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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
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

Pair of Chinese Style Black and White Floral Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Asian Chinese style black and white cylindrical shaped flared top vases with green and pink floral decoration (19/20th Cent) (one with a hairline crack) (PRICED AS PAIR)(matc...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Boxwood

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

Antique Chinese Carved Wooden Gold and Red Decorative Box
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese circular wooden box with carved top character design and carved geometric foot, painted in gold and red with a fitted lid and fine black painted border pattern.    
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Large Antique Tibetan Ghau Prayer Box With Three Buddha
Located in Pomona, CA
Ghau is a prayer box worn as pendant by Buddhists as portable shrines which can be pray by prayer during their travel. This large Ghau prayer box (travel Buddha...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Silver, Bronze

Chinese Six-Sided Beige Crackled Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese six-sided, beige, crackled porcelain vase, crafted in a style typical of the Song Dynasty's official kiln during the Southern Song period and acc...
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Blue and White Jar with Mythical Fu Lions
Located in Chicago, IL
This round, porcelain storage jar is brightly glazed in the classic blue-and-white manner. A combination of stenciled linework and hand-brushed shading, the sides of the jar are deco...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary 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 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 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

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 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 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

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

Majestic Chinese Ding Vessel Hand Carved Decorative Ritual Tripod
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Ancient Chinese Vessel Hand Carved Decorative Ritual Tripod Style Ding pot decorative vase vessel 11.63 w x 7.75 h x 4.25 d Preowned original vintage unrestored Refer to images listed.
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Terracotta

Pair of Diminutive Chinese Pewter Lidded Urns
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Charming pair of diminutive Chinese pewter lidded urns or vases featuring a turned finish with bell finials. Great for decoration, storage, or both. Minor...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Pewter

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 Ormolu and Cloisonné Enamel Vase for the Islamic Market
Located in London, GB
Chinese Ormolu and Cloisonné enamel vase for the Islamic Market. Chinese, early 20th century Dimensions: Height 18cm, diameter 26cm Crafted in Chin...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu

Chinese Yellow and Cherry Blossom Design Porcelain Sleeve Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese yellow porcelain sleeve vase with cherry blossom branches and birds in a pale neutral palette, wrapping all four sides and growing up t...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Mustard Colored and Tonal Patterned Meiping Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese, mustard-colored porcelain Meiping form vase carved in raised, tonal florals, with patterned bands around the top and base. Crackling in glaze.
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Two Famille Rose Cosmetic Boxes, Qing Dynasty, Yongzheng Period
Located in seoul, KR
Circular form with flattened doomed covers, the covers with a medallion of flower with full bloom, the bowls with two round borders. Period : Qing Dynasty, Kangxi-Yongzheng Period P...
Category

17th Century Vietnamese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

Wood Sculpture from Old Water Mill Gear, China 1890
Located in Round Top, TX
This wood accent piece originally served as a section of gear work from a water mill in China. Note the carved upper section that created the "gearworks." The deep worn patina of the...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Chinese agate, coral top , snuff bottle into match striker by Crest Paris
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful Chinese agate snuff bottle turned into a match striker by Crest Paris, France early 20th Century , and marked as shown.
Category

Early 20th Century French Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Agate

Chinese White and Blue Character and Floral Ginger Jar Vases
Located in Queens, NY
3 Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) similar porcelain ginger jars with blue floral designs around bold, centered characters and geometric bands leading to unglazed rims (jars vary...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Terracotta

Antique 19th Century Hand Painted Chinese Porcelain Lidded Jar
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This rather large antique Asian covered jar is unmarked but believed to have been made in China in circa 1880 for the export market. The jar is done with a robin egg blue background ...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Chinese Off-White and Tonal Patterned Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese off-white porcelain vase with a pear shape carved in a tonal, scrolling botanical pattern (date mark on bottom, see photos).  
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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

Pair of Chinese Imari Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Asian Chinese Imari (18th cent) porcelain small vases with a scalloped top and scenes of figures and flowers. (small chip to 1 top) (priced as pa...
Category

18th Century Chinese Antique 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

Pair of Chinese White and Umber Floral Design Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
"Pair of Chinese white porcelain vases decorated with umber and pink floral motifs wrapping the bulbous forms, accented in blue, pink and yellow patterned bands around the tops and b...
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 Guangzhou Dog Hunt Scene Conjoined Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) Guangzhou painted export porcelain vase with a conjoined form depicting a richly colored dog hunt scene between gold-patterned bands.  
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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

Chinese White, Brown, and Red Floral Design Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese white porcelain vase decorated with incised and painted brown foliage and stems growing blooming red florals, and wrapped in geometric bands of blue, pink and yellow at the ...
Category

20th Century Chinese 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

Pair of 20th Century Yongzheng style Chinese Porcelain Vases in High Gloss
Located in Essex, MA
Pair of Yongzheng style Chinese porcelain vases in a high gloss finish in the Gu shape. The vases are decorated with deer, flowers, and animal motifs. Lovely shades of aqua, turquois...
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

Pair of Chinese Canton / Rose Medallion Vases / Lamps, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality pair of 19th century Chinese rose medallion vases, each with wonderful bold pinks, blues and green coloring, exotic bird handles on either side, lizards circling ...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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

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

Large Antique Chinese Sang-de-Boeuf LangYao Red Vase
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large Chinese vase with Sang-de-Boeuf (oxblood) glaze in a classic baluster form with a tall narrow neck and horizontal bands around the shoulder. The oxblood glaze is known as Lan...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of Chinese Blue and Orange Fish Design Porcelain Sleeve Vases
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of antique Chinese (mid 20th century) sleeve-shaped porcelain vases decorated with orange fish swimming around blue backgrounds, inspired by patterns ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese White and Pink Cherry Blossom Tree Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese white porcelain urn decorated with dark pink cherry blossom branches growing up its form, and accented with white foo dog doorknocker ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Beige Botancial Motif Rounded Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) bulbous porcelain vase with pink florals and an orange bird amid green leaves on one side and characters on the reverse. There is dark, speckled ...
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 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

Pair of Chinese White Porcelain Gall Bladder Vases
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of antique Chinese (Mid 20th Century) white porcelain gall bladder form vases, named for their resemblance to the shape of the organ, with bulbous bottoms and thin, delicate nec...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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

Antique Early Chinese Republic Era Stacking Lacquered Box Set with Dragon Motif
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique lacquered stacking box set is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from China during the Early Republic period of approximately 1920 and done in a period Chinese Ex...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Softwood

Chinese Rust Agate Carved Plate with Sea Motif
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese rust agate plate with a carved crayfish and shells in relief and a crayfish carved handle.  
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Stone, Marble

Pair of Chinese Style Silver Heron and Turtle Candelabras
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Asian Chinese-style (19th Century) silver 2 arm candelabra of heron standing on turtle with turquoise and rust enamel inlay. (PRICED AS PAIR)...
Category

19th Century Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Silver, Enamel

Late 19th Century Antique Chinese Large Royal Gold Plated Cloisonne Bull Statue
Located in Pomona, CA
This magnificent antique Chinese Cloisonne bull statue is made from gold plated bronze/copper and shows very detailed hand craft works of Cloisonne art - a lot of Chinese traditional folks art like Buddhas flower...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

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

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Paper

Set of Chinese Red & Black Boxes, 20th Century
Located in London, GB
Set of Chinese red & black boxes, 20th century. Set of three Chinese red and black boxes, decorated with scenes of figures amongst landscapes with temples and pavilions. Wood,...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Chinese Ormolu Mounted Porcelain Vase & Bowl
Located in Astoria, NY
Set of two Chinese porcelain centerpieces comprising (1) one red and beige vase with French Louis XVI style ormolu mounts and (1) one red and beige bowl with French Louis XV style or...
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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.

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