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 Decorative Porcelain Foo Dog Candlesticks
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
$203Sale Price|30% Off
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
$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
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
Pair of Vintage Chinese Style Blue and White Monkey Candlestick Holder
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Vintage Chinese style blue and white monkey with two candlestick holders (PRICED AS PAIR)
$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
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 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 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
$1,800Sale Price|40% Off
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
$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
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
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)
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
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
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
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 Rose Medallion and Genre Scene Candle Holders
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese (20th century) porcelain candlesticks featuring an upper design of flowers, butterflies, and leaves, and a bottom design of rose medallions and a genre scene of peopl...
Porcelain
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
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)
$248Sale Price|20% Off
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
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
Vintage Italian Baroque-Style Bronze Candlestick Holders-Pair
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
A striking pair of vintage Italian Baroque-style candlesticks crafted with richly detailed scrolling rocaille and acanthus leaf motifs. The sculptural, tri-footed bases and fluted st...
Metal, 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
$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
$3,200 / set
H 8.75 in W 7 in D 5 in
Pair Chinese Cloisonne Tapir Candlesticks, Qing Dynasty, circa 1900, China
Located in Austin, TX
A delightful pair of Chinese cloisonne candlesticks in the form of tapirs, Late Qing Dynasty, circa 1900, China. The charming pair of candlesticks each crafted as a tapir seated upo...
Copper, Enamel
Early 20th Century Moroccan Brass Hanukkah Lamp Menorah
Located in New York, NY
Hanging brass Hanukkah Lamp Menorah, Morocco, circa 1900. Decorated with openwork, engravings, and with figures of birds on both sides. Made of heavy cast brass, the backplate is pi...
Brass
Pair of American Tiffany Sterling Silver Monkey Candlesticks
Located in Southampton, NY
Pair of American Tiffany sterling silver monkey candlesticks.
$12,600
H 6.5 in Dm 16 in
Chinese Export Rose Medallion Canton Porcelain Punch Bowl w/ Multiple Cartooges
Located in New York, NY
A Chinese Export Rose Medallion Famille Rose canton porcelain punch bowl with multiple cartooge panels. The exterior of this gorgeous bowl ...
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Export Porcelain Famille Verte 'Cabbage Leaf' Bowl
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique Chinese Export porcelain bowl. In the Famille Verte style. In the 'Cabbage Leaf' pattern. The pattern incorporates both bok choy leaves and butterflies as both are s...
Porcelain
$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
Chinese Shisa Foo Dog Figurines, A Pair
Located in Bradenton, FL
Pair of Early 20th Century Chinese Shisa Polychromed Glazed Foo Dogs, also known as Fu dogs. Statues are traditional Chinese guardians, representing protection, wealth, and good fort...
Ceramic
Chinese Porcelain Famille Rose Ginger Jar
Located in Bradenton, FL
Chinese Porcelain Famille Rose Ginger Jar. Jar features a finely hand-painted figural scene in rich colors of pink, yellow, red, blue, green se...
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Porcelain Foo Dogs
Located in Essex, MA
Each seated on pedestals one stepping on a ball the other clutching a reptilian creature. Painted in the spinach and egg color.
Other
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
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