Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
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.
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Jade
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Bronze
1930s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Horn
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Wood, Pine
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Wood, Pine
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Porcelain
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Ceramic
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Wood, Pine
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Wood, Pine
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Stone
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Limestone
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Wood
Mid-20th Century Tibetan Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Brass
Late 20th Century Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Bronze
1930s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Porcelain
20th Century Unknown Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Copper, Enamel
Late 20th Century Hong Kong Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Brass
1940s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Limestone
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Brass, Enamel
1950s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Limestone
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Limestone
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Ceramic
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Porcelain
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Porcelain
Mid-19th Century Southeast Asian Antique Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Crystal
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Wood, Lacquer
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Ceramic
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Brass, Enamel
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Pottery
1940s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Metal
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Porcelain
1980s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Stone
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Porcelain, Terracotta
17th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Bronze
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Metal
1950s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Jade
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Pottery
1860s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Porcelain
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Wood
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Wicker
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Brass
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Bone
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Brass, Bronze, Enamel
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Metal
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Ceramic
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Bone
20th Century Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Bronze
1940s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Giltwood
19th Century Asian Antique Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Bronze
1940s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
Brass