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
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
$1,462 Sale Price
25% Off
Pair of Antique Chinese Multi-Colored Cloisonne Rooster Sculptures
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of early 20th century Chinese cloisonne rooster sculptures with red, white, blue, green, and yellow enamels standing on circular cloisonne bases...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Metal, Enamel
Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Camel with Rider Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terracotta tomb figure of a bearded rider dressed in a gray coat and brown boots riding a yellow Bactrian camel standin...
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Early 20 Century Chinese Rosewood Panels, Wall Hanging with Jade Inlay Picture
Located in Pomona, CA
This is a set of 3 panels Chinese antique Rosewood with Jade inlay Panels. They were hand made and hand painted. It features beautiful detailed carved painting and jade inlay of Chinese traditional design - 8 immortals...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Rosewood
$3,450 Sale Price / set
25% 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
Asian Hand Carved Wood Sculpture Star of Longevity Shòu Xīng
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, an Asian Shòu Xīng hand carved wood sculpture star of longevity
star of old age. Chinese original carving master deity with crane.
Dimensions: 9.75 H x 2.7...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Chinese Iron and Gilt Buddha Bust
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese style gilt and polychromed cast iron bust of Buddha.
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Iron, Wrought Iron
Small Carved Jade East Asian Woman’s Figurine
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a small jade East Asian woman’s figurine. It depicts a carved jade woman’s figure that appears to be dancing or stretching herself. She is wearing a...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Jade
$300 Sale Price
20% Off
Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Terra Cotta Horse with Rider Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terra cotta tomb figure of a girl wearing a red hat riding a brown horse, standing on a textured base.
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Chinese Carved Soapstone Lamp
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A carved soapstone lamp base, unusual because of the color of the stone; reddish, brown and black. The carving is in the shape of a vase which i...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Sandstone
Pair of Chinese Lidded Porcelain Elephant Figurines
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Antique Chinese olive green elephant figurines, decorated with carved detailing and pierced sides, and fitted with lids (PRICED AS PAIR).
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
$14,800 / set
Chinese Chicken Blood Stone Carving of Bodhidharma on Wood Stand
Located in Atlanta, GA
A small chicken blood stone carving from China circa early 20th century, possibly early (late Qing to early Republic period). It depicts an aged Bo...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Stone
Pair of Chinese Mid-Century White Porcelain Chickens
Located in Queens, NY
"Pair of Antique Chinese (Mid 20th Century) white porcelain chickens, detailed with tonal feathers and red features and sculpted perched on rocks (P...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
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
Silvered Metal Manjushri, Sino, Tibetan Buddhist Deity
Located in North Hollywood, 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
Mid 20th Century Chinese Wood Carved Kwan Yin Statuary
Located in Pomona, CA
This magnificent vintage Chinese Wood Carved Kwan Yin Statuary has intricate carving works. It is all hand made and hand carved Kwan Yin sitting under the tree and holding a flower i...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Boxwood
$1,237 Sale Price
25% Off
Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Terra Cotta Woman and Kneeling Camel Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terracotta tomb figure of a woman in a gray dress sitting on a kneeling Bactrian camel with its head tilted back and mout...
Category
20th Century 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
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
Vintage Asian Chinese Brass Prosperity Dragon Wall Hanging
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Asian Chinese Brass Prosperity Dragon Wall Hanging.
As the embodiment of the masculine gender, the dragon has long been an auspicious symbol of power in Chinese culture.
Dragons chasing a ball is the auspicious scene of good luck, prosperity and wealth.
According to Chinese Feng Shui...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Antique Chinese Emperor and Empress Wooden Statues
Located in Pomona, CA
This pair of Antique Chinese Emperor and Empress Statues are 100% hand made and hand carved with paint and gilt on them. Some of the paint and gilt has been worn off but overall they are in good condition. Look at the pictures, you can see that they are in many years history with some age wear. Now you can have them on your collection shelf.
Size: 6in H x 2 3/4in W x 2in D each
Origin: China
Circa: Late Qing era
Material: Wood
Condition: Hand made, hand painted, normal age wear.
Disclaimer: Due to differences in monitor/screen settings, product colors may differ slightly between product photos...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Wood
$446 Sale Price / set
25% Off
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
Early 20 Century Antique Carved Bronze 3 Generations of Buddha Statues
Located in Pomona, CA
Three generations of Buddha represents Past, Present and Future three generations of Buddha. They are Dipamkara Buddha, Sakyamuni Buddha and Maitreya Buddha. They wer hand made from ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Bactrian Camel Terra Cotta Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terra cotta tomb figure of a Bactrian camel, the main form of transport over the Silk Road, with its head tilted back and mouth open to the sky, we...
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Terra Cotta Huren Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terra cotta tomb figure of a Huren (northern tribesmen) man dressed in red robes and a prominent hat, with one fist raised in the air.
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Chinese Porcelain Figure of Woman Standing on Clouds
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese style white porcelain standing figure of woman standing on clouds, possibly and alter figure.
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Ethereal Terracotta Chinese Ancestor Sculpture on Lucite Base
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Lovely terracotta sculpture of an Asian figure with beautiful weathered patina. Custom lucite base.
Category
1940s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Chinese Polychrome Lucky Fish
Located in Chicago, IL
Hand-crafted from reclaimed wood, this artisanal koi sculpture is a traditional symbol of harmony and luck. For Buddhists, such a fish represents a freedom from all restraints. And b...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Pine
Vintage Chinese Hand Carved Bamboo Fish Man Sculpture
Located in Pomona, CA
Look at this beautiful vintage Chinese hand carved bamboo fish man. It is 100 percent hand made from bamboo shoot. You can see the pictures ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Bamboo
$236 Sale Price
20% Off
Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Terra Cotta Woman and Horse Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terra cotta tomb figure of a woman dressed in gray and red robes sitting atop a blue and green saddle, on a horse that is standing on a square base...
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Sancai Glazed Terra Cotta Tomb Guardian
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terra cotta tomb guardian figure seen in its typical stance of one foot higher than the other as it rests on an anima...
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Terra Cotta Kneeling Camel and Woman Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terra cotta tomb figure of a woman in a green dress sitting on a kneeling yellow and red Bactrian camel with ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Chinese Multicolor Porcelain Pheasant Statue
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Mid 20th Century) glazed porcelain statue of a pheasant with colorful, gold-outlined plumes perched on a rocky formation of green and brown. (Smaller version availab...
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Man and Horse Terra Cotta Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terra cotta tomb figure of a man dressed in dark gray robes, with one fist raised in the air, sitting atop a red saddle, on a horse that is painted...
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
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
$1,462 Sale Price
25% Off
Antique Chinese Painted Clay Buddha Statue with Red Robes
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (early 20th Century, Republic of China) clay Buddha sculpture with painted details and red and green robes. (Similar sculptures: NWL2498, ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Clay
Antique Chinese Painted Clay Buddha Statue
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (early 20th Century, Republic of China) clay Buddha sculpture with painted details in red, green, and blue. (Similar sculptures: NWL2497, ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Clay
Two Brass Chinese Figures (Ox & Elephant) - W4000
Located in Shamokin Dam, PA
Two Brass Chinese Figures (Ox & Elephant) - W4000
This is a pair of heavy Chinese brass figurines of an ox and an elephant. They are in very good condition with some residue from cl...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Fantastic 19th Century Chinese Blanc De Chine Model of a Water Buffalo or Ox
Located in New York, NY
A Fantastic 19th Century Chinese Blanc De Chine Model of a Water Buffalo. Beautifully hand-carved and enameled with a bright white body and black enamel eyes. This piece is really superb and in fabulous condition for its age. In Chinese culture, the water buffalo symbolizes the coming of spring. Throughout China the spring season began with a ceremonial plowing by the imperial capital through the use of a water buffalo, symbolizing its importance to the imperial heritage. Water buffalo were created in China for centuries, with terracotta pieces found in Han dynasty tombs...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Vintage Papier Mâché Parcel-Gilt Buddha
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Large, decorative and unusual papier mâché gilded Buddha.
Category
19th Century Asian Antique Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Paper
Pair of Chinese Export Porcelain Puppies
Located in Essex, MA
Well modeled "lion dogs'" modeled after a Pekingese the companion pet of Chinese royalty. Cream colored ground with brown accents.
Category
1860s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
$5,800 / set
20th Century Chinese Antique Cloisonne Longevity Star Statuary
Located in Pomona, CA
This magnificent Chinese Antique Cloisonne Longevity Star Statuary was hand made from gold copper cloisonne. This stand Longevity Star has ve...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Metal
$1,462 Sale Price
25% Off
Vintage Chinese Hardstone Sea Buckthorn Bushes, Pair
Located in Astoria, NY
Vintage Chinese hardstone Sea Buckthorn (Shaji, or Hippophae rhamnoides) plant sculptures, each with nephrite leaves wired to a trunk sprouting Cinnamon Jade berries in agate pots, t...
Category
Mid-20th Century Asian Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Multi-gemstone
Pair of Great Dragon Temples Chinese Minguo Period
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of great dragon temples.
Chinese Minguo period (1912-1949), in carved bone plates. With detailed dragon carvings. Sitting on a wooden base. faults ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Bone
$35,639 / set
Pair of Chinese Marble Lions from the 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of Chinese Marble Lions from the XIX century
Elegant lions of the Quing Dynasty carved in white marble with chisel. They are in good conditio...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Marble
19th Century Pair of Chinese Hardwood Buffalo & Boys with Bone Flutes
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th Century pair of dark hardwood water buffalo with inset glass eyes. These finely carved and highly detailed figures have carved boy figures sitting on their backs holding bone flutes...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Hardwood
Antique pair of Homunculus Sculptures
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Unique and charming set of homunculus type figures on wooden base. Unknown origin and date but probably early 20th century. See pics
Category
20th Century Unknown Chinese Export Sculptures
Materials
Wood
$156 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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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