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.
Antique Chinese Scholar's Fruit Inkstone, Late 19th Century
Located in Chicago, IL
A fixture of the Chinese scholars' studio, the inkstone was among the "Four Treasures of the Study" and was used in calligraphy and landscape painting along with paper, ink and brush...
Stone
Petite Chinese Bamboo Brush Pot, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Set alongside the four treasures of the study - the calligraphy brush, ink, paper, and inkstone - a brush pot, or bitong, was an essential fixture of the scholars' desk. Carved from ...
Bamboo
$360Sale Price|20% Off
XL Calligraphy Brush Jade Archer's Rings 17" Engraved
Located in Somis, CA
The extra large, extraordinary 17" Chinese calligraphy brush captivates with its fusion of history, symbolism, and artistic finesse. Comprising a collection of seven jade Archer's ri...
Jade
Chinese Blue & White Soup Spoon, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This 19th-century porcelain soup spoon is a delicate example of Chinese blue-and-white ceramics. Once used daily as an everyday eating utensil, the spoon's broad form is hand-painted...
Porcelain
Chinese Twisted Rootwood Brush Pot, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Set alongside the four treasures of the study - the calligraphy brush, ink, paper, and inkstone - a brush pot was a fixture of every traditional scholars' desk. This small wooden bru...
Burl
Provincial Chinese Headrest, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Made of Chinese northern elmwood, this smooth block of wood was once used by an upper-class woman as a headrest. The soft curve and height of the block not only supported her head an...
Elm
Chinese Hardwood Scholar Tray with Brass Mounts, Late Qing Dynasty
Located in Austin, TX
A simple and elegant Chinese hardwood and brass mounted scholar tray, late Qing Dynasty, circa 1900, China. The scholar tray crafted of a solid and heavy densely figured hardwood ...
Brass
New Brush Stand Solid Wenge Wood Small Holds 12
Located in Somis, CA
Our calligraphy brush stands are made of solid wenge wood, a prized, sustainable, exotic wood with beautiful grains. Top of the stands are deco...
Wood, Wenge
Antique Chinese Jade Archer's Ring, 19th Century
Located in Chicago, IL
This carved jade object is a traditional Chinese archer's ring, worn to protect one's fingers while drawing a bowstring. Over time, what began as practical equipment became a fashion...
Jade
$2,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 42 in W 10.5 in D 1.25 in
A Framed Group of Five Chinese Dali Marble Scholar’s Stones, Late Qing Period
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Although sometimes referred to as ‘paintings’ or ‘dream stones’, these are sections of Dali marble, quarried from the Cangshan mountain range in Western China and carefully chosen &a...
Marble, Brass
$285
H 1.58 in W 4.34 in D 1.97 in
Pair of White & Blue Chinese Ceramic / Porcelain Spoons, Double Happiness
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
A wonderfully hand-painted pair of Chinese blue & white ceramic spoons circa 1850. They bear double happiness signs and wonderful, sculptural shape. A gr...
Ceramic
Miniature Huanghuali Wood Chinese Sideboard
Located in New York, NY
Miniature Huanghuali wood Chinese sideboard. An expertly crafted miniature architectural model in Huanhuali wood with brass hardware. A late 20th centu...
Rosewood
$1,950
H 9 in W 17 in D 1.5 in
Antique Persian Qajar Lacquer Papier-Mâché Photo Album, circa 1890–1910
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
An exceptional Persian Qajar lacquer papier-mâché photograph or picture album, richly hand-painted with miniature figural scenes, animals, floral arabesques and extensive gold-heigh...
Paper
$6,000
H 5.25 in W 18.5 in D 12 in
Straits Chinese Carved Hardwood Bamboo Inlay Display Stand, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
A remarkable straits Chinese (also known as Peranakan or Nyonya) carved hardwood and bamboo inlaid and embellished table-form stand, originally for dis...
Lacquer, Bamboo, Hardwood
Malachite Rock on Display Stand Chinese Scholar Stone
Located in Atlanta, GA
A malachite rock specimen with intense green and black colors fitted on a wood stand and displayed as a Chinese scholar stone. The gemstone in t...
Stone
Chinese Export Porcelain Soup Tureen
Located in Essex, MA
With domed cover with gilt lemon finial on a conforming base with two handles.
Porcelain
Chinese Mustard Jade Archer's Ring, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Hand-carved of the highest quality jade, this 19th century Archer's ring was likely worn by a gentleman-scholar in Northern China. Traditionally, Chinese archers wore these rings to ...
Jade, Sterling Silver
Chinese Rosewood Table Stand
Located in Dallas, TX
This Chinese rosewood stand displays a brilliant red sheen. It's tabletop sized and can hoist anything into the limelight using a little elevati...
Rosewood
Chinese Tobacco Water Pipe, c. 1900
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
Despite common belief that water pipes such as these were used to smoke opium, water pipes such as these were more commonly used for smoking Tobacco. The h...
Brass
Antique Chinese Blue & White Chrysanthemum Brush Pot, 19th Century
Located in Chicago, IL
Set alongside the four treasures of the study - the calligraphy brush, ink, paper, and inkstone - a brush pot was a fixture of every traditional Chinese scholars' desk. This petite, ...
Earthenware
Reclaimed Elm Treasure Box
Located in Chicago, IL
This rustic little box is crafted with repurposed wood boards with chiseled texture and golden brown color. Ideal for hiding household clutter, the wooden box has a rectangular form ...
Reclaimed Wood
Chinese Botanical Duan Inkstone, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A fixture of the Chinese scholars' studio, the inkstone was among the "Four Treasures of the Study" and was used in calligraphy and landscape painting along with paper, ink and brush...
Stone
Chinese Pewter Oil Jug, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
A squat pewter vessel for pouring oil fuel into a small opium lamp.
Pewter
Chinese Burled Brush Pot, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Carefully carved from a cypress tree burl, this late 19th-century burlwood vessel is known as a brush pot, a container traditionally used to hold select calligraphy brushes in a scho...
Burl
Chinese Oxblood Red Document Box, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This 19th-century document box once sat amidst the erudite treasures of a Qing-dynasty scholars' studio. The perfect size for a rolled-up scroll, the box would have been used to stor...
Hide, Wood
Chinese Translucent Agate Baluster Snuff Bottle, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A mixture of finely powdered tobacco, herbs, and spices, snuff was introduced to China in the 17th century by Western diplomats. Initially reserved for ranking members of Qing-dynast...
Agate
Chinese Teal Glazed Brush Rest, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Set alongside the four treasures of the study - the calligraphy brush, ink, paper, and inkstone - a brush rest was an essential fixture of the scholars' desk. This early 20th century...
Ceramic
Chinese Blue Glazed Brush Rest, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Set alongside the four treasures of the study - the calligraphy brush, ink, paper, and inkstone - a brush rest was an essential fixture of the scholars' desk. This early 20th century...
Ceramic
Chinese Bronze Rooster Scale Weight, c. 1800
Located in Chicago, IL
This small figurine was originally used as a counterweight for a tabletop balance, used to parcel out opium, spices, or other valuable goods. The petite weight is cast in bronze in t...
Bronze
Pair Green Jade Walnuts
Located in Somis, CA
A pair of same size, carved He Tian green jade walnuts. Each walnut is with wrinkled surface, formed with a three-segment shell, divided by tripartite verti...
Jade
Calligraphy Brush Green Jasper Archer's Rings
Located in Somis, CA
A very large, 15" Chinese calligraphy brush consisting a collection of 6 green jasper Archer's rings. Historically such rings were worn by archers to prote...
Stone