. Silver in great condition.
Bronze
Large Antique Chinese Sang-de-Boeuf LangYao Red Vase
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large Chinese vase with Sang-de-Boeuf (oxblood) glaze in a classic baluster form with a tall narrow neck and horizontal bands around the shoulder. The oxblood glaze is known as Lan...
Ceramic
$1,800 / set
H 16 in W 11 in D 11 in
Pair of 19th Century French Louis XVI Bronze Dore and Porcelain Candelabras
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a dining room table or a mantel with this elegant pair of antique bronze candleholders. Crafted in France circa 1870, each candelabra stands on a tripod base with curved fee...
Bronze
Pair of Iron Candelabras with Phoenix Decor, France, circa 1880s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Pair of solid, wrought iron candleholders, with three arms each, decorated with scrolling acanthus leaves, raised on a twisted iron stem. The three-sided bases rest on claw feet and ...
Wrought Iron
$14,750 / set
H 32 in W 12 in D 10.75 in
Pair of 19th Century Gilt-Bronze & Faience Porcelain Table Lamp Candelabras
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine pair of French 19th-20th century Louis XV style gilt bronze and Faience porcelain three-light candelabra table lamps. The ovoid porcelain urn hand decorated in floral burgundy...
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair Of Louis XVI Style Candelabra
Located in Stamford, CT
Magnificent pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI style six light candelabra in urn form. Having the highest quality dore bronze and marble.
Marble, Bronze
$27,500 / set
H 15 in W 12.5 in D 6.5 in
Pair of American Parcel-Gilt and Bronze Candelabra/Lamps E.F.Caldwell Attributed
Located in New York, NY
A fine pair of American parcel-gilt and patinated bronze, twin light candelabras/ table lamps attributed to Edward F. Caldwell & Co, New York, first quarter of the 20th century. Ea...
Bronze, Gold Leaf
$1,166
H 12 in W 7 in D 5 in
Beautifully Hand Carved Midcentury Nesting Birds Alabaster Table or Desk Lamp
Located in Lisse, NL
Excellent condition sculptural alabaster table lamp from the 1950s. This highly decorative and practical size table lamp is the type of applied arts that really lifts your spirit. T...
Alabaster
Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Marble Candelabra by Beurdeley, Circa 1880
By Alfred Emmanuel Louis Beurdeley
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Alfred Emmanuel Louis Beurdeley (French, 1847-1919) A very fine pair of French 19th century Louis XVI style ormolu-mounted and white marble three-light candelabra (now electrified), ...
Marble, Ormolu
Pair of silvered pewter candelabra, Art Nouveau
Located in Firenze, FI
Elegant pair of silver-plated pewter candlesticks in Art Nouveau style, designed by Achille Gamba. Germany early 20th century. Each candelabra depicts a stylized female figure with ...
Silver, Pewter
Pair French Ormolu Candelabras Maiden Antique 1880
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Gorgeous pair of French antique candelabras in ormolu Perfect left and right maidens hold aloft the seven branch candelabras We date this pai...
Bronze
Chinese Carved Lacquered Wood Candle Stands, Pair
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of Chinese hand-carved wood candle stands, one in the form of a qilin and one a foo lion, both atop hexagonal ebonized pedestals and balancing tripod censers atop their backs, w...
Giltwood
Sold
H 14 in W 10 in D 4.5 in
Rare Pair of 18th Century-19th Century Chinese Porcelain Parrots Candelabra
Located in Montreal, QC
Rare pair of 18th century-19th century Chinese porcelain parrots candelabra resting gilt bronze Louis XVI style bases.
Porcelain
Pair of 19th Century Gilt Bronze and Chinese Nanking Porcelain Candelabra
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A pair of late 19th century Chinese Nanking crackle porcelain vases mounted on French gilt bronze bases and supporting four gilt bronze candle arms, th...
Bronze