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
Vintage Large Chinese Export Satsuma Moriage Geishas Koi Fish Bowl Decorative
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely Vintage Chinese Export Satsuma Moriage Geishas Koi Fish Bowl
A very good looking well made and decorat...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Earthenware
$823 Sale Price
20% Off
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
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
Pair of Great Dragon Temples Chinese Minguo Period
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of great dragon temples.
Chinese Minguo period (1912-1949), in carved bone plates. With detailed dragon carvings. Sitting on a wooden base. faults ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Bone
$35,264 / set
Pair of 1930s Vintage Bronze Jug Vase Urns with Little Cherub Angles Nice Find
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely original pair of 1930s bronze jug vases with cherubs
A good looking and well made pair, the Cherubs have t...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
$1,482 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Fantastic 19th Century Chinese Blanc De Chine Model of a Water Buffalo or Ox
Located in New York, NY
A Fantastic 19th Century Chinese Blanc De Chine Model of a Water Buffalo. Beautifully hand-carved and enameled with a bright white body and black enamel eyes. This piece is really superb and in fabulous condition for its age. In Chinese culture, the water buffalo symbolizes the coming of spring. Throughout China the spring season began with a ceremonial plowing by the imperial capital through the use of a water buffalo, symbolizing its importance to the imperial heritage. Water buffalo were created in China for centuries, with terracotta pieces found in Han dynasty tombs...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Large 19th Century Rose Medallion Vase or Lamp, Ormolu Mounted
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive 19th century Chinese rose medallion / canton vase / lamp, having wonderful gilded ormolu scrolling foliate Rococo style mounts with putti seated on either side. The...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu
Heavy Sancai Glazed Terra Cotta Wisdom Figure in Tang Dynasty Style
Located in Dallas, TX
Gorgeous SanCai glazed terra-cotta wisdom figurine, Crafted in the Tang Dynasty Style. The clay is coated or made into clay sheets, then placed inside the model, and pressed into for...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Terracotta
EARLY 20TH CENTURY HAND CARVED SOAP STONE VASE WiTH FLORAL SCENE
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for auction this lovely early 20th-century Chinese hand-carved soapstone vase.
This is a unique item of a Chinese hand carved vase...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Soapstone
$1,043 Sale Price
20% Off
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
Large Pair of 19th Chinese Yellow and Green Ground Vases/ lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A large, good quality pair of 19th century Chinese green and yellow ground vases, each with classical motif decoration, scrolling flowers, leaves an...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique 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
$14,000 / set
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
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
Pair of Kerosene Lamps with Birds in Chinese Style
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of French antique kerosene lamps. The bronze paunch is decorated with birds on branches and flowers in Chinese style. What makes these lamps stun...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Large Pair Canton Enamel Vases, circa 1900
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive pair of late 19th century Chinese Canton enamel vases, each with wonderful pastel colours, with a powder blue ground exotic flora...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Enamel
$12,352 / set
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
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
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
Pair of Chinese Marble Lions from the 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of Chinese Marble Lions from the XIX century
Elegant lions of the Quing Dynasty carved in white marble with chisel. They are in good conditio...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble
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
Early 19th Century Export Chinoiserie Lacquer Box on Carved Feet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This exquisite early 19th-century chinoiserie box, adorned with lacquered surfaces and ornate gold-toned detailing, showcases the superb craftsmanship of English artisans influenced ...
Category
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Lacquer
Pair of Chinese Porcelain Foo Dogs
Located in Pasadena, TX
Chinese Foo Dogs sculptures are often placed in pairs at the entrances of temples, palaces, and homes to serve as powerful protectors, believed to ward off evil spirits and bring pro...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$1,190 / set
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
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
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
$5,950 / set
Dark Purple Qing Dynasty Flambé Vase
Located in London, GB
A baluster form vase with rich Flambé glaze.
This rich, glossy vase is of good proportion and excellent quality. The saturated flambé glaze was first ...
Category
1880s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
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
Chinese Brown and Pink Rope Design Trim Handled Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese handled vase with a pale pink base and a burnished tan body showing highs and lows in the finish, wrapped in two ribboned r...
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century Famille Rose Beaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very finely detailed large Chinese beaker with flower and bird motif. No cracks, breaks or repairs.
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain, Paint
19th Century Chinese Famille Rose Crackleware Vase / Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive and decorative 19th Century Chinese Famille Rose crackelware vase / lamp. Having classical motif bronzed decoration, leaf and berry handles. Hand painted scenes dep...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of 19th Century Chinese Export Petite Bowls
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand painted, late 19th century.
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$2,450 / set
Rare Large Chinese Export circa 1900 Shoushan Stone Sculpture Pandas Crane Birds
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning and very rare original Chinese Export circa 1900 Shoushan stone carving of mountain lions on rocks
I h...
Category
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Stone
$3,019 Sale Price
20% Off
"Massage" Large White Porcelain Vase by Luce Raggi, Italy / China Contemporary
Located in London, GB
Luce Raggi, Massage (food porn), 2017 glazed porcelain 65 x 25 cm
Hand-painted vase representing police men, seductive women and amused saints, all dedicated to
their passion fo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
1900s Chinese Cloisonne Leopards
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Late 19th Century to 1900s Chinese cloisonne leopards. Finely detailed. Cast in bronze and brass with enamel. Supposedly owned by the Gucci family in Ne...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Enamel
Antique pair of Homunculus Sculptures
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Unique and charming set of homunculus type figures on wooden base. Unknown origin and date but probably early 20th century. See pics
Category
20th Century Unknown Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
$156 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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 20cm, diameter 23cm
Crafted in China...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
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.