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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
Chinese Famille Rose Bowl with Offering Fruits, 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 opaque overglaze enamels that favored roses and pinks, famille rose porcelain ware was crafted with the same technical virtuosity as imperial porcelain but designed for Western tastes. This famille rose bowl...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Oriental Carved Camphor Wood Chest, Jewellery Casket
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Oriental carved camphor wood chest, jewellery casket. This beautiful carved chest is made from camphor wood, for those of you who...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

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

Chinese Multicolor Glazed Porcelain Pheasant Sculpture
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Mid 20th Century) porcelain sculpture of a pheasant with colorful, gold-outlined plumes perched on a rocky formation of green and brown.  
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Green and Red Lu Xing Wealth and Prosperity Deific Porcelain Figurine
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) glazed porcelain statue of Lu Xing, one of the deities of the three stars considered essential in Chinese astrology, each...
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20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese Blue and White Jars with Lids
Located in Bradenton, FL
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese Celadon Revolving Pattern Porcelain Urns
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese celadon porcelain urns with continuous raised swirling motifs flowing up the slender, fluted necks. (PRICED AS PAIR). Condition: Good; Wear consistent with age and use
Category

20th Century Chinese 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...
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20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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

Mid Century Chinese Large Cinnabar Vase
Located in Germantown, MD
For your consisderation is this Mid Century Chinese Large Cinnabar Vase. Measures 7" in width, 7" in depth and 13" in height
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Chinese Blue & White Double Happiness Spice Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
The symbol for double happiness adorns this round tea leaf jar with best wishes for love, companionship and marital bliss. Glazed in the classic blue and white manner, the porcelain jar has a rounded form with a slight taper and is topped by a flat lid, a traditional shape for jars used to hold Chinese...
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21st Century and Contemporary Chinese 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...
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Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Blue and White Cobalt Baluster Form Prunus Vintage Vase
Located in Lomita, CA
A vintage Chinese blue and white prunus decorated baluster vase is from the Zhongguo period (circa 1960-70) marks. Zhongguo translates to "Middle Kingdom." The vase is of baluster...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain, Ceramic

Antique Large Chinese Woven Wicker Wedding Basket
Located in West Hartford, CT
Three tiered Asian Chinese wedding basket was certainly make a statement! Woven reeds split bamboo throughout. Dragon head metal brass handles...
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Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Chinese Rose Quartz Toad
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese rose quartz figure of a toad standing on a teak base (20th Cent)
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Teak

Larger Than Life Terracotta Buddha Bust of Guanyin, Early 20th Century, China
Located in Antwerp, BE
Monumental Terracotta Bust of Guanyin — China, Early 20th Century A striking, larger-than-life terracotta bust of Guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion, originating from China and ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Terracotta

Vintage Oriental Ginger Jar, Large, Polychrome Ceramic, Mid-Late 20th Century
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage oriental ginger jar, a large, brightly decorated polychrome ceramic with lid, dating to the mid-late 20th century. Of Classic ...
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

20th Century Wooden Carved Eight Immortals Statues
Located in Pomona, CA
The Eight Immortals are the eight immortals in Taoism, representing eight different groups of people, men, women, old and young, poor, lowly, rich and noble. Since the Eight Immortals are mortals who have attained Taoism, their personalities are closer to those of the common people. Recently, they have become very important representatives of the immortals in Taoism. The Eight Immortals are Tieguai Li, Zhong Liquan, Lan Caihe, Zhang Guolao, He Xiangu, Lu Dongbin, Han Xiangzi, Cao Guojiu. They are well known in Chinese folks. Size: 11in H x 4in W x 3.5in D each Origin: China Circa: 1950's Material: Boxwood Condition: Original condition, hand made and hand carved, normal age wear. Disclaimer: Due to differences in monitor/screen settings, product colors may differ slightly between product photos...
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Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Boxwood

Chinese Rose Quartz Sculpture of a Chinese Man Holding a Ruyi Scepter
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a rose quartz heavy sculpture of a Chinese man holding a ruyi scepter. The sculpture is standing over an asymmetrical oval base adorned with some ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Rose Quartz

Antique Chinese Carved Jade Pig Statue, Zodiac Sign
Located in Pomona, CA
This is a original hand carved Jade pig statue. the Twelfth Sign of the Chinese Zodiac. Pig symbolizes wealth, lucky and good fortune and prosperity. As you ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Jade

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

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...
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Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Boxwood

20th Century Chinese Gilt carved Wooden Tang Horse Sculpture
Located in Pomona, CA
Chinese Gilt Polychrome Wooden Carved Tang Dynasty Style Horse Sculpture. Featured nicely hand carved and hand painted with gilt highlighted on...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Antique Chinese Export Silver Blossom & Butterfly Bowl
Located in New York, NY
Chinese export silver bowl, ca 1910. Curved and tapering with molded ogee rim; raised and spread foot. Applied blossoming prunus branch as well as magnolias and lilies with butterfly...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Silver

18th-century Chinese Export Porcelain Famille Rose Wine Cooler
Located in Downingtown, PA
Elegant Tableware: Chinese Export Famille Rose Porcelain Wine Cooler Circa 1775 A finely potted and well-preserved Chinese Export porcelain vessel, functioning as either a wine co...
Category

1770s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

Chinoiserie Decorated Mantel Clock circa 1920s
Located in Dereham, GB
Chinoiserie Decorated Mantel Clock circa 1920s Black Background with gilt decoration Dome shaped top , with gilt brass columns each side. Cream ena...
Category

1920s British Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Lacquer

Large Chinese Dragon Vase in Patinated Bronze, Late 19th Century
Located in København, Copenhagen
Large Chinese dragon vase in patinated bronze. Late 19th century. In very good condition. Stamped. Measures: 39 x 20 cm.
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Chinese Tobacco Leaf Bowl with Gilt Rim
Located in Bradenton, FL
Vintage 20th Century Chinese Export Hand-Painted Tobacco Leaf Bowl with Gold Rim. Bowl. Bowl features richly enameled, multicolored overlapping leave...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Early 20th Century Antique Chinese Carved Stone Buddha Head Sculpture
Located in Pomona, CA
Look at this magnificent Chinese Antique Carved Stone Buddha Head. It was dated back to 1920s and shows very detailed hand carving works on it. You can see from the pictures that It ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Stone

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

Two Chinese Qing Dynasty Porcelain Vases with Gilt Bronze Bases
Located in London, GB
These porcelain vases are exquisite pieces of antique Chinese decorative art. They were crafted in the late Qing dynasty, which lasted f...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Carved Hardstone Eagle in Smoky Quartz
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This majestic eagle is hand carved from quality smoky quartz. The eagle is standing on a decorative geometric base that has been custom made for this purpose. With faux glass eyes, t...
Category

1930s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Quartz

Chinese Export Black Leather Box On Stand
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular box with brass tacks and hinged lid set in a brass base.
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1850s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Asian Gilt Guan Yin Buddha
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese Asian style gilt carved figure of seated Guan Yin Buddha on a lotus base (20th Cent)
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Giltwood

Pair Of Chinese Hardstone Guardian Lions
Located in Norwood, NJ
Pair of hand carved Chinese Jade hardstone Foo Lions or Fu Dogs. This pair of Chinese spinach jade appears to be a nephrite, covered vases having a figural foo lion design with raise...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Jade

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

Pair of Chinese Monumental Imari-Style Orange Porcelain Urns
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese monumental porcelain orange and floral patterned vases celebrating Japanese Imari ware in both palette and design, with medallions featuring figurative scenes of women in gardens...
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

Vintage Japanese Takenaka Copper Vase
Located in Pomona, CA
This beautiful Copper vase was made by famous metal ware company Takenaka Bronze Works. I was hand made of bronze with detailed carving works on it and has ma...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Chinese Antique Glazed Ceramic Dragon Roof Tile on Custom Stand
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Striking large antique Chinese fragment of a glazed ceramic roof tile in the shape of a dragon in a beautiful shade of green. Mounted on custom stand to make it an unexpected piece ...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Pottery

Early 20th Century Chinese Cloisonne Enameled Tripod Censor/Incense Burner
Located in Pomona, CA
Museum Quality Chinese Champleve Cloisonné Incense burner of monumental size standing on a wonderful carved hardwood base. Gilt brass with enamel decoration, reclining elephant with ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Early-20th Century Antique Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Vase
Located in Pomona, CA
Look at this magnificent Chinese Famille Rose vases. It was hand made and hand painted in about 1850 - 1900 in a civilian kiln. It has hand painted Chinese traditional folks arts of ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese papier-mâché golden sphere
Located in LA CELLERA DE TER, ES
Exclusively handcrafted piece. This sphere is created using the ancient Chinese papier-mâché technique – a millennia-old craft that eventually spread worldwide. Traditionally employe...
Category

2010s Spanish Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Gold Leaf

A Pair of Tall Chinese Export Porcelain Figural Vases with Birds and Flowers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Pair of Tall Chinese export porcelain figural vases. The ovoid porcelain bodies decorated with colorful flowers, tropical birds, tree...
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Wooden Small Rectangular Chest with Hand Painted Exotic Birds
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese Mid-Century small rectangular hinged chest with metal latch and two side ring handles, hand painted featuring two exotic birds (depicted on the top and front), pine, berries,...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Early 20 Century Vintage Chinese Dark Green Glaze Pottery Vase/Liquor Bottle
Located in Pomona, CA
Our wonderful collection of handmade old vintage Chinese hand made glazed pottery vase/liquor bottle will make great accent pieces for any room of your house. It has some imperfection signs of age and usage on the mouth of vase and distressed patina. Take a close look at the pictures, there are some Buddha symbols...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Mid 20th Century Chinese Famille Noire Porcelain Fish Bawl/Planter
Located in Pomona, CA
This gorgeous vintage Chinese porcelain fish bowl having striking black background on the exterior decorated with elaborate floral,lotus and lotus pods as well as dragon flies and bu...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Porcelain Chinese Vase, Satsuma, 1970's.
Located in Praha, CZ
The vase is hand-decorated with painted scenes, figures in kimonos. The decoration is richly interwoven with gold color and fine lines very typical for Satsuma ceramics Signed Origin...
Category

1970s Chinese Vintage 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 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 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

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

Vintage Set of Chinese Jade Carved Horse Drawn Carriage Statue
Located in Pomona, CA
This set of Chinese Jade carved horse drawn carriage are hand crafted with exquisite detail. They were carved with a "thallium tool" and jade-resolving sand by skilled craftsmen in t...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Jade

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

Hammered Brass Singing Bowl with Dragons Nepal 1940s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Hammered Brass Singing Bowl with Dragons Nepal 1950s. Asian Chinese Bronze Vessel Dragon Bowl. Featuring magnificent pictorials of 2 dragons in raised low relief around the vessel. A...
Category

Mid-20th Century Nepalese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Chinese Blue & White Jar with First Scholar
Located in Chicago, IL
Loosely brushed with cobalt blue pigments, this round, blue-and-white storage jar is underglazed with a celebratory procession of young boys leading a mythical qilin. Also known as k...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Spode “Tabacco Leaf” Punch Bowl after Chinese Export Design, England, ca. 1820
Located in Atlanta, GA
Spode “Tabacco Leaf” Punch bowl after Chinese Export design, England ca. 1820.
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Massive Rose Canton Porcelain Punch Bowl, Edmé Samson et Cie, Paris
Located in Downingtown, PA
Massive Rose Canton Porcelain Punch bowl, Edme Samson et Cie, Paris, circa 1880 The massive beautiful bowl with unusual steep sides is...
Category

19th Century Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Rust Agate Vessel
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese rust agate (vessel) urn with a carving in relief and ring sides holding a loop handle with a cover having carved bats. (modern hanging stand 8½"w x 11¾"h)
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble

Chinese Blue and White Perpetual Harmony Baluster Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
This contemporary lidded baluster jar continues the centuries-old tradition of Chinese blue-and-white porcelain ware. Painted with cobalt pigments for a brilliant blue finish, the ja...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary 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.

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