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
Pair of Chinese Monumental Imari-Style Monumental Orange Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese monumental porcelain floor vases celebrating Japanese Imari ware in both palette and design, featuring white, blue, orange and gold floral motifs on rust-colored grou...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Classic Pair of Mottahedeh Chinese Export Style Covered Urns
By Mottahedeh
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Beautiful classic pair of Mottahedeh painted Chinese Export style lidded urns having a striking color palette of white, blue and gold.
Bases arae 4 x 4.
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
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
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
Vintage Chinese Willow Woven Fisherman Basket Asian Storage Container
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Chinese Willow Woven Fish or Grain Basket.
Vintage Chinese fisherman basket hand woven from natural willow wood with removable lid.
This woven reed fisherman’s basket was use...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Rattan, Wood
Mid-20th Century Chinese Carved Landscape Sculpture, Scholar art
Located in Pomona, CA
This sculpture has exquisite carved landscaping and buildings, etc. Detailed hand carving works on a piece of Boxwood. It was used as paper weigh - a scholar arts on the desk. Look a...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Boxwood
Large Chinese Export Red Lacquer Character Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large Chinese Export red lacquer character box, sculptural, well executed Chinese two part lacquer table box.
Decorated with vines, symbols and bats. Unmarked.
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Lacquer
Pair of Large Scale Carved Stone Chinese Foo Dogs / Temple Lions
Located in Dallas, TX
a pair of large scale, well carved stone Chinese Foo Dogs / Temple Lions, these are carved out of stone and are traditional Chinese architectural ornaments, China, circa 1920
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Stone
19th Century Chinese Export Famille Verte Foo Dog Joss Stick 'Candlestick'
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th century Chinese Export Famille Verte Foo Dog Joss Stick (Candlestick)
China, circa 1850
A stunning 19th-century Chinese Export Famille Verte Foo Dog Joss Stick, also known as a ...
Category
19th Century Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Antique Chinese Beige and Orange Foo Dog Patterned Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Antique Chinese (late 19th-early 20th Century) porcelain urn-form vases with a pattern featuring swirling orange foo dogs against a gray-beige background. (PRICED AS PAIR)
C...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Imari-Style Orange and Gold Monumental Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese monumental floor floor vase celebrating Japanese Imari ware in both palette and design, featuring medallions of natural scenes against an orange ground intricately decorated ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
20th Century Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Ginger Jar
Located in Pomona, CA
This magnificent Chinese Antique Blue and White porcelain Ginger Jar was hand made and hand paint from famous Chinese Blue and White Porcelain. It is a painting by Youqiu from the Mi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
20th Century Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Ginger Jar
Located in Pomona, CA
This magnificent Chinese Antique Blue and White porcelain Ginger Jar was hand made and hand paint from famous Chinese Blue and White P...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Fu Lion Fantail Vase, c. 1920
Located in Chicago, IL
This porcelain vase from the early 20th-century is sculpted to a classic phoenix-tail silhouette and decorated on all sides with mythical fu lions. Also known as shizi or foo dogs, f...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Export Canton Rose Vases Provenance: Paul Vandekar
Located in San Francisco, CA
A fine pair of Chinese export vases in the Canton Rose Medallion pattern and palette. Provenance: Earle D. Vandekar, London.
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Blue and White Eternity Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
This porcelain tea leaf jar is beautifully glazed in the blue-and-white manner, with hand-painted cobalt-blue decoration against a crisp white field. The porcelain jar has a rounded form and flat lid, a traditional shape for jars used to hold Chinese...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Fine Antique Collectable Chinese Table Top Cabinet Jewellery Collectors Storage
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage circa 1920's hand painted and lacquered oriental Chinese table chest or jewellery box.
A very good looking and well made pie...
Category
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Hardwood
Mid-20th Century Chinese Blue and White Dragon Vase
Located in San Marino, CA
Fine porcelain Chinese mid-20th century blue and white traditional gourd shaped vase, featuring a large four-clawed dragon. Beautiful cloud motif ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Vintage Chinese Glazed Terra Cotta Stack of Frogs
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Whimsical Chinese sculpture or figure crafted in terracotta and hand decorated with a thick glaze depicting a game of leap frog gone awry.
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Terracotta
19th Century Asian Wooden Decorative Storage Box
Located in Germantown, MD
Mid 19th Century Asian Wooden decorative storage box with lid.
Measures 13.5"W x 11"D x 11.5"H.
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Chinese Export Porcelain Canton Famille Rose Elephant Modeled as a Candlestick
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export porcelain canton famille rose elephant modeled as a candlestick,
Circa 1860
The standing Chinese Export porcelain elephant with its trunk up is painted in an iron-red with gilt decoration and caparisoned. On its back is a gu-form vase candle holder rising from the raised saddle. Below the urn is a long saddle cloth hanging down painted with famille rose birds...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Large Cobalt Blue Ceramic Urn or Planter
Located in Nantucket, MA
An Asian ceramic large tea container with an amazing cobalt blue glaze. Brass collar. Beautiful shape and in good condition. Could also be used as a planter. Opening of the mouth of the urn is 9".
The Lockhart Collection is a personally curated gallery...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Chinese Large Aubergine, Purple, and Maroon Porcelain Urn Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese porcelain urn-form vase in a rich aubergine color overlayed with a barely visible blue base, creating highs and lows that add dimension to the finish and form.
Slight imperf...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
1960 China Export Pair Porcelain Blue and White Decorative Giant Jars Vases
Located in Brescia, IT
This pair of elegant and fine giant jars in porcelain, has its origin in the extremely East part of the Chinese continent, probably from Japan. The entire surface is decorated with the relief of white flowers, the peonia flowers, symbol of authority, power and wealth. On the surface, are present many drawings in blue of the Pho dogs...
Category
1960s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Two Chinese Wood Lion Foo Dogs Incense Holder
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Two Chinese wood Foo Dogs Incense holder burners.
Featuring a pair of highly detailed lion foo dogs, one male and one female which were thought to protect the home from harmful spiritual influences and harmful people that might be a threat.
The Foo Dogs...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Two Pairs, 18th Century Mandarin Pallet Chinese Export Vases
Located in Dallas, TX
On left:
Pair of early 18th century mandarin pallet Chinese vases decorated with various scenes and gilt handles (on neck), orange ground with blue borders around scenes, visible rep...
Category
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Guanyin in Carved Wood and Polichrome, China, Early 20th Century, Asian Art
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Guanyin in carved wood and polichrome, China, early 20th century, Asian art
Measures: H 56cm, W 16cm, W 15cm.
Category
1910s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Huge Antique Chinese Paper Mache Floor Vase with Hand-Painted Gilt Decoration
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large antique floor vase is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from China and date to approximately 1920 and done in a period Chi...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Paper
Large Vintage Red and White Porcelain Bowl, Catchall Encased in Pewter
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Large vintage red and white porcelain bowl catchall encased in pewter.
Floral design with gold accents hand painted in Hong Kong on a white po...
Category
Late 20th Century Hong Kong Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
French Samson Porcelain Chinese Export Style 4-Piece Garniture Set
By Samson & Cie
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Samson Porcelain Chinese Export Style 4-Piece Garniture Set
France, Circa 1950s
Consisting of four pieces, each one decorated in the Chinese Export style with hanging baskets of flowers in vignettes with floral surrounds, painted in a subtle palette of reds, blues and gilt decoration.
The two covered vases with resting lion lids...
Category
20th Century French Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Cloisonné Vase with Lid Flower Decoration China circa 1950
Located in Milan, Italy
Chinese lidded vase in cloisonne and gilt bronze enamel, probably from the first half of the 20th century. The domed lid with finial in the shape of a seated Buddhist lion overlooks ...
Category
1950s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Chinese White and Blue Chrysanthemum and Bird Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white and blue porcelain urn decorated with a bird amid flowering chrysanthemums, and accented with two navy scrolled handles along the neck.
Sl...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Squared Famille Rose Ginger Jar with Ritual Vessels, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Beautifully commemorated on this squared ginger jar, tripod censers and bronze ritual vessels have been used for thousands of years in Chinese cultur...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Blue and Orange Fish Design Lidded Porcelain Jars
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese (Mid 20th Century) lidded porcelain jars with orange fish swimming on blue, sponged backgrounds, inspired by patterns from the Ming Dynasty...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
1950s Mid-Century Chinese Rosewood+Brass Turtle Hinged Jewelry Box Chinoiserie
Located in Hyattsville, MD
An older mid-century Chinese export/souvenir Jewelry Box. Inside it has two removable separators, outside is has brass decorations, hinges, and a wond...
Category
1950s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
19th Century Hand Painted / Gilt Footed Satsuma Vase
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Step into the allure of the 19th century with this exquisite Hand-Painted and Gilt Footed Satsuma Vase. Meticulously crafted, this vase embodies the artistic finesse and cultural her...
Category
19th Century Asian Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Gold
Carved Bone Lobster
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Lobster sculpture or object of art crafted in carved bone with hinged antennae and flexible tail. Our other listings contain. a larger lobster, crabs and t...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Bone
Vintage Chinese Tang Tri-Colored Glazed Tomb Ceramic Statue
Located in Pomona, CA
This magnificent Vintage Chinese Tang tri color glazed ceramic beautify figure was hand made with famous tri-colored glaze on the ceramic. It has beautiful color and detailed carving...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Monumental Chinese Green Glazed Koi
Located in Chicago, IL
A visual pun for "abundance," this monumental ceramic fish sculpture brings an abundance of blessings, wealth and marital bliss. The terracotta statue depicts a large koi, or carp, j...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Terracotta
Vintage Chinese Tapestry design Porcelain Planter & Saucer
Located in Birmingham, AL
Vintage Chinese Planter with Chinese monogram at the bottom Ornately hand-painted with This stunning vintage hand painted porcelain with tapestry style design with green and gold a...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Chinese Blue and White Fu Lion Headrest
Located in Chicago, IL
This small ceramic block is actually a form of Chinese headrest or neck pillow. Popular during the Qing dynasty, rigid headrests such as this were used by upper-class women to protec...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century, Chinese Large Wooden Carved Elaborate Imperial Dragon Ship
Located in Pomona, CA
This large model of imperial dragon ship was intricately and elaborately carved with brilliant lattice work and details on the display stand. It actual a royal palace built on the sh...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Chinese Famille Rose Baluster Jar with Ancient Censers, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Beautifully commemorated on this lidded baluster jar, censers have been used for thousands of years in Chinese culture as a part of funeral rites or prayer offerings. Filled with dried aromatic plants and essential oils, the censer issued fragrant smoke that forged a connection to the spiritual realm. This late Qing-dynasty jar...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Vintage Chinese Red and Gold Carved Handled Box
Located in Queens, NY
"Vintage Chinese red and gold painted decorative wooden box with a metal latch and band around the base and an ornately carved handle featuring a ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Pair Chinese Sang Du Boeuf vases / candelabra, circa 1880
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive and decorative pair of 19th century Chinese Sang Du Bouf lidded vases each with wonderful gilded ormolu Rococo style scrolling foliate candelabra mounts.
Batch 83...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu
Chinese Blue and Orange Fish Design Round Lidded Porcelain Jars
Located in Queens, NY
4 antique Chinese (Mid 20th Century) similar porcelain vases with orange fish swimming around blue backgrounds - some displaying sponged effects - inspired...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Set of Eight Chinese Cloisonné Process Vases
Located in Chicago, IL
A decorative technique first adopted in China in the early Ming dynasty (1368-1644), cloisonné is achieved by outlining intricate patterns with thin strips of metal, which are then f...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Chinese Export Silver Cigar Box by Hung Chong & Co.
Located in Savannah, GA
Sterling silver cigar box marked Hung Chong (or Cheong) & Co., silversmiths & retailers, Canton, China, circa 1860-1930. Classic intertwined ...
Category
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Sterling Silver
Pair Early 20th Century Chinese Peking Glass Bowls Carved Red Glass Overlay
Located in Miami, FL
Offering a pair of Peking glass bowls with original stands, circa 1940s. These lovely bowls are made of white translucent glass and have carved red overlay designs and are from the C...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Art Glass
19th Century Chinese Hand Carved Meal Delivery and Lunch Box
Located in Pomona, CA
This Antique lacquered lunch box from Shan Xi, China has over 140 years history and still maintained very good condition. There are some traditional carving works on the two sides handle and shows the traditional style of Northern China's cultural. This antique lunch box...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Pair of Vintage Asian Green Tole Bonsai Palm Tree Sculptures
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Vintage Asian tole bonsai palm tree sculptures with green and gold painted leaves and trunks, mounted on oval bases. (PRICED AS PAIR)
Category
20th Century Asian Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Pair of Chinese Export Porcelain American* Market Landscape Vases & Covers
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Chinese Export Porcelain American* Market Landscape Vases & Covers
China, Circa 1800
* American/ European Market, considered to the Chinese to be the same market, by many. it's been suggested the front and back vignettes of houses in landscape on this model, were painted from a European print the Chinese porcelain workshops acquired.
A extraordinary find, a pair of Chinese Export Porcelain American/ European Market painted in sepia, colors and gilt vases & covers, with twelve (12) placed American/ European and Chinese motif vignettes.
Each vase complete with its original cover/ lid with gilt recumbent foo-dog, with two front and back oval vignettes of a Chinese tree in landscape.
Each of the baluster vases, exquisitely hand-painted front and back with a similar American/ European topographical view of country houses with trees landscape. (The Chinese porcelain workshops probably copied these scenes from a European print) Surrounded by an elaborate painted and enameled trellis with vines and leaves.
Some traces worn, additional gilt decoration is evident.
Both sides of the vases are decorated with an upper elongated cartouche painted...
Category
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Blue and White Porcelain Lidded Urns with Lilies
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Charming pair of Chinese blue and white urns crafted in porcelain in a classic form with removable lids and hand decorated with lilies and flowers.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Cloisonné Tang Style Horses
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage pair of Chinese cloisonné horses with a Tang dynasty form decorated with colorful symbolic references on an alluring blue back...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Set of Four Petite Japanese Blue & White Inban Dishes
Located in Chicago, IL
These petite Japanese dishes are patterned with a bright, cobalt blue design of flowers and leaves, arranged to form a large, five-petal plum or cherry blossom. A type of porcelain w...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Off-White and Blue Symbol Patterned Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) large, off-white porcelain urn painted with a blue pattern featuring Buddhist symbols and other shapes with accented blue scrolled handles.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Glazed Earthenware Bowl, Song Dynasty, China
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Song dynasty period earthenware glazed bowl
Gorgeous patina and wear. Overall excellent condition.
Height: 2.7"
Diameter: 6.5"
Category
15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Earthenware
Pair of Chinese White and Cherry Blossom Branch Porcelain Urns
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of similar Chinese white porcelain urns depicting small yellow birds in cherry blossom branches on the fronts, and characters on the rever...
Category
20th Century Chinese 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.