Chinese Export Sculptures
CHINESE EXPORT STYLE
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.
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Style: Chinese Export
Hand Painted Foo Dog Kirin with Sword in Mouth
Located in Pasadena, TX
This Foo Dog was crafted in China.
Its made of porcelain and is hand painted.
The Foo Dog has a sword in it s mouth.
It has gold accents.
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
1900s Chinese Cloisonne Leopards
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Late 19th Century to 1900s Chinese cloisonne leopards. Finely detailed. Cast in bronze and brass with enamel. Supposedly owned by the Gucci family in Ne...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Enamel
Chinese Unglazed Ceramic Kwanyin Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese molded, unglazed beige ceramic figure depicts the stylized Buddhist Goddess posed in a billowy robe with a painted floral pattern, a peaceful smiling facial expression, her l...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
19th Century Chinese Bronze Chimera Guardian Figure
Located in Stamford, CT
19th century, or possibly earlier, seated bronze chimera, cast as a ferocious scaled beast seated in a defensive crouch with its head facing forward as ...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Large Fantastic Wood 'Scholars Rock'
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A large fantastic wood 'scholar's rock'
The formation of natural knots, gnarled and twisted projections
Of the variety greyish brown-toned wood, imitating a vertical scholar’s rock.
Much appreciated by Chinese scholars for contemplation, artistic and poetic inspiration.
Also in the west these fantastic wood formations resembling organic microcosm habitat
Never stopped to inspire some surrealist artists like Max Ernst or Frantisek Muzika.
Measures: 27¾" in. (70.5cm.) high.
Approx. 10" in. (25.5 cm.) wide, 7" in. (17.5 cm.) deep.
On soft wood stand.
For comparison see Christie’s sale NY, 19 Sep 2002, lot 104
“Fine Chinese Archaic bronzes...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Other
20th Century Chinese Antique Cloisonne Figurine with Musical Instrument
Located in Pomona, CA
Look at this magnificent Chinese Antique Cloisonne Beauty Figurine. It was hand made from gold copper cloisonne. This stand Beauty has very d...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Metal
$1,150 Sale Price
41% Off
Chinese Jade Turtle Sculpture/Figure With Stand
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This a Chinese Jade Turtle Sculpture with stand. It depicts a heavy hand carved translucent light green jade turtle with a piece of silk in its mouth pulling a silk ball roll. The tu...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Jade
Chinese Porcelain Traditional Figures
Located in Queens, NY
7 Asian Chinese (20th Cent) porcelain figures in blue and white patterns in traditional dress (PRICED EACH).
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
$375 / item
Neolithic Chinese Red Soapstone Bi Disc Carving on Iron Base
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite red soapstone Bi disc is a remarkable artifact from Neolithic China, dating back to the 3rd millennium BC. Set on a modern iron base, the disc reflects the timeless be...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Soapstone, Iron
Patinated Wooden Sculpture, Representing Buddha, China Early 20th Century
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
We have a very nice wooden Buddha sculpture. It dates from the early 20th century, and you can see the aging in its beautiful patina. The work ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Fruitwood
$622 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of Chinese Cloisonné Tigers
Located in Houston, TX
A stunning pair of late 20th century life-size Chinese cloisonné tigers from the Baron Estate.
In Chinese symbolism, these tigers represents the ma...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Brass
$38,000 / set
19thC Chinese Root Wood Carving
Located in Altrincham, GB
19thC Chinese Root Wood Carving of a sacred water buffalo with children climbing on it's back - 23"w x 11"d x 10"h
Category
1880s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Bog Wood
Vintage Chinese Porcelain Group figurines of Journey to the West
Located in Pomona, CA
This ceramic figurine group depicts the main characters from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. The figures are typically identified as the Tang Dynasty monk Tang Sanzang...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Glazed Polychrome Roosters Chinese Porcelain 34cm
Located in Poperinge, BE
Rare pair of rooster figurines, made of polychrome glazed Chinese porcelain, circa mid-20th century. One rooster is numbered on the bottom. These are based on an antique example.
Th...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Porcelain Foo Dogs
Located in Pasadena, TX
Chinese Foo Dogs sculptures are often placed in pairs at the entrances of temples, palaces, and homes to serve as powerful protectors, believed to ward off evil spirits and bring pro...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
$877 Sale Price / set
25% Off
Antique Chinese Carved Wood and Parcel Gilt Swans
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Striking pair of 19th century Chinese swan garnitures or sculptures hand carved in hardwood with an ebonized and gilt finish.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Hardwood
Large Soapstone Sculpture of Confucius
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a relatively large size sculpture.
Carved from a Jade Soapstone it depicts Confucius with a scroll in his hand. The sculpture is finely carved with strict attention to detail.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Soapstone
19th Century Bronze Buddha Hand Fragment on Walnut Stand
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Buddha Hand Fragment on Walnut Stand from a 19th Century Bronze Buddha Statue
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Tang Style Sancai-Glazed Figure of a Court Lady
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A Tang style Sancai-glazed
Figure of a Court Lady,
20th century.
Standing figure with
the long amber and green-glazed robe
and green-glazed shoes,
the delicate features ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Pottery
Pair of Chinese Red Lacquered Foo Dogs
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Asian Chinese style (19th Cent) red lacquered carved figures of squatting foo dogs
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Lacquer
$6,500 / set
Chinese Wax Candle Figure Depicting an Emperor
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese wax figure molded in a reddish-brown shade with gilt highlights depicts a robed emperor leaning slightly back, his left hand stroking his beard, right arm grasping a sheathed...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Ash
Pair of Mid-Century Chinese Tessellated Bone Horses
Located in Palm Beach, FL
With a reference to the Tang Dynasty an impressive pair of Chinese horses, hand crafted in a tessellated technique with carved bone as a symbol ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Bone
Chinese Wicker Elephant Box from the Shanghai Collection
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage Chinese elephant sculpture ambitiously hand crafted in woven wicker with rattan and wood highlights, having a removable head as a lid. From the famed Shanghai collection.
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Wicker
Small Vintage Carved Oriental Figure, Chinese, Hand Carved, Black Onyx, Art Deco
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a small vintage carved Oriental figure. A Chinese, hand-carved black onyx traditional travelling man statue, dating to the late Art Deco period, ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Onyx
Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Terra Cotta Horse and Rider Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terracotta tomb figure of a rider wearing robes sitting on a horse with a bowed head, on a square base.
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Mid-20th Century Chinese Wooden Carved Jiang Taigong Fishing Statue
Located in Pomona, CA
This is a Chinese hand-carved wooden statue, depicting the legendary figure Jiang Ziya (also known as Jiang Taigong), a famous general and strategist from ancient China.
In Chinese ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Boxwood
$796 Sale Price
20% Off
Ming Dynasty Porcelain Shou Lau Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese (Ming Dynasty-Circa 1500) blue & green porcelain Shou Lau seated figure with oversize head (symbolism of longevity & luck) on a base suppo...
Category
16th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
15" Chinese Monk Stone Sculpture
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a stone sculpture depicting a pious Monk.
The base is formed out of stone also.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Stone
Gold Coated Foo Lion with Paw on Red Ball
Located in Pasadena, TX
This Foo lion was crafted in China and is gold coated..
Its made of porcelain and is finely detailed.
The Foo Lion's paw rest on a red ball.
It has red accents.
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Brass Buddha with child Incense 1940s China
Located in Den Haag, NL
Chinese Buddha with child . The child is a insert ,can be removed .
The holes are for incense ,i think . strange combination .Do you
now more than me . Solid Brass .
Category
1940s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Massive Chinese Guanyin Statue in Jade-Like Green Hardstone
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Massive 37 1/2"- inch high Chinese Guanyin statue in Green Jade-like hardstone
Late 20th century,
The reclining deity adorned with a crown emulating ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Other
Two Ming Style Chinese Pottery Dignitaries
Located in Bradenton, FL
Two Chinese Ming style sancai polychrome glaze terracotta pottery figures of Chinese dignitaries in glazed green and ocher terracotta on hexagonal bases and removable heads. The man ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Pottery
Large Scale Chinese Export Hand Painted Sancai Ceramic Ducks, Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a pair of large scale Chinese Export ducks in very good condition. They have vivid colors in the Sancai style of painting. They are not ma...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
A pair of French hand painted cast iron foo dogs in a Chinese style, circa 1900
Located in Central England, GB
We have for sale this fantastic pair of tactile and decorative hand-painted French Foo Dogs, designed in the Chinese decorative style.
They are solidly cast with great detail and have a rich hand-painted finish that represents red lacquer.
Their teeth and eyes have been highlighted in white. The foo dogs are very well modelled, showing good movement and stance and a fierce expression. These heavy pair of tactile cast iron foo dogs...
Category
Early 20th Century French Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Massive Solid Alabaster Antique Hand Carved Asian Sculpture
Located in San Diego, CA
A beautiful solid alabaster antique Asian large sculpture hand carved, circa 1950s, great condition no chips or cracks or chips came out of a state i...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Alabaster
$1,800 Sale Price
20% Off
Carved Jade Old Man with Child Figurine
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a small jade Asian old man with a child figure. It depicts a carved orange jade old man holding a child. The small sculpture is standing over a gilt ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Jade, Metal
$1,400 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Chinese Carved Wooden Longgui Dragon Turtle Sculpture
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese carved wooden sculpture of a Longgui or (dragon turtle) holding a coin in its mouth on an ornately carved wooden base.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Sculpture Indian Goddess in Patinated Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Sculpture Indian Goddess in patinated bronze, beautiful chiselling, early 20th century.
Measures: H 23 cm, W 18 cm, D 12 cm.
Category
Early 20th Century Asian Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
$2,584 Sale Price
20% Off
Tibetan Bronze Standing Gilt Bronze Buddha Offering Protection
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Tibetan bronze standing gilt bronze buddha offering protection
China, 20th century
A fine example, the Buddha standing on lotus base with the "no fear" abhaya mudra, the figure is ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
$1,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Terracotta Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terracotta tomb figure of a man with his fists raised, wearing a hat or a head wrap and boots, and standing on a faceted...
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Vintage Shanghai Wicker Dog Basket or Box
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Charming mid century lidded dog box ambitiously handcrafted in wicker and wood with an uncanny essence of dog. From the famed Shanghai Collection.
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Wicker
Silvered Metal Manjushri, Sino, Tibetan Buddhist Deity
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
A silvered figure of Manjusri seated in dhyanasana on a Pala style Indian base, wearing an ornate crown and wearing body jewelry,
Manjushri holds the sword of wisdom in his right hand and above his left shoulder is a lotus flower upon which rests a volume of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras.
Manjushri - Tibetan Buddhist Deity...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tibetan Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Terra Cotta Rider and Horse Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terracotta tomb figure of a girl in a red garment holding an object riding a dark brown horse, standing on a textured base.
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Chinese Export Buddha's Hand Citron Altar Fruit on Tazza, Blanc de Chine
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Chinese Export Buddha's Hand Citron Altar Fruit on Tazza, Blanc de Chine. A rare form, realistically modeled
Chinese Buddha's Hand Citron, presented on a scalloped compote. This wo...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
$896 Sale Price
25% Off
Hand Carved Soap Stone Chinese Buddha Sculpture
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Exceptional vintage hand carved stone chinese Buddha.
Category
1980s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Stone
$175 Sale Price
55% Off
Pair of Soapstone Buddhist Lions
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A pair of soapstone Buddhist lions
Each finely carved seated on its haunches with a fierce expression,
modelled in mirror image seated on a rectangu...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Soapstone
$950 / set
Chinese Foo Dog Plaster Sculpture
Located in San Diego, CA
Nice vintage plaster foo dog sculpture in faux bronze finish, circa 1970s.
Category
1970s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Plaster
$180 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Chinese Glazed Terra Cotta Stack of Frogs
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Whimsical Chinese sculpture or figure crafted in terracotta and hand decorated with a thick glaze depicting a game of leap frog gone awry.
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Striking Turquoise Pair of Chinese Porcelain Bluebirds
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Pair of Chinese porcelain bluebirds having turquoise bodies and aubergine bases.
Category
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Carved Soapstone Buddha
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This a heavy carved light yellow-green soapstone Buddha seated over an oval stone base with bracket feet.
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Soapstone
$220 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of Chinese Porcelain Standing Figures
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Asian Chinese style blue and white porcelain standing figures (19/20th Cent)
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
$4,250 / set
Chinese Rose Quartz Rooster
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese rose quartz small carved figure of a rooster (as is-repair to base) (20th Cent)
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Rose Quartz
20th Century Chinese Wooden Carved Tieguai Li
Located in Pomona, CA
Up for sale is a magnificent vintage Chinese Wood Carved Tieguai Li Statuary. It is all hand made and hand carved from boxwood. According to legend, after Tieguai Li becoming an immo...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Boxwood
Antique Asian Bronze Elephant Sculpture Statue 19th c.
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique Asian Bronze Elephant Sculpture Statue late 19th c.
Asian Chinese antique cast bronze elephant sculpture.
Ceremonial cast metal elephant with beautiful detailed carving on hi...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Chinese Lingzhi Fungus Table Screen Qing Dynasty '1644-1912'
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A lingzhi fungus table screen
Qing Dynasty (1644-1912)
The unusual Chinese scholar’s object,
mounted natural dried and preserved lingzhi fungus.
Lobed asymmetrical outline with dee...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Other
Carved Vintage Tibetan or Thailand Polychromed and Giltwood Mandalay Statue
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This carved vintage Mandalay statue is a striking example of Southeast Asian artistry, likely originating from Tibet or Thailand. Crafted from solid giltwood and richly decorated wit...
Category
1940s Asian Vintage Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Walnut
$1,036 Sale Price
20% Off
Two Chinese Famille Verte Porcelain HeHe Groups Kangxi Period
Located in Dallas, TX
A Pair of Chinese famille verte laughing twins 'HeHe Erxian' biscuit group, Kangxi (1662-1722), the two boys with jovial expressions and seated upon an openwork rock-base studded wit...
Category
17th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
1950s Fine Antique Chinese White Jade Fish Sculpture Figurine
Located in Chula Vista, CA
an antique decorative fish sculpture
made in white stone jade.
unmarked
Preowned Very good vintage condition unrestored.
Refer to images.
5.13 D x 1 W x 2 H
Category
1950s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Jade
Pair of Carved Wood and Gilt Finished Chinese Foo Dog Figurines or Sculptures
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This pair of intricately hand carved and hand painted Foo dogs are believed to have made in the mid-20th century in the Imperial style. The dogs are composed of a softwood which have...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Softwood
Pair of Vintage Asian Green Tole Bonsai Palm Tree Sculptures
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Vintage Asian tole bonsai palm tree sculptures with green and gold painted leaves and trunks, mounted on oval bases. (PRICED AS PAIR)
Category
20th Century Asian Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Chinese Export sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Chinese Export sculptures for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage sculptures created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, asian art and furniture, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Chinese Export sculptures made in a specific country, there are Asia, East Asia, and China pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original sculptures, popular names associated with this style include and Europa Antiques. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for sculptures differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $195 and tops out at $98,000 while the average work can sell for $1,895.
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