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.
Fine Pair of Meiji Period Chinese Export Rose Medallion Porcelain Candlesticks.
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Fine Pair of Meiji Period Chinese Export Rose Medallion Porcelain Candlesticks. A pair of Chinese Export Famille Rose Medallion porcelain candlesticks. This matching pair features ...
Porcelain
Antique 19th C Blue and White Chinese Porcelain Footed Incense Burner
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique 19th C Blue and White Chinese Porcelain Footed Incense Burner. Item features blue and white scenes with birds and trees, scrolling handles, footed tripod base, pierced lid, v...
Porcelain
Petite Vintage Chinese Persimmon Glazed Censer
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...
Stoneware
Chinese Export Porcelain Small Canton Famille Rose Elephant Candlestick
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export Porcelain small canton famille rose elephant modeled as a candlestick, circa 1860 The standing Chinese Export porcelain elephant with its trunk up is painted in an iron-red with gilt decoration. On its back is a vase-shaped candle holder rising from the raised saddle painted with a band of green leaves. Below the urn is a long saddle cloth hanging...
Porcelain
Cranes as Candlestick Prickets
Located in New York, NY
Pair Chinese Cloisonne Cranes as Candlestick Prickets This darling pair of cloisonné crane pricket candlesticks would be the perfect addition ...
Enamel
$1,196Sale Price|20% Off
Chinese Export Famille Verte & Blanc de Chine Elephant Joss Stick
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Chinese Export Famille Verte & Blanc de Chine Elephant Joss Stick, of typical form, good size, nicely decorated. Unmarked.
Porcelain
Antique 19th Century Chinese Blue Porcelain Foo Dog Candlesticks Pair
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Asian Chinese style (19/20th Century) decorative blue-painted porcelain Foo Dog figures with brown floral decoration having silver candlesticks over their heads and seated on...
Paint
$1,516Sale Price|20% Off
Large Chinese Han Dynasty Style Pottery Stylized Foo Dog Joss/ Candlestick
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large Chinese Han Dynasty Style Pottery Stylized Foo Dog Joss/ Candlestick China, 20th Century An impressive piece of Chinese artistry—a large, 20th-century copy of the Han Dynast...
Pottery
Early 20th Century Chinese Brass Oil Lamp/Candle holder
Located in Pomona, CA
Look at this Vintage Chinese Brass Candle-holder. It is all hand made and hand carved brass bird shaped candle-holder which originally used as oil lamp at temple. The condition is ve...
Brass
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
Mid-Century Modern Chinese Export Brass Candlesticks, 1950
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Pair of polished cast gold brass candlesticks. Mid-Century Modern vintage Chinese export candle holders. Dimensions: 4.75 in. D x 18 in. Height.
Brass
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 24 Inches Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Candlesticks
Located in Germantown, MD
A rare pair of antique Chinese porcelain candlesticks, featuring a combination of famille verte and famille rose hand-painted floral motifs. The design, referred to as Chinoiserie, ...
Porcelain, Paint
Pair of Petite Chinese Stone Table Lanterns
Located in Chicago, IL
In the spirit of the traditional Chinese garden design, these miniature stacking lanterns bring the permanence of stone to a garden or patio space. The small lanterns assemble from f...
Limestone
Vintage Chinese Persimmon Glazed Censer
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...
Stoneware
Petite Vintage Chinese Persimmon Glazed Censer
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...
Stoneware
$565Sale Price / set|67% Off
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
Chinese Export Porcelain Canton Famille Rose Elephant Modeled as a Candlestick
Located in Downingtown, PA
Exotic Radiance: A 19th-Century Chinese Export Elephant Candlestick This striking Chinese Export porcelain elephant is modeled as a figural candlestick, a form highly popular for We...
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Silver Candelabra with Heron and Turtle Design
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 of Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Figural Candlesticks
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Asian Chinese-style (19/20th Century) blue and white porcelain reclining figures holding candlesticks (PRICED AS PAIR)
Pair of Chinese Style Imari Porcelain Candlesticks
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Asian Chinese-style (19/20th Century) blue and orange Imari porcelain candlesticks (PRICED AS PAIR)
Petite Vintage Chinese Persimmon Glazed Censer
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...
Stoneware
Vintage Mid-Century Chinoiserie Brass Candlesticks with Fu Dogs, 1950
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Pair of Monumental Mid-Century Chinese Export Chinoiserie Brass Candlesticks with Fu Dog Guardians An impressive and sculptural pair of vintage mid-century Chinoiserie candlesticks,...
Brass
Early 20th Century Chinese Pair of Bronze Happy Buddha Candle Holders
Located in Pomona, CA
These early 20th century candlesticks are cast of bronze in the form of two Happy Buddhas standing on rectangle pedestal bases. Each Buddha holds a dish for taper candles overhead w...
Bronze
$2,494Sale Price / set|25% Off
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 19th Century Japanese Brass Candlesticks, Meiji Period
Located in Stamford, CT
Pair of Japanese brass candlesticks, Meiji Era, late 19th century. A fine pair of small beautifully made Japanese brass candlesticks with d...
Brass
Antique Neo-Gothic Gilt Bronze Pricket Candlestick
Located in Forney, TX
A stunning Late Victorian Neo-Gothic gilt bronze altar stick pricket candlestick. Late 19th to early 20th century, the Continental European antique features an exceptionally executed...
Bronze, Ormolu
Petite Mid-Century Blue Lava Glazed Bowl
Located in San Diego, CA
Petite mid-century blue lava glazed bowl, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measures 4.5"D x 2.5"H. ...
Pottery
$1,300 / set
H 14.25 in W 6 in D 6 in
Mid-Century Chinese Export Porcelain Parrot Candlesticks on Gilt Bronze Bases
Located in Dallas, TX
This whimsical pair of mid-century candlesticks was crafted circa 1950, likely for the Chinese export market, and features vividly painted porcelain parrots perched atop floral-cover...
Bronze
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
$480Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.25 in W 7.25 in D 4 in
19th Century Hand-Carved Limestone Bowl, Asian Style, Italy Origin
Located in Wainscott, NY
Late 19th century carved stone bowl found in Italy Appears to be Asian in style with animal figures throughout - or marble limestone.
Limestone
Decorative Handmade Cast Brass Leaf Vide Poche, Large
Located in London, London
Each of these splendid brass leaves is handmade individually with incredible detail. Cast using very traditional techniques, they are polished capturing the raw finish of this noble ...
Brass
$6,338Sale Price / set|24% Off
H 15 in W 7.75 in D 7.75 in
Pair Louis XVI Style Chinese-Export Ormolu Mounted Famille Rose Porcelain Vases
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine pair of Louis XVI style chinoiserie gilt-bronze mounted Chinese export famille rose porcelain vases. The ovoid hand painted porcelain body with dual scenes of a sword presenta...
Ormolu
Contemporary Mayan Stone Incense Burners by ACOOCOORO —COPALERA N.° 5
By ACOOCOORO
Located in Mexico City, MX
Part of ACOOCOORO’s Ceremonia special series, Copaleras (incense burners) create a play between their soft appearance, their ceremonial function and natural material: Yucatán Peninsula's Crema Maya...
Stone
$866 / set
H 19.3 in W 7.09 in D 4.73 in
Antique Pair Japanese Bronze Pricket Candlesticks 19th Century
Located in London, GB
A delightful pair of Antique Japanese bronze crane figural pricket candlesticks, dating from the mid-19th century. There is no mistaking their unique quality and design, which is su...
Bronze
Chinese Export Rose Medallion Punch Bowl
Located in Solebury, PA
A large Chinese export punch bowl decorated in the rose medallion pattern, featuring vivid cobalt blue borders, delicate pink rose motifs and subtle gilt highlights. Rose Medallion is a popular, brightly colored Chinese export porcelain pattern...
Porcelain
Chinese Export Porcelain Bottle-form Rose Medallion Vases
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export Porcelain Rose Medallion Bottle Vases A Pair, Guangzhou (Canton), China, Qing Dynasty, Daoguang–Xianfeng period, circa 1830–1860 This pair of bottle-form vases exemp...
Porcelain
Petite Vintage Chinese Green Glazed Censer
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...
Stoneware
Chinese Export Porcelain Rococo Underglaze Blue and White Tall Candlestick
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Porcelain Underglaze Blue Rococo Candlestick, Circa 1750 The underglaze blue candlestick has a square shaped domed base with canted corners and a recessed bowl at the base o...
Porcelain
Chinese Export Porcelain Maiden Lotus Candlesticks, A Pair
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export Porcelain Maiden Lotus Candlesticks, A Pair, Circa 1765 The pair of Chinese maiden candlesticks are each in the form of a Chinese m...
Porcelain
Sold
H 4.5 in W 7.5 in D 3.5 in
19th Century Chinese Export Famille Verte Foo Dog Joss Stick 'Candlestick'
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th century Chinese Export Famille Verte Foo Dog Joss Stick (Candlestick) China, circa 1850 A stunning 19th-century Chinese Export Famille Verte Foo Dog Joss Stick, also known as a ...
Porcelain
Vintage Pair of Brass Asian Modern Candlesticks 1960s
Located in Miami, FL
Probably from the 1960s, Brass Candle Prickets inspired by the altar candleholders used on shrines throughout Asia. Workmanship is very good in the manufacturing of the items, thus p...
Brass
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 9.5 in W 8 in D 6.5 in
Pair Chinese Qing Dynasty Famille Rose Porcelain Figural Elephant Candle Stands
Located in Bradenton, FL
Pair Chinese Qing dynasty famille rose porcelain figural elephant candle stands. The joss sticks are in the form of caparisoned elephants. They are fin...
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Export Incense Holder in Form of a Mythical Male Figure
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export Incense Holder in form of a Mythical Male Figure, Circa 1810-35. The Chinese Export famille rose porcelain incense-holder is in the form of a male figure depicting a Northern male standing on a rectangular base. He wears ornate clothes with the clasp of his belt in the form of a mythological beast. The figure holds above his head the incense holder which is a flat base with a ridged holder for the incense stick...
Porcelain
Sold
H 7.5 in W 6.5 in D 5.25 in
Pair Chinese Export Famille Rose Enameled Elephant Candle Holders, Early 20th C
Located in Austin, TX
A delightful pair of Chinese export famille rose enameled porcelain candle holders, late Qing Dynasty or early Republic Period, early 20th century, China. The whimsical pair of ca...
Porcelain
Cast Iron Pagoda Censer or Paperweight
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A wonderful and heavy cast iron Pagoda censer. lovely for burning incense, a small, yet quiet statement piece - A compliment to any shelf or console a...
Iron
Chinese Bronze Dragons Candlesticks Imperial Style
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Very decorative Chinese contemporary large bronze "Dragons" candlesticks; with relief design of dragons chasing pearls. With a straight foot supporting a bell-shaped base surmounted...
Bronze
19th Century Pair of Bronze Candlesticks in Chinese Taste
Located in Paris, FR
Late 19th century candlesticks crafted of patinated bronze, the stem decorated with Chinese. The man and the woman, elegantly dressed, rest on a tripod base. The base and the nozzle are ornamented with intricately detailed scrolls and foliage. Circa :1880 Dim: W: 4,3 in - D: 4,3in - H: 10,8in. Dim: L:11cm, P:11cm, H:27,5cm. Literature From the late16th century until the 18th century, Europe multiplied its trade with the Far East, importing tea, spices and porcelain, upon which the fortune of China and the various European East India Companies was built. The 1878 Paris World's Fair was the first time China officially participated at the Expositions universelles. Chinese architecture and interiors were presented, as well as the best of the nation's output in all artistic fields, including ceramics with crackle glazes, cornets vases...
Bronze