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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 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

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

Pair of Chinese Doucai Double Ear Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese (early 20th Century) porcelain double ear vases decorated using Doucai techniques - a process combining underglaze and overglaze decoration - and handles referred to ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Glazed Ceramic Chinese Tiles, China, Early 20th Century
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Pair of glazed ceramic Chinese tiles. China, early 20th century. With pair of marble, wood and gold leaf bases. France, early 20th century. Dimension...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble, Gold Leaf

Antique Chinese Export Silver Cigar Case
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Chinese Export Silver cigar case; part of our diverse Asian silverware collection This exceptional antique Chinese Export Silver (CES) ci...
Category

1910s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Silver

Pair of Asian Rooster Finial Lidded Red Urns
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Asian Rooster Finial Lidded Red Urns
Category

20th Century Asian Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

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

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

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Rose Quartz Reclining Lady
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese rose quartz carved reclining lady on an oval wood base (20th Cent)
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

A very large antique 19th century rose medallion bowl
Located in London, GB
A very large antique 19th century rose medallion Canton bowl, dating from the early nineteenth century decorated with vibrant enamelled colours and in its very fine ormolu gilt moun...
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ormolu

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 Bloodstone Carved Seal
Located in Norwood, NJ
Nicely carved red/orange Chinese hardstone seal. Bloodstone or "chicken blood" soapstone hand carved village scene with figures and trees. Signed.
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Soapstone

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

Unglazed Antique Chinese Vessel
Located in Sheffield, MA
The antique Chinese clay vessel is handcrafted from clay and fired. Shallow enrelief bands encircle the upper part of the vessel.    
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique 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

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

Chinese Speckled Maroon Glazed Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese porcelain vase with a fluted opening and a speckled maroon finish that adds dimension to its rounded base, sitting atop an earthtone glazed foot. Glaze chip at center."
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Yellow Pear Shaped Ceramic Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Antique Chinese (early 20th Century) yellow, pear-shaped porcelain vases with crackled finishes, gold rims, and teal interiors (mark on bottom, see photos) (PRICED AS PAIR). ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Export Famille Rose Pheasant With Ormolu Mounts, Late 19th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A gorgeous Chinese export famille rose enameled porcelain model of a pheasant mounted on an ormolu stand. The elegant bird is portrayed perched on a ...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ormolu

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 White and Blue Peacock Motif Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) large white, ceramic urn with blue peacocks amid florals and two light blue scrolled handles along the neck. Damage to the glaze near bird."
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Off-White and Blue Vine Lidded Porcelain Ginger Jar
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) lidded porcelain ginger jar with a dark blue vine and floral motif against a white ground, and bold blue characters on 4 sides. Wear throughout...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Nine 19th Century Chinese Export Spinach and Egg Bowls
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Fine and rare set of five "egg and spinach" Chinese export porcelain bowls. Painted in a Tang Sancai or "Tiger Skin" technique used in the Kangxi perio...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

19th Century Cloisonné Vase
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th century Cloisonné vase richly decorated with bright Oriental patterning, chrysanthemum flowers, and birds. Topped with a gold rim, and featuring a bright blue interior, two sides are flanked with golden lion...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Enamel

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 Orange and Gold Decorative Motif Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese small, round orange porcelain vase with gold detailing surrounding white circular shapes and a brown band around the mouth opening.  
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Petite Blue and White Chinese Pear Vase
Located in Chicago, IL
Contrasted by a crisp white field, this small porcelain vase is decorated in the timeless blue-and-white style with bold brushwork and deep cobalt-blue color. The gracefully curved f...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Chinese Maroon and Umber Lidded Porcelain Ginger Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese porcelain lidded ginger jar in a finish that shifts within a range of umber, red and maroon, adding dimension to its shape.        
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

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 Export Porcelain Bowl Hand Painted Blue and White, 18thC or earlier
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a Chinese Export porcelain bowl, hand painted in a blue and white pattern, which we date to the 18th Century or earlier, back to late Ming dynasty in the early 17th century. ...
Category

Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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

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 Blue and White Deer and Floral Motif Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) large porcelain urn with blue spotted deer amid florals on an off-white background and two navy scrolled hand...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Splendid Impressively Large Life Size Chinese Guan Yin Marble Figure
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Amazing life size beautiful white marble Guan Yin sculpture having meticulous detail and beautiful peaceful expression. Appropriate for display indoors or in the garden. In Chinese ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble

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 Pewter Folding Dish
Located in Chicago, IL
This hand held pewter dish is an excellent example of fine Chinese metalwork of the 20th century. During the Qing dynasty, pewter craftsmen experimented with new techniques, showing ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Pewter

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 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 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 Provincial Blue and White Tea Leaf Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
Tea has an auspicious beginning—it was purportedly enjoyed by the Buddha himself, and cakes of tea as large as wagon wheels were given to Chinese emperors as tribute. Tea drinking wa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

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

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

Chinese Wicker Rooster
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Chinese rooster expertly crafted with an ambitious weaving technique using bamboo and bamboo wicker with carved wood highlights, from the noted Shanghai ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wicker

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 Orange Botantical Motif Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) white porcelain urn decorated with green and blooming orange florals with two birds perched on a nearby branch, and accented with orange dog...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Early 20th Century 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 Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Enamel

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

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

Pair of Chinese Imari-Style Monumental Lidded Porcelain Urns
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese monumental lidded porcelain floor vases celebrating Japanese Imari ware in both palette and decoration, featuring central medallions of birds perched on flowering tre...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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

Mid 20th Century Chinese Hand Painted Sewing Box, Jewelry Box
Located in Pomona, CA
This unique vintage Chinese sewing box is 100 percent hand made and hand painted with traditional Chinese painting on the side and lid of the box. It wa...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

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

Vintage Chinese Export Porcelain Bulbous Vase with Figural Scenes
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Chinese Export Porcelain Bulbous Vase with Figural Scenes. Item features unique scenes to both sides, beautiful color, very ni...
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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

Chinese Antique Textiles and Embroidery Edition in Chinese
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Chinese antique textiles and embroidery. Chinese language, Great textile art table book. Distributed by Eliane j Giraud Dupont Editeur, Paris....
Category

1950s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Paper

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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