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 Celadon Glazed Porcelain Vase
Located in New York, NY
Chinese glazed porcelain vase in a celadon color with a bulbous form (date mark on bottom, see photos).
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Export Porcelain Rose Canton Cache Pot & Stand
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export Porcelain Rose Canton Cache Pot & Stand,
1820-1840
The large hexagonal-shaped Chinese Export porcelain cache pot has six panels with different scenes from Chinese ...
Category
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Large Antique Moon Vase, Chinese Ceramic, Decorative Flower Urn, Victorian, Qing
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a large antique moon vase. A Chinese, ceramic decorative flower urn with hand-painted decoration, dating to the Qing dynasty during the late Victor...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Antique Samson Porcelain Chinese Export Style Reticulated Fruit Bowl
By Samson & Cie
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique reticulated porcelain fruit bowl.
By Edmé Samson et Cie.
With a reticulated rim and decorated throughout with painted flowers in yellow, pink, and purple along w...
Category
Early 20th Century French Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Export Famille Verte Vases Now Electrified on Giltwood Bases
Located in San Francisco, CA
A lovely pair of Chinese Export porcelain hand decorated vases, decorated overall in the Famille Verte palette with numerous figures of courtesans, birds, butterflies and flowers in ...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Blanc-de-Chine Dehua Figures of Guanyin
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A Pair Of Blanc - De - Chine Dehua
Figures Of Guanyin
Early 20th century
Each figure is modelled standing in flowing robes
upon a lotus leaf decorated stand,
holding a fl...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
19th C. Chinese Paper Machiere Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century lidded box made from paper-machiere.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Paper
Vintage Chinese Hardstone Sea Buckthorn Bushes, Pair
Located in New York, 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
Spode “Tabacco Leaf” Punch Bowl after Chinese Export Design, England, ca. 1820
By B. Spode
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
Table Lamp, Chinese, Porcelaine, Hand Painted, in a Vase Shape, China circa 1940
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Vase, table lamp, in porcelain. It has been made in china, circa 1940.
The decorative pattern are flowers and leaves.
Category
1940s Chinese Vintage 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
Antique Archaic Style Patinated Bronze Planter, China, Early 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Archaic style antique bronze planter - large size - featuring fine casting with over-all textured finish, decorative elements and Greek key bord...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Chinese White and Blue Nature Motif Porcelain Urn
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese (late 19th century) large white, porcelain urn with a scene of blue flora and fauna, and two dark blue scrolled handles along the neck.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Green Glazed Shiwan Pottery Teapots Qing Dynasty, 'Pair'
Located in Dallas, TX
A near pair of 19th century Sancai green glazed pottery teapots. Both with yoked handles, spouts and lids. Both also have the Republic era official government wax red seal signifying...
Category
1880s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Pottery
Antique Chinese Brass Box with Jade Medallion
Located in Houston, TX
Antique Chinese brass decorative box with Jade Medallion. This stunning Chinese export brass box features a beautiful etched bat design with a central c...
Category
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Jade, Brass
Antique Chinese Qing Enamel Mille Fleur Cloisonné Desk Writing Set Inkwell, 1900
Located in Portland, OR
A good quality antique six piece Chinese cloisonne desk set, circa 1900.
The desk set made of cloisonne (enamel on copper) and having a Miller Fleur (Thousand Flowers) design, the set comprises a hinged lidded flared inkwell, a rocking blotter...
Category
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Chinese Box, with Flower Pattern Decor, Lacquered 19th Century
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Small lacquered painted box, with floral decorations in yellow, red and green, it was made in China in the 19th century.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
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
Vase from China, 19th Century, Blue and White, Porcelain
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Chinese vase, blue cobalt, and white porcelain.
late 19th century. leaves and birdsdecor pattern.
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
1920s Mille Fiori Chinese Export Parcel Gilt Monumental Rouleau Vase
Located in Lomita, CA
The profusion of bright flowers and the gold parcel gilt combine for a gorgeous Chinese export vase. This monumental piece requires a stand and it is ready for your favorite room or ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Porcelain
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
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
Vtg Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Figural Orange Moon Flask Vase with Dragons
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Chinese Famille rose porcelain figural orange moon flask vase with dragons. Item features twin dragon handles, gold gilt details, figural "geisha g...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Large Blue and White Porcelain Lidded Urns or Jars
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Chinese blue and white porcelain lidded urns with classic form featuring foo dog handles on top and hand decorated with an auspicious composition of fruit trees and birds in ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Vintage Pair Chinese Gilt Carved Wood Foo Dog / Guardian Lions Figurines
Located in San Francisco, CA
Offered here are a pair vintage Chinese gilt and carved wood Foo Dog/Guardian Lions figurines
Wonderful craftsmanship with the hand carving that has gone...
Category
1940s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Giltwood
Chinese Export Rose Mandarin Lidded Bottle Vase, Early 19th Century
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
Early 19th century rose mandarin lidded bottle vase, typically decorated in the 'Rose Medallion' pattern. Two panels depicting Chinese garden and interior scenes and two panels with ...
Category
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique 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
Vintage Chinese Realgar Peking Glass Baluster Vase
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine Chinese Peking glass vase.
Crafted to imitate realgar (雄黃), a mineral widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
With a polished p...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
1920's Chinese Export Hand Painted Miniature Porcelain Vase
Located in New York, NY
1920's Chinese export miniature ceramic vase, with hand painted floral decoration., and gilt rim. Stamped Made In China on bottom.
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Early 20th Century, Republic Period Foo Dog Porcelain Vase
Located in London, GB
A twentieth century Republic Period porcelain foo dog vase of good scale, decorated with bright red glazes upon a white ground, with character marks vers...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Small Vintage Carved Oriental Figure, Chinese, Hand Carved, Black Onyx, Art Deco
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a small vintage carved Oriental figure. A Chinese, hand-carved black onyx traditional travelling man statue, dating to the late Art Deco period, ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Onyx
Vintage Asian Hare's Fur Glaze Tea Bowl - Unsigned - China - 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage Asian Hare's fur glaze tea bowl - small size - unsigned - China - 20th century.
Excellent vintage condition - no cracks - no chips - no repairs - non glazed areas as inten...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Chinese Blue and White Lion & Peony 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
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Antique 18th Century Qianlong Chinese Export Famille Rose Scalloped Bowl 10"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 18th century Qianlong period Chinese Chinoiserie export shallow porcelain bowl or serving dish with a delicate famille rose design featuring interlaced waves of pattern and s...
Category
18th Century Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Monumental Blue and White Floor Vase or Dramatic Center Piece
Located in Buchanan, MI
Monumental blue and white floor vase or dramatic center piece 30" tall, 12" wide. We also have a large evolving collection of blue and white.
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Double Happiness Vase, Circa 19th Century
Located in Bradenton, FL
This blue-and-white porcelain vase stands tall with broad shoulders that taper to a splayed base. Bordered by a simple meander at the neck, the jar is decorated with a dense pattern ...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique 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
Ceramic, Porcelain
Pair of Antique Chinese Table Top Vanity Jewellery Box Cabinets Folding Mirrors
Located in GB
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
19th Century Chinese Bronze Incense Vessel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautifully chased 19th century bronze. In three parts. Great as just a table sculpture.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Antique Chinese Export Silver Picture Frame
Located in New York, NY
Turn-of-the-century Chinese export silver picture frame. Oval window in shaped surround with scrolls and flower heads at top, and leaves, stars, flowers, and heart cartouche vacant o...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver
Chinese Guan Type Celadon Yuhuchunging Vase, Late 20th Century
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A Chinese guan type celadon
Yuhuchunping vase,
Late 20th century.
Covered overall with a soft, bluish-green glaze with broad crackles,
shading to brown at the rim, unglazed...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Celadon
Chinese Famille Rose Rouleau Vase
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Chinese Famille Rose
Rouleau Vase
Republic Period (1912-1949)
Finely enameled with two ladies in conversation
at the table in a garden setting.
...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Pottery
Chinese Famille Rose Four Seasons Plate, 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 op...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Export 20th Century Blue and White Porcelain Vase with Dragon Motifs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Chinese Export blue and white porcelain vase from the 20th century, with dragon motifs. Created in China during the 20th century, this blue and white porcelain vase features a nice...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Ormolu Mounted Chinese Porcelain Tazze
Located in London, GB
Pair of ormolu mounted Chinese porcelain tazze
Chinese & French, Late 19th Century
Height 18cm, width 31cm, depth 21cm
These very fine decorative pieces are a pair of tazze (from the Italian tazza...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu
Maitland-Smith Blue & White Chinoiserie Ginger Jars with Bronze Accents, Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a pair of blue and white transferware chinoiserie ginger jars by Maitland - Smith. The caps and bases are cast bronze. They are in very ...
Category
1980s Unknown Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
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
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 Antique Chinese Hand-Painted Vases
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair Antique Chinese Hand-Painted Vases are truly a product of exceptionally skilled artisans! Thrown on a larger scale, the graceful form of each porcelain urn is centuries if not ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Vintage Chinese Porcelain Vase Hand Painted
Located in Milano, IT
Vintage Chinese porcelain ornamental oriental vase dating from the early 1900s.
The vase is entirely hand painted, depicting flowers and birds.
The vintage Chinese porcelain vase...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
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
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 protect their elaborate hairstyles by elevating the head during slumber. This example dates to the late 20th century and is glazed in the blue-and-white style with a stencil-transfer design.
Each side of the headrest has a quadrilobe cartouche framing two mythical fu lions playing with a brocade ball, a motif that evokes the idiom "may you and your descendant achieve high rank." A powerful and benevolent guardian, the fu lion (shizi) is the perfect force to protect against nightmares and bad energy.
The playful scene is surrounded by a cracked ice pattern dotted with plum blossoms, symbols of winter and longevity. A geometric meander trims the corners and small bats frame coin...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Large Asian Bronze Foo Dogs
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Large Asian Bronze Foo Dogs or Kylin Dragon, probably Chinese, circa 1950s or earlier. They retain their warm original patina. These were purch...
Category
1950s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Chinese Export Porcelain oval Lidded Box Hand Painted, circa 1920
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very decorative, oval shaped porcelain box with Lid, made in China, circa 1920
The box is well potted in an oval shape, the lid ha...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Oriental Carved Camphor Wood Chest, Jewellery Casket
Located in Chillerton, 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
Chinese Decorative or Jewelry Box, in Carved Wood, Trees and Birds Decor, China
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
It is a carved wooden box, brown and black. One part is hand carved, the other Painted lacquered. It was made in China during the 1930s and 1940s, so it is from the Republic period.
Category
1930s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Pair of Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Double Gourd Vases
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout pair of Chinese blue and white porcelain vases having a double gourd form, hand decorated with pagoda landscapes.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Export Snuff Bottle of Natural Agate Stone Spoon Top, circa 1930
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very beautiful Chinese Export snuff bottle with a rare hand carved shape, complete with its matching top and made from natural agate stone, having lovely veined colors, whi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Agate
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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