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
160
1,076
40
7
45
310
721
47
205
166
46
12
3
15
7
10
11
4
7
5
2
25,714
14,500
8,691
5,459
3,824
3,057
2,177
1,643
1,356
1,236
1,092
1,069
988
918
894
642
637
585
701
561
270
137
72
872
201
1,020
980
961
27
16
Height
to
Width
to
1,123
1,123
1,123
4
3
2
2
2
Style: Chinese Export
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

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

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

Pair of Vase rose medaillon Canton Porcelain with Ormolu Bronze
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A stunning pair of vase rose medaillon canton porcelain with ormolu bronze in the base and the top of the vases, probably the ormolu bronze is later than the porcelain around 1890 ...
Category

1890s Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Early 20th Century Cinnabar Chinese Covered Jar
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand carved. Early 1900s. Enameled.
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Enamel

Chinese Off-White and Blue Vine Character Porcelain Urn Vases
Located in Queens, NY
"4 Similar antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) off-white ceramic vases with urn forms decorated in light blue, delicate vine and floral motifs and bold characters on 4 sides (jars v...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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

Bronze Sculpture, Late 19th Century, Asia
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bronze sculpture, late 19th century, Asia Measures: H 19cm, W 15cm, W 8cm.
Category

1880s Asian Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Pair of Chinese Hardwood Buffalo & Boys with Bone Flutes
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th Century pair of dark hardwood water buffalo with inset glass eyes. These finely carved and highly detailed figures have carved boy figures sitting on their backs holding bone flutes...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Hardwood

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 Peacock Motif Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) large off-white, porcelain urn with a blue peacock amid florals and two blue scrolled handles along the neck. Light wear."
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Painted Clay Buddha Statue with Green and Brown Robes
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (early 20th Century, Republic of China) clay Buddha sculpture with painted details in green, brown, and blue. (Similar sculptures: NWL2497...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Clay

19th Century Bronze Mounted Rose Medallion Lidded Urns
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Century rose medallion covered urns with beautifully cast dore bronze French mountings. In excellent condition. Lids are not removable.
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Chinese Off-White and Light Blue Vine Pattern Lidded Porcelain Ginger Jars
Located in Queens, NY
"4 Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) lidded porcelain ginger jars with a swirling light blue dense vines and spaced floral motifs against off-white back...
Category

20th Century Chinese 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 Porcelain Light Green and White Cartouche Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) bulbous porcelain urn with a large white cartouche depicting a basket of botanicals on each side against a light green background patterned with...
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

Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Camel with Rider Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terracotta tomb figure of a bearded rider dressed in a gray coat and brown boots riding a yellow Bactrian camel standin...
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Terracotta

19th Century Canton Chinese Export Porcelain Chestnut Bowl
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th Century Canton Chinese Export Rose Medallion porcelain chestnut bowl with lid featuring painted interior scenes of figures, birds and flowers with gi...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Celadon Glazed Porcelain Pot
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (19th Century) glazed porcelain pot in a celadon color with a rounded form (date mark on bottom, see photos).
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese White Peacock and Floral Design Urn-Shaped Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese white porcelain vases with urn-shaped forms decorated in large scale dark blue leaves outlined in gold, amid green, yellow and pink foliage and flora topped with blue...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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

Antique Pair of Chinese Dehua Porcelain Figures of Boys on Water Buffalos
Located in Brea, CA
A pair of antique Chinese measures: 8” x 8'' dehua porcelain figures of boys on water buffalos, republic period, 3'' see more pictures. buy from Bonham...
Category

Early 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

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

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

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Terra Cotta Woman and Kneeling Camel Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terracotta tomb figure of a woman in a gray dress sitting on a kneeling Bactrian camel with its head tilted back and mout...
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Terracotta

Monumental Cracked Chinese Oil Jar with Repairs
Located in Dallas, TX
The Brendan Bass Estate Collection is an homage to the beauty of vintage and antique pieces, each artfully concealing endless stories collected through the generations in which they...
Category

19th Century Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Pottery

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

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

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 White and Navy Egret Design Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white, porcelain urn with a navy egret amid florals and two blue scrolled handles along the neck. Dimpling and crazing."
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique 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

Chinese White and Blue Multi-Pattern Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese white porcelain urn painted with a variety of blue, decorative patterns, including feathers and bold vertical markings, that are proportionally balanced to create a harmonio...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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 Green and Botanical Hand-Made Tole Lidded Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese hand-made, light green tole urn painted with branches, fruit, and a dark green band at the base and finished with a finial atop its lid.  
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

Chinese White and Floral Pattern Porcelain Jars
Located in Queens, NY
5 Chinese white porcelain, open-mouthed jars decorated in an all-over pattern of florals and foliage in purple, orange and green, accented with gold lotus flowers (Priced each).  
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

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 White and Blue Floral and Character Design Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) porcelain urn decorated with a blue geometric floral pattern surrounding a centered emblem with dark blue characters, a Greek key band around the...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese White and Blue Vine Design Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) white porcelain urn decorated with an all-over blue vine and flower patterned ground, surrounding spaced bold, blue characters. Signs of wear t...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of canton rose medallion
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of canton style famille rose porcelain vases. Chinese late 19 th century Crafted in china in the late nineteenth century for the export market, these fine porcelain vases with ormolu...
Category

1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

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

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

A very fine 19th century French Cloissone 11and gilt bronze centerpiece
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine 19th century French Orientalist period Cloissone and bronze centerpiece.
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

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

19th Century Pair of Chinese Guardian Lions in Red and Gold Lacquer
Located in NICE, FR
We present you with this stunning pair of statues representing Chinese guardian lions, also known as lions of Fo, made in red and gold lacquer and painted wood. Their origins date ba...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Fine Pair of Chinese Porcelain Bottle Shaped Vases, Daoguang period (1821-1850)
Located in New York, NY
A fine pair of Chinese porcelain bottle-shaped vases, painted in the Islamic style, Daoguang period (1821-1850). Each vase finely handpainted in Henn...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Silver Bamboo Tea Caddy by Hung Chong
Located in New York, NY
Chinese export silver tea caddy, circa 1900. Baluster with drum-form neck and cover. Chased and repousse bamboo and blossoming prunus branches on stippled ground. Plain band at shoulder. Also plain are foot rim, neck, and cover sides. Cover top has circular frame (vacant). Fully marked with Chinese characters and letters HC for Hung Chong...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Silver

Vintage Chinese Hardstone Sea Buckthorn Bushes, Pair
Located in Astoria, NY
Vintage Chinese hardstone Sea Buckthorn (Shaji, or Hippophae rhamnoides) plant sculptures, each with nephrite leaves wired to a trunk sprouting Cinnamon Jade berries in agate pots, t...
Category

Mid-20th Century Asian Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Multi-gemstone

19th Century Bronze-Mounted Rose Medallion Center Piece
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dore bronze mounts. Nicely cast. Bowl has no breaks, cracks or damages.
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

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

Pair of 19th Century Famille Rose Beaker Vases
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large pair of beautifully hand-enameled. No cracks, breaks or repairs.
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain, Paint

Early 20th Century Chinese Red Lacquer Decorated Box
Located in San Francisco, CA
Early 20th century Chinese Red Lacquer decorated box. Relief carved top panel of an attendant and scholar. Fine finger joints on the box and lid. Inside top of the lid having Chinese...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

"TaoBao" Large White Porcelain Vase by Luce Raggi Italy / China Contemporary
Located in London, GB
Luce Raggi, TaoBao (online shopping), 2017 glazed porcelain 55 x 35 cm Hand painted vase depicting packages and prices related to online shopping on Taobao, the Chinese Amazon. On ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese White and Floral Patterned Porcelain Mallet Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white vases with mallet forms decorated in raised designs of floral arrangements in wicker baskets (mark on bottom, see photos) (PRICED AS...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Chinese Export Solid Silver Bowl, Wing Cheong, Hong Kong c.1890
By Wing Cheong
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique late 19th century Chinese solid silver decorative fruit bowl, of traditional round form, applied with a shaped arched and pierced rim w...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Silver

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