Chinese Export Decorative Objects
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
Chinese Blue and White Botanical Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
This round, porcelain storage jar is brightly glazed in the classic blue-and-white manner with an allover pattern of botanical motifs. A combination of stenciled linework and hand-br...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese White and Blue Cherry Blossom Porcelain Moon Flask Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (early 20th Century) white porcelain moon flask vase decorated with a bird perched on flowering cherry blossoms, and two handles.
Condition: Good; Wear consistent wi...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
19th C. Chinese Paper Machiere Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century lidded box made from paper-machiere.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Paper
$480 Sale Price
60% Off
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Mid 20th Century Modern Chinese Decorative Bucket Bronze Handles
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Planter Pot Bucket
Large Antique Chinese Bucket Planter Pot in Bronze
13 tall x 13.85 diameter x 14.25 w
Large bucket with oriental-Chinese dec...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Chinese Archaic Style Cloisonné & Lacquer Elephant Motif Censor
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th century Chinese Archaic style Cloisonné & Lacquer Elephant Motif Censor
With Associated later lacquer & bronze pagoda lid, resting on a gilt bronze Cloisonné elephant motif th...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
$2,360 Sale Price
20% Off
Mid 19th century Chinese export hand painted tea caddy
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a mid 19th century handpainted Chinese export tea caddy. This tea Caddy stands on four hand carved miniature foo dog sculpted feet. This tea caddy has its original pewter lin...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Chinese Han Dynasty-Style Patinated Bronze Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-style copy of a patinated bronze vase with a bulbous body decorated in raised geometric pattern bands, sitting atop a circular base, and accented with two...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Antique Chinese Decorative Wall Dish
Located in Milano, IT
Round plate in bronze and cloisonné enamel designed in China in the 20th century.
This plate is made of bronze and cloisonné enamel, a goldsmithing technique originally applied to j...
Category
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
$752 Sale Price
20% Off
Unusual Chinese Longshan Black Pottery Vase
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Unusual Chinese Longshan
Black pottery vase
Late 20th century.
Finely handcrafted in relief
in archaic style with figures
and inscriptions...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Pottery
Chinese Famille Verte Hat Stand with Ancient Censers, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Dated to the late 19th century, this porcelain hat stand was once used by a Qing-dynasty gentleman to display his cap while it wasn't being worn. The hat stand is decorated in the fa...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Elephant Motif Ceramic Vessel with Gilded Accents
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This stunning antique ceramic vessel is a masterpiece of craftsmanship, featuring an elaborate sculpted elephant motif that exudes elegance and cultural significance. Likely inspired...
Category
20th Century Asian Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Chinese Cream and Green Vegetal Design Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (early 20th century) round porcelain vase with a small mouth opening and cream, lined design on the bottom half that grows into lush, green vegetation on the top.
...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair Of Chinese Hardstone Guardian Lions
Located in Norwood, NJ
Pair of hand carved Chinese Jade hardstone Foo Lions or Fu Dogs. This pair of Chinese spinach jade appears to be a nephrite, covered vases having a figural foo lion design with raise...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Jade
$2,662 Sale Price / set
25% Off
Chinese Oxblood and White Natural Motif Meiping Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese porcelain Meiping vase in a red oxblood hue decorated with a white natural motif capturing the silhouettes of birds, vines and leaves.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Black and Multicolor Floral Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese black porcelain vase decorated with an abundance of flowers varying in size, shape and color and two patterned bands around the to...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Old Bronze Vessel
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Unearth a piece of history with this captivating old bronze vessel, a treasure that speaks volumes of its rich past. Discovered and now presented for your consideration, this artifac...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
$1,595
Chinese White Green and Yellow Vegetal Winter Melon Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (early 20th century) winter melon-form porcelain vase decorated with an incised, white bottom half that grows into verdant abstracted vegetal and peacock shapes on th...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century Antique Chinese Carved Bronze Vase
Located in Pomona, CA
Very nice antique Chinese bronze vase decorated with a carved low relief idealized frieze with Chinese traditional forks art of Kin Lin sym...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
$689 Sale Price
30% Off
Chinese Pig Head Shaped Porcelain Tureen
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) export porcelain tureen in the form of an orange and pink pig head divided into lid and base at the mouth, and decorated...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Antique Chinese Table Top Vanity Jewellery Box Cabinets Folding Mirrors
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning pair of antique Chinese Export table top vanity mirror cabinets circa 1900
A good looking and well made pairing, most likely used ...
Category
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
$1,642 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Sandstone
Chinese Export Porcelain Small Canton Famille Rose Elephant Candlestick
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export Porcelain small canton famille rose elephant modeled as a candlestick,
circa 1860
The standing Chinese Export porcelain elephant with its trunk up is painted in an iron-red with gilt decoration. On its back is a vase-shaped candle holder rising from the raised saddle painted with a band of green leaves. Below the urn is a long saddle cloth hanging...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Vintage Chinese Hand painted Red Porcelain Ginger Jar
Located in Pomona, CA
This vintage Chinese red porcelain Ginger Jar was 100% hand made and hand paint from China. It has beautiful hand painted happy playing kids on the jar and lid. You can see from the ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$413 Sale Price
30% Off
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Terracotta
Pair of Chinese Bronze Deity Figures, 20th Century
Located in Belmont, MA
Pair of Chinese bronze figures of deities standing on dragons. The two sculptures were made in the 20th century. They represent the Tao gods Lu Xing and Fu Xin...
Category
1980s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
$1,000 Sale Price / set
47% Off
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Other
Hand Painted / Gilt Gold Decorated Imari Porcelain Vase / Foo Dog Side Handle
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Transport yourself to the opulence of the 19th century with this exquisite Hand-Painted and Gilt Gold Decorated Imari Porcelain Vase, featuring a captivating foo dog side handle. Met...
Category
19th Century Asian Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Gold
Chinese Yellow and Blue Floral Meiping Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (19th Century) yellow porcelain Meiping vase decorated with blue florals and geometric bands around the top and the base (mark on bottom, see photos).
Condition: Goo...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese White and Orange Foo Dog Design Winter Melon Porcelain Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) white porcelain vase with an elongated, rounded winter melon form decorated in an orange foo dog on one side and ch...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Asian Hand Carved Wood Sculpture Star of Longevity Shòu Xīng
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Asian Shòu Xīng Hand Carved Wood Sculpture Star of Longevity
Star of Old Age
Chinese original carving master deity with crane.
Patina unrestored fair original vintage condition nick...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Chinese White and Blue Raised Rose Bush Design Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese white porcelain vase with a bulbous body decorated in blue koi, cranes, clouds and vegetation, surrounding a central raised, pierced rose bush on each side. The thin neck fea...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Export Turquoise Glazed Hawks, Late 19th Century, China
Located in Austin, TX
A wonderful pair of Chinese export turquoise glazed porcelain models of hawks, Qing Dynasty, late 19th century, China.
The fierce birds of prey are well modeled and portrayed perch...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
20th Century Chinese Papier-Mâché Bowl
Located in London, GB
20th Century Chinese Papier-mâché Bowl
Papier-mâché. Chinese bowl made from papier-mâché. 20th Century
Dimension: H 25 x D 28 cm.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Paper
Chinese Blue and White Mythical Bowl with Deer
Located in Chicago, IL
Beautiful to behold yet liable to dart away at any moment, the deer is an apt symbol of wealth and prosperity. On this bowl, the artist used rapid and free-flowing brushwork to depic...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Rose Quartz
Pair of Chinese Guangzhou Dog Hunt Scene Moonflask Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) Guangzhou painted export porcelain moonflask vases depicting richly colored dog hunt scenes on the bodies and gold patterned sides surrou...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Cobalt Blue and Incised Dragon Motif Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese cobalt blue vases in ginger jar shapes, covered with incised patterns of dragons and curvilinear designs, and bearing small white rectangles featuring blue characters...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Red Glazed Porcelain Vase with Porcelain Stand
Located in Brea, CA
Qing dynasty an antique important Chinese red glazed porcelain vase with porcelain stand, GuangXu Mark and of the period. Measures: 6.5” height 2.15 '' di...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Faux Bamboo and Floral Motif Hat Stand Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese faux bamboo cylindrical porcelain vase, in a shape traditionally used as a hat stand in ancient China, decorated with a raised motif of a bird perched on a flowering branch.
...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Boxwood
$696 Sale Price
30% Off
Chinese Export Silver Bowl
Located in London, GB
Round Chinese Silver Bowl, of segmented form, variously decorated with chrysanthemum, prunus, dragons and birds, all beautifully detailed. Retailed by the firm of Wang Hing which was...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver
$12,317
Incredible Pair of Solid Brass Reclining Stags with Impressive Antlers
Located in Hopewell, NJ
An impressive pair of vintage solid brass opposing reclining stags having beautiful detailed casting and fabulous large antlers.
Category
1940s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Vintage Lidded and Footed Woven Wicker Basket with Handles
Located in Queens, NY
Vintage woven wicker octagonal basket with fluted opening with inset circular lid above a wooden framed wicker body with two woven handles and embossed brass banding bearing a geomet...
Category
20th Century Unknown Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
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 rider wearing robes and a red sash sitting on a horse that is painted in blue dots and a red bridle, with its head bow...
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Terracotta
Oriental Chinese Octagonal Black Lacquered Gilt Painted Covered Box 1940s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Oriental Chinese Export Black Lacquered Gilt Painted Covered Box 1940s.
Large Asian Chinese black lacquered tea box with nume...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Giltwood, Lacquer
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Terracotta
Pair of Chinese Monumental Imari-Style Blue Porcelain Urns
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese monumental blue and gold floral porcelain vases celebrating Japanese Imari ware in both palette and design, with a central figurative scene of women in a garden flank...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Cast Iron Pagoda Censer or Paperweight
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A wonderful and heavy cast iron Pagoda censer. lovely for burning incense, a small, yet quiet statement piece - A compliment to any shelf or console a...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
Chinese Celadon and Tonal Pattern Porcelain Pot
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese celadon, porcelain pot decorated with a raised, tonal botanical and dragon design wrapping the entirety of its bulbous form and accented with foo...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Sky Blue Gourd Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (late 19th century) sky blue porcelain vase with a bulbous base and thin neck flanked by two lug ears at its top.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Terracotta
Chinese Plique-a-jour Archaic Style Bowl
Located in Atlanta, GA
A small Chinese cloisonné enamel bowl made with the technique of Plique-a-jour (means "letting in daylight" in French), a challenging method similar to small scale stained windows or...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Chinese Purple Glazed Porcelain Pear Shaped Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) purple glazed ceramic vase with a pear-shaped form, a gold rim along the mouth, foo dog ornamentation along the neck, and a bright teal blue inter...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Antique Chinese Black Glazed Phoenix-Tail Form Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Antique Chinese (late 19th-early 20th Century) porcelain phoenix tail-form vases with black glazed exteriors and white interiors (PRICED AS PAIR)
Condition: Good; Wear consi...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese White, Brown, and Magenta Floral Motif Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese white porcelain vase decorated with incised and painted brown foliage and stems accented by magenta, light blue and yellow florals, and bands of floral garland at the openin...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Pink Floral and Blue Cartouche Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (late 19th century) pink porcelain urn decorated with a light blue floral design grounding multiple light blue cartouches, each bearing a bogu pattern that signifies ...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Antique Chinese Court Genre Scene Design Porcelain Rouleau-Form Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Antique Chinese (late 19th-early 20th Century) porcelain rouleau-form vases with central designs of a court scene with figures in conversation surrounded by colorful geometri...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Carved Stone Foo Dogs on Rectangular Plinths, 20th Century
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of Chinese hand carved stone Foo dogs resting on rectangular decorative carved plinths. 20th Century
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Stone
Large Antique Chinese Octagonal Black Lacquered Gilt Painted Covered Box 1940s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Oriental Chinese Export Black Lacquered Gilt Painted Covered Box 1940s.
Large Asian Chinese black lacquered tea box with nume...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Giltwood, Lacquer
Chinese Export decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Chinese Export decorative objects 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 decorative objects created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, asian art and furniture, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, porcelain and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Chinese Export decorative objects 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 decorative objects, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, Hung Chong & Co., Mottahedeh, and Samson & Cie. 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 decorative objects differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $68 and tops out at $216,780 while the average work can sell for $1,500.