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.
Antique Chinese Export Silver Picture Frame
Located in New York, NY
Turn-of-the-century Chinese export silver picture frame. Oval window in shaped surround with scrolls and flower heads at top, and leaves, stars, flowers, and heart cartouche vacant o...
Silver
Chinese Export Dragon Motif Silver Picture Frame
Located in Stamford, CT
Chinese export dragon motif silver plate picture frame. Newly replaced. New low glare clear glass. Original burgundy leather easel back. Opening ...
Silver Plate
Chinese Pewter Picture Frame
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese-style (19/20th Century) pewter double easel picture frame with dragon motif.
Pewter
19th Century Chinese Export Gilt Lacquer Fan
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th Century Framed Chinese Export Painted Fan. Delicate painted fan with courtyard scene of royal figure and attendants, mother of pearl or similar inlaid faces. Bordered top and bo...
Glass, Wood
20th Century Italian Sterling Silver Picture Frame
Located in VALENZA, IT
Sterling silver photo frame. The frame was made in Italy by the Argenteria Raddi of Florence. The design is typically Libeerty with the characteristic flowers, festoons and ribbons...
Sterling Silver
$3,445Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.6 in W 9.06 in D 7.09 in
Picture Frame Green and pink enamel Guilloche Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Salimbeni, Franco Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular table photo frame in 925/1000 sterling Silver gold plated with translucent two-tone striped enamels fired on guilloche and hand-engraved ornaments. Late Empire Napoleon ...
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
English Sterling Silver Picture Frame
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Sterling silver picture frame made by Ron Carr Ltd. Sheffield. The frame has an ornate scrolling foliage designs throughout and a black support leg. Impressed hallmarks lower right...
Sterling Silver
$1,499
H 16.74 in W 13 in D 6.11 in
South American Sterling Silver Hand Made Embossed Picture Frame / Mirror 1940´s
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
South American sterling silver hand made / Embossed picture frame / mirror 1940´s. Marked hand-made and 925 (it´s the sterling mark in south america). Perfect for any Mexican Style h...
Silver, Sterling Silver
French Giltwood Picture Frame
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th Century French giltwood picture frame with incised vine decoration and inner bead border. Warm gilt finish is in good condition with some losses to outer edges, slight corner ...
Giltwood
Octagonal Tortoiseshell Picture Frame
Located in New York, NY
Octagonal tortoiseshell picture frame. Antique octagonal frame in beautiful condition smoothly applied with antique Sicilian tortoiseshell and original brass hook; for favourite phot...
Metal
19th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
The burgundy / brown lacquer is decorated with gold depicting figures and buildings in a landscape. The caddy stands on four carved wooden feet in the shape of claws. The interior contains a single pewter canister...
Paper
$1,196Sale Price|20% Off
H 4.5 in W 8.75 in D 6 in
19th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Decorated Tea Caddy Box
Located in Atlanta, GA
Chinese for the English market, 19th century. A fine quality antique Chinese export tea caddy decorated with beautiful gilding surfaces, a hinged lid which opens to reveal a tooled ...
Pewter
19th Century Italian Carved and Silver Gilt Frame
Located in New York, NY
Hand-carved and silver gilded Italian 19th century frame with sgrafitto and cross-hatch design.
$295
H 6.5 in W 3.75 in D 0.38 in
Antique Louis XVI Style French Gilt Bronze Picture Frame, 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
Antique French Louis XVI style gilt bronze picture frame 19th Century Classic elaborate bow motif crest, stylized laurel leaf border with fine beaded details. Black velvet back with ...
Bronze
$761Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 16.15 in W 13 in D 1.38 in
21st Century Sterling Silver Baroque Style "Cartagloria" Picture Frame
Located in VALENZA, IT
Sterling silver frame in Baroque style called Cartagloria. The Cartagloria was used starting from the sixteenth century. The Cartegloria was placed on the altar, usually inside a wooden or silver frame, which shows some Latin formulas of the Roman Missal...
Sterling Silver
$421
H 12.6 in W 7.88 in D 5.12 in
Late 19th Century French Picture Frame - Empire Style - Gilt Copper
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Elegant French photo frame in Empire style, dating from the late 19th century. The frame is decorated with finely detailed gilt copper ornaments that give it a refined and timeless c...
Copper
Sold
H 6.23 in W 4.61 in D 0.79 in
Antique 19thC Chinese Solid Silver Picture Frame, Qingxiang, Tianjin c.1875
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 19th Century Chinese export solid silver picture frame, of rectangular form, with chased decoration and pierced in high relief, depi...
Silver
Sold
H 11.5 in W 8.75 in D 0.75 in
Antique Chinese Export Silver Repoussé Photo Frame, Early 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Antique Chinese export silver repoussé photo frame - silver content unknown - large size - oval opening - featuring dragons with fine detail in high relief surrounded by a border of ...
Silver
Framed 20th Century Chinese Silk Love Birds Embroidery
Located in Lincoln, GB
Framed 20th century Chinese silk love birds embroidery. Framed and glazed very fine Chinese needleworks with exotic birds amongst flowers and fruiti...
Silk
Antique Chinese Export Silver Photograph Frame
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive Chinese Export Silver photograph frame; an addition to our Chinese/Asian silverware collection This exceptional antique Chinese silver frame has a shaped rectangular form with a rectangular internal window. The photograph frame has been realistically modelled in the form of bamboo stalks, accented with a cast and applied foliate motif to the upper corner. This fine example of antique Chinese silverware is fitted with an impressive back and original silver strut. This silver frame is inset with a removable glass panel. The hallmarks struck to the reverse of this fine Chinese silver frame include: Silver quality/purity mark: 90 (90 standard, 900/1000) Artisan mark: ? (Ren, Canton) Retailer's mark: C* NOTE: * This mark should be displayed as the Roman letter 'C' with themark for ? ZHONG [Cantonese ZUNG] within; a logo that denotes 'CENTRAL', referencing the main commercial Hong Kong district known as 'Central'. The artisans mark REN ? often appears alongside the Central/Zhong symbol on items that were made for the Hong Kong department store SINCERE & Co [???? Xianshi gongsi]. We are grateful to Adrien von Ferscht for his information and help in identifying the hallmarks of this exceptional antique piece. Condition This silver frame in Chinese silver is an exceptional gauge of silver, exceptional quality and in exceptional condition. The engraved decoration very crisp. The Chinese hallmarks struck to the reverse of the frame are very clear; the hallmarks are struck deeply due to the exceptional gauge of silver. Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of this piece of antique Chinese Export Silver frame...
Silver
1940s Antique Picture Frame Dragon Serpent High Relief
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1940s Antique Silver Nickel Photo Picture Frame Stand up kick plate Embellished Border design dragon serpent motif 7H x 5.25W .25D inches Original Vintage Preowned Condition. Refer ...
Nickel
Sold
H 8.5 in W 6.75 in D 0.019 in
Antique Chinese Export Silver Picture Frame Serpent Dragon Design, 1940s
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Antique Chinese serpent dragon embellished frame for photo picture Chinese writing on frame. Chinese Export. Silver nickel color. Back side easel featu...
Nickel
Chinese Export Silver Photograph Frame Wang Hing, C.1890
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Chinese export silver photograph frame Wang Hing, C.1890. Rectangular shape with exquisite foliage relief motif on matte stippled background. ...
Silver
Sold
H 12 in W 8.75 in D 0.5 in
Chinese Export Lac Burgaute Inlaid Silver, Gold & Abalone Frame with Carved Jade
Located in Astoria, NY
Chinese export lac burgaute picture frame inlaid with silver and 24-karat gold elements as well as abalone and an antique white jade stone as crowning cen...
Jade, Gold, Silver
Wang Hing Chinese Silver Serpentine Serpent-Dragon Picture Frame
Located in New York, NY
Chinese export silver picture frame, circa 1910. Rectangular window in pierced surround made up of serpentine serpent-dragons slithering through clouds. At top mono plate (vacant). W...
Silver
Antique Chinese Export Silver Dragon Picture Frame
Located in New York, NY
Turn-of-the-century Chinese export silver frame. Oval window in chased and embossed horseshoe surround: A scaly, serpentine dragon on each ...
Silver
Chinese Export Sterling Silver Bamboo Picture Frame
Located in Stamford, CT
Chinese export sterling silver picture frame. Original easel back with original fabric backing. Makers mark on upper right corner. Fits a 4" x 6" photo. Frame (without glass) is 3.58...
Sterling Silver
Chinese Export Silver Bird and Blossoming Branch Picture Frame
Located in New York, NY
Chinese export silver picture frame, circa 1910. Oval window in shaped surround with bracket feet and arched top. Blossoming prunus branches with perched and darting birds chased on ...
Silver