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.
Chinese Oil Slick Candle Stand, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This sculptural 19th-century Chinese candle stand celebrates the wabi-sabi beauty of handmade pottery. The tiered candlestick is chunky and bold, shaped of earthenware with curving l...
Earthenware
$1,400Sale Price|60% Off
Chinese Qing Dynasty Censer with Foo Dog
Located in Somis, CA
This beautiful antique white brass incense burner has a traditional round body, a high neck and dramatic handles. The lid features a pierced scroll pattern with a lively foo dog finial. The style originated from the imperial court where use of such long handles indicate a certain social status. 3-foot design ensures stability. Foo Dog being the beloved Chinese mythical animal is used to "guard" family wealth. An embossed stamp reads Qing dynasty Qian long...
Brass
Petite Chinese Glazed Apothecary Jar, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This small glazed jar from China's Shanxi province exemplifies the timeless appeal of handcrafted pottery. Once used in an apothecary to hold ground herbs and oils for traditional me...
Ceramic
Chinese Fu Lion Candle Stand, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Richly aged with wabi-sabi texture, this petite ceramic sculpture is a 19th-century Chinese candle stand molded in the shape of a mythical fu lion. Also known as a shizi or fu dog, t...
Ceramic
$1,160 / set
Pair of Chinese Ho Ho Boy Oil Lamps, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
These 19th-century Chinese oil lamps are shaped in the form of a young boy or baby, a motif often referred to as a "ho ho boy." Children are a popular...
Ceramic
Chinese Dark Glazed Candle Stand, c. 1800
Located in Chicago, IL
With mottled color and charming asymmetry, this ceramic Chinese candle stand from the early 19th century has the wabi-sabi appeal of handcrafted folk pottery. The simple silhouette i...
Ceramic
Chinese Crackle Celadon Candle Stand, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Elegant in its simplicity, this late 19th-century Chinese candle stand is decorated only by an allover pale glaze with fine crazing and pools of glassy, celadon-blue color. The ceram...
Ceramic
Chinese Fu Lion Candle Stand, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Richly aged with wabi-sabi texture, this petite ceramic sculpture is a 19th-century Chinese candle stand molded in the shape of a mythical fu lion. Also known as a shizi or fu dog, t...
Ceramic
Petite Chinese Glazed Apothecary Jar, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This petite glazed jar from China's Shanxi province exemplifies the timeless appeal of handcrafted pottery. Once used in an apothecary to hold ground herbs and oils for traditional m...
Ceramic
Pair of Large Canton Style Famille Rose Chinese Porcelain Vases
Located in London, GB
Pair of large Canton style famille rose Chinese porcelain vases. Qing Dynasty, late 19th century Measures: height 65cm, diameter 25cm Crafted from porcelain and executed in the so called 'famille rose' style, these large Canton vases...
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Ceramic Pickling Jar Jade Green, c. 1900
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This glazed Chinese ceramic jar from the turn of the 19th Century was once used for pickling foods. It features a jade green finish and outer surface that features a ribbed texture. ...
Ceramic
$361Sale Price / set|70% Off
H 4.38 in W 2.63 in D 2 in
PAIR of Chinese Foo Dogs Hand Carved Hardstone Good Colour and Detail, Ca 1940
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
These are a very good pair of antique Chinese foo or lion dogs, sometimes called temple lions made of a hardstone, hand carved with fine detail and polished, dating to the mid 20th c...
Stone
Chinese Shiwan Green Glazed Ceramic Jar / Planter, c. 1900
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
A wonderful green glaze typical of Chinese "Shiwan" pottery adorns this early 20th Century Chinese storage jar. The jar likely occupied a private home to store grains or other househ...
Ceramic
Chinese Green Glazed Ceramic Soy Sauce Storage Jar / Planter, c. 1900
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
A wonderful green glaze adorns this Early 20th Century Chinese ceramic Soy Sauce storage jar. The characters on its front side translate to "Thick Soy Sauce". There are an additional...
Ceramic
$21,000 / set
H 13.25 in W 5 in D 4 in
Pair Chinese White Glazed Guanyin, Qing Dynasty, 18th Century, China
Located in Austin, TX
A sublime and rare pair of Chinese white glazed porcelain figures of Guanyin, attributed to Tang Ying (1682 - 1756), Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period, China. This ethereal pair of white glazed porcelain figures depict the revered Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin. Guanyin is portrayed standing, wearing heavy robes that drape beautifully around her figure. Bare feet peek out from under the hem of the robes. Her hair piled in a high chignon and covered by a cowl. The treatment of the hair, finely textured, unglazed, and with remnants of darker pigment, is typical of works by Tang Yin (1682 - 1756), who was the head of the imperial porcelain works at Jingdezhen. Guanyin's beatific face is set in a serene smile, with a small, flat nose, and downcast, heavily lidded, almond shaped eyes. A simple beaded necklace graces her chest. Her hands held out, and may have once held attributes. The hands were originally removable, but have since been permanently attached. The figures crafted of a fine porcelain and glazed all over in a supple white glaze. One figure bears a label from the Rafi Mottahedeh collection to the back. Provenance: Chinese Porcelain Company...
Porcelain
$4,800
H 10.25 in W 8 in D 12 in
Large Late Qing Dynasty Chinese Cast Bronze Buddhistic Foo Lion Censer
Located in Austin, TX
A large and powerfully cast Chinese bronze censer in the form of two Buddhistic lions, Qing dynasty, late 19th century. The censer is well cast with a strong sense of movement, featuring a pair of fierce Buddhistic lions playfully antagonizing each other. Locked in a mock battle, the smaller lion...
Bronze
$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
$850
H 16 in W 12 in D 11 in
Late Qing Dynasty Chinese Carved Bamboo and Woven Rush Lockable Wedding Basket.
Located in Hudson, NY
This Chinese stackable box made circa 1900-1915 was intended as a wedding basket and is a traditional object of importance within Chinese culture....
Bamboo, Rush
$6,580
H 2.76 in Dm 6.7 in
Antique Qing Dynasty Chinese Twin Handled Bronze Censer Xuande Marks to Base
Located in Brea, CA
Qing dynasty 18th century Chinese twin handled bronze censer bearing XuanDe marks to base , 990 grams , 17cm wide, internal width 10cm , 7cm high.
Bronze
Antique Qing Dynasty Blue and White Chinese Porcelain Censer
Located in Brea, CA
Qing dynasty Kang XI blue and white Chinese porcelain censer with a design of "Antiques" and auspicious objects, the base in clear glaze and the mouth...
Porcelain
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
Chinese Dark Glazed Kitchen Jar, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A glassy brown glaze coats the tapered form of this early 20th-century earthenware kitchen jar, pooling in the contours to create a pattern of light and dark. As evidenced by the gla...
Earthenware
Pair of Qing Dynasty Chinese Cloisonné Enamel Candle Holder Prickets
Located in Forney, TX
A wonderful pair of Chinese Cloisonné enameled candle prickets from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), each antique having turquoise/light blue ground profusely decorated with polychrome lotus flowers, lappets, stylised foliate and floral sprays, vases, scholars objects, flowering urns as well as other geometric icons, rising on custom round wooden stand...
Enamel
Sold
H 5.71 in W 5.22 in D 2.96 in
Chinese Attributed Antique Dragon Handled Silver Metal Chamberstick
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An unusual and interesting Chinese attributed silver metal chamberstick mounted with a scrolling dragon and dating from the 19th century. The chamberstick is mounted on three scroll ...
Metal, Silver
Petite Early 20th Century Chinese Glazed Pantry Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
A dark glaze coats the angular body of this squat kitchen vessel, creating a subtle gradient as it spills over the tapered sides. The petite early 20th century dish was once used for...
Ceramic
Chinese Wabi Sabi Wooden Incense Burner, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Designed to hold burning incense, censer bowls have been used throughout China for thousands of years. Incense made from dried aromatic plants and essential oils would be burned with...
Cypress
Chinese Antique Censer Set of 3
Located in Somis, CA
This rare collection consists of 3 antique bronze incense burners. Two of them are of a traditional bulbous shape. One of them has the fo...
Bronze