Skip to main content

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.

to
221
1,083
37
5
48
315
720
42
206
167
48
11
3
17
6
9
10
3
9
5
2
26,234
14,167
9,027
5,649
3,925
3,075
2,331
1,719
1,353
1,302
1,142
1,096
999
938
926
675
653
586
701
563
273
137
72
877
198
1,022
983
964
30
18
Height
to
Width
to
1,125
1,125
1,125
4
3
3
2
2
Style: Chinese Export
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 Decorative Objects

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 Decorative Objects

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Terracotta

Chinese Sage and Tonal Botanical Motif Porcelain Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese sage-colored, lidded porcelain jar crafted in the style of the Song Dynasty with a round form decorated in a raised, tonal botanical pattern. Condition: Good; Wear consisten...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Green Floral Scrolling Design Ginger Jar Vases
Located in Queens, NY
3 Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) similar green ginger jars with floral scrolling designs surrounding circular, yellow, centered emblems, unglazed openings, and a hole in the ba...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Blue and White Four Flowers Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
Loosely brushed with cobalt blue pigments, this round, blue-and-white storage jar is underglazed with lush garden scenery featuring the flowering plants of the four seasons. Tree peo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Stone

Pair of Chinese Orange Lidded Porcelain Jars
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) orange porcelain jars depicting white medallions with imagery of fish, seaweed and pastoral scenes and topped with wooden lids (date mark...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain, Wood

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Beige and Green Botanical Motif Rounded Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) bulbous porcelain vase with pink florals and a yellow-chested bird amid green leaves on one side and characters on the reverse. There is speckled...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Terracotta

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Bamboo

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Pine

Chinese White and Blue Floral and Feather Motif Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese porcelain urn painted with a blue and white floral background surrounding a center square with a floral arrangement, feathers along the neck in varying shades of blue, and g...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Export Style Porcelain Oval Basin
Located in New York, NY
With applied handles to the sides, painted in blue monochrome with band of swags under the rim, over crown, shield motifs and sparse stylized flowers; the interior with three leaves ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Export Silver Bridge & Pavilion Card Case
Located in New York, NY
Chinese export silver card case, ca 1910. Rectangular with hinged push-button cover. Chased ornament on stippled ground. On recto, a blossoming prunus branch and birds with armorial ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Silver

Pair of Chinese Rose Medallion and Genre Scene Candle Holders
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese (20th century) porcelain candlesticks featuring an upper design of flowers, butterflies, and leaves, and a bottom design of rose medallions and a genre scene of peopl...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese Monumental Imari-Style Orange Porcelain Urns
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese monumental porcelain orange and floral patterned vases celebrating Japanese Imari ware in both palette and design, with medallions featuring figurative scenes of women in gardens...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Cream and Botanical Design Round Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese round, cream porcelain vase painted with a bird above softly rendered green leaves and pink florals on one side, and characters on the reverse.  
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Famille Rose Bowl with Pheasant and Chrysanthemums, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
During the 18th century, Europeans provided an eager market for Chinese export porcelain, especially the colorful and fanciful ware known as “famille rose.” Named for a palette of op...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Tall Asian Vases with Oriental Enamel
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of tall tapered cylindrical vases presented on carved hardwood bases. Enamel decorated with dragons in a floral field of a deep red background.
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Enamel

Small Handcarved Chinese Chest
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A hand carved Chinese large table box with hinged lid. Intricately carved all-over with Asian carvings resting of four paw feet. Bronze lock plate on front.
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Hardwood

Pair of Chinese Red Flower Design Hand-Painted Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
"Pair of Chinese red, globular porcelain vases hand-painted with butterflies over blooming white, pink-speckled florals. (PRICED AS Pair) Irregularities in interior finish."
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese White Floral and Butterfly Patterned Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
3 Chinese white porcelain vases with pear-shaped forms decorated in butterflies above pink and orange florals growing from green leaves on one side with characters on the reverse. (P...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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 Decorative Objects

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 Decorative Objects

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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

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 Enamelware Teapot with Mythical Qilin, c. 1920s
Located in Chicago, IL
Tea drinking has been an integral part of Chinese culture for centuries, resulting in a wide range of social customs and material traditions. In addition to tea leaves, water, and he...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Chinese White and Blue Foo Dog and Serpent Design Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white porcelain urn decorated with blue foo dogs, clouds, and serpents, and accented in two pale blue scrolled handl...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

Chinese Black and Green Leaf Glazed Porcelain Globular Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (17th Century-style) black glazed porcelain globular vase decorated with a green leaf on the front and back.   
Category

17th Century Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese White and Maroon Floral Motif Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
"Pair of Chinese white porcelain vases decorated with dark maroon and pink floral motifs wrapping the bulbous forms, accented in blue, pink and brown patterned bands around the tops ...
Category

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

Antique, Chinese Hand Painted Meal Delivery and Lunch Box
Located in Pomona, CA
This Antique lacquered painted lunch box from China has about 100 years history and still maintained very good condition. There are some traditiona...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Pair of Chinese Black and Gold Tole Scroll Handle Vessel Planters
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese black and gold tole vessels with scrolled handles and a painted fold design of figures sitting amongst a variety of florals on a r...
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

Chinese Light Blue Crackled Finish Porcelain Beaker Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese (20th Century) light blue porcelain vase with a beaker shape and crackled finish.     
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese White and Floral Rounded Porcelain Watermelon Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) low, rounded porcelain vase known as a watermelon jar, painted with colorful, flourishing florals on one side and characters on the reverse.   
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Clay

Chinese Finely Cast 19th Century Bronze Vessel circa 1860
Located in Central England, GB
A Chinese Finely Cast 19th century bronze vessel This bold and stylish Chinese shaped hexagonal vessel is heavily cast in solid bronze. It has a very pleasing shape which is enhan...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Chinese Off-White Crackle Finish Teardrop Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese teardrop-shaped porcelain vase with an off-white crackle finish, a fluted opening and a hole in the base.    
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Clay

Chinese White Porcelain Peacock and Floral Design Fluted Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese white porcelain fluted vase with a tall, cylindrical form decorated in large scale dark blue leaves outlined in gold, amid green, yellow a...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Beige Carved Floral Pattern Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese beige porcelain vase crafted in the style of the Song Dynasty with a thin fluted neck leading to a bulbous bottom decorated in an incised floral pattern.     
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Style Stoneware Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese style (20th cent) stoneware vase with multi-colored glaze and 3 figures in high relief.      
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Late 19th Century Antique Chinese Femille Rose Porcelain Bowl With Marks
Located in Pomona, CA
This is an Antique Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Bowl. As you can see in the pictures, it is in very good conditions. It shows very neat unique design and hand painted floral inside...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique 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

Chinese Off-White Gourd-Shaped Double Ear Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese off-white porcelain, gourd-shaped double ear vase decorated in highly subtle tonal lemons, swirling clouds and writing, and accented with two shoulde...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Multicolor Banded Pattern Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) porcelain urn wrapped in a variety of patterned bands, including florals, roosters, and geometric patterns in pink, green, blues and yellows. Th...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese White and Multicolor Decoration Porcelain Watermelon Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) low, rounded porcelain vase, known as a watermelon jar, incised and painted with an array of decorations including floral arrangements in urns, bells, small...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Dark Blue and White Lidded Porcelain Watermelon Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese small porcelain watermelon jar with a dark blue background surrounding a white window pattern and turned wooden lid.   
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain, Wood

Chinese High-Gloss Black Lidded Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
4 Chinese black porcelain vases with high-gloss finishes and finial-topped lids (priced each).        
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Burgundy and Gold Vine Design Painted Decorative Box
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese wrapped decorative box with a burgundy base with muted metallic gold gourd and leaf pattern on vines with a large central character, bronze handles and latch, and an interior...
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

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

Pair of Chinese hand painted blue and white vases, Circa 1930
Located in Central England, GB
Pair of Chinese Hand Painted Blue and White Vases, Circa 1930 An impressive and unusual pair of Chinese porcelain vases made to a traditional shape with a raised foot and bulbous shaped body narrowing to a flared neck. The vases have four panels of different decoration separated by three pairs of circular raised mouldings which run around their circumference. The blue and white hand painted decoration has been very well done. Around the neck there is a continuous painted leaf boarder, below the two central panels have a trailing leaf and flower design and around the lower section there is a water and...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Mid 20th Century Enameled Copper Vases with Floral & Geisha Decoration
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This pair of vases on stands are unsigned, but presumed to have originated from China and dating to approximately 1960 and done in a period Chinese Export style. The vases are compos...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass, Copper

Early 20 Century Vintage Chinese Dark Green Glaze Pottery Vase/Liquor Bottle
Located in Pomona, CA
Our wonderful collection of handmade old vintage Chinese hand made glazed pottery vase/liquor bottle will make great accent pieces for any room of your house. It has some imperfection signs of age and usage on the mouth of vase and distressed patina. Take a close look at the pictures, there are some Buddha symbols...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

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.

Recently Viewed

View All