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
Antique Chinese Export Porcelain Rose Medallion Bud Vase or Cabinet Vase
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine Chinese export porcelain Rose Medallion bud vase or miniature cabinet vase.
With a vasiform and a white porcelain ground.
Decorated with two cartouches to the body - one dep...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Early 20th Century Chinese Multi-Colored Cloisonne Rooster Sculptures
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of early 20th century Chinese cloisonne rooster sculptures with red, white, blue, green, and yellow enamels standing on circular cloisonne bases...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Enamel
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
19th Century Chinese Canton / Rose Medallion Garden Seat
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th Century Chinese Canton / Rose medallion hexagonal porcelain garden seat. The top and sides having pierced decoration to the centres, two rows gilded buttons aroun...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Export Lacquered Tea Canister in Red and Gilt, “No.17”
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This beautifully preserved 19th-century Chinese export tea canister, hand-painted in rich red lacquer with gilt floral and calligraphic detailing, is a classic example of 19th-centur...
Category
19th Century English Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
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
Early 20th Century Chinese Hand Painted FooDog Ginger Jar
Located in Pomona, CA
This magnificent Antique Chinese Famille-Rose porcelain Ginger Jar was 100% hand made and hand paint from famous Chinese Famille-Rose Porcelain. It has beautiful hand painted foo dog...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$1,012 Sale Price
25% Off
19th Century Hand Painted Cantonese Vase
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th century hand painted Cantonese vase in the Famille Rose style. The baluster-shaped body with brightly painted panels depicts interior sc...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
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
Fine and Rare Pair of Large Rose Medallion Lidded Vases, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality large pair of 19th century Chinese rose medallion or Cantonese lidded vases, each with female figures as finials and handles to the sides. Having the classical gr...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Enameled Floral Offering Dish, c. 1940s
Located in Chicago, IL
This colorful porcelain bowl dates to the early 20th century and was once used for serving food or presenting food offerings on a home altar. Shaped like an eight-petal flower, the d...
Category
Early 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
Pair of Vintage Asian Green and Gold 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 in circular pot bases. (PRICED AS PAIR)
Category
20th Century Asian Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Chinese White and Blue Lily Pad and Floral Design Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white and blue porcelain urn decorated with a lily pad and floral motif, and accented in two navy scrolled handles along the neck.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Olive Green Multi-Tube Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese olive green and brown glaze porcelain vase with one tall tube surrounded by four shorter tubes, all extending from a bulbous shape, on a circular foot.
Necks have been repa...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Tongzhi Floral Offering Bowl, Turquoise Glaze, 1800s
Located in Lisbon, PT
A 19th-century Chinese porcelain offering bowl from the Tongzhi period (1862–1874) used for ceremonial tributes. These bowls were typically placed before ancestral altars, filled wit...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$1,906 Sale Price
20% Off
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
Chinese White and Pink, Blue and Yellow Bogu Pattern Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) white porcelain urn painted with pink, light blue, and yellow bogu pattern - a traditional decorative theme that employs items like bronzeware, p...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
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
$1,356 Sale Price
20% Off
Chinese Rust Agate Elephant Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese rust agate tapered urn with carved elephant handles having rings and scroll & floral carving in relief with a finial top with filigree sides. (modern base 1¬O" high).
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Stone
Chinese Han Amber Glazed Porcelain Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese (Han Dynasty 206BC-220AD) amber glazed pottery vase (jar) with a band of animals in relief raised on a modern 2¬O" high base.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
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 Tang Dynasty-Style Sancai Glazed Terra Cotta Camel Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terra cotta tomb figure of a Bactrian camel, the main form of transport over the Silk Road, with its head tilted back and mouth open to the sky, we...
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Terracotta
Petite Blue and White Chinese Pear Vase
Located in Chicago, IL
Contrasted by a crisp white field, this small porcelain vase is decorated in the timeless blue-and-white style with bold brushwork and deep cobalt-blue color. The gracefully curved f...
Category
20th Century Chinese 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
Chinese Off-White and Blue Pastoral Scene Porcelain Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) small, porcelain jar depicting a blue pastoral scene on an off-white background with an unglazed rim.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
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 Peacock Motif Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) large off-white, porcelain urn with a blue peacock amid florals and two blue scrolled handles along the neck.
Light wear."
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Export Porcelain and French Bronze Candelabra
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of candelabra consisting of a pair of 18th century Chinese export vases mounted in 19th century French bronze in the Louis XVI style. The porcelains are very decorative and do...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Chinese Blue and White Fu Lion Headrest
Located in Chicago, IL
This square 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 prote...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Blue and 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 and flat lid, a traditional shape for jars used to hold Chinese...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese White and Blue Squared Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (19th century) white ceramic vase with a squared form wrapped in dark blue geometric patterns, and adorned with blue foo dog door knockers...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese White and Navy Egret Design Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white, porcelain urn with a navy egret amid florals and two blue scrolled handles along the neck.
Dimpling and crazing."
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
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
Chinese White and Blue Dragon Motif Porcelain Floor Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese large white porcelain floor urn decorated with a blue dragon and cloud motifs and accented with dragon ornamentation around the opening.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Canton Famille Rose Large Baluster Vase, Qing Dynasty, Ca. 1840
Located in Banner Elk, NC
A large Canton Famille rose baluster vase, of baluster form, with a tall waisted neck, an everted scalloped rim, the neck and shoulders with applied paired confronting Foo lions and ...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Porcelain Bowl, Compagnie des Indes, France (mount) - China, 18th/19th Century
Located in PARIS, FR
China 18th Century (bowl) – France 19th Century (mount)
Beautiful enameled porcelain bowl in the pink-purple tones characteristic of the “Famille Rose” with polychrome decoration o...
Category
19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Sancai Glazed Terra Cotta Woman Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terra cotta figure of a woman wearing robes bearing the Tang Dynasty's traditional tri-color glaze, or Sancai, utilizing brown, green and off-white...
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Terracotta
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 Cloisonne Vase on Stand with Floral Motif
Located in San Diego, CA
A nice Chinese cloisonne vase on stand with floral motif, circa 1970s. The vase is in very good condition with no dings or dents and measure 5.75"D x 11.75"H on a beautiful dark blue...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Enamel
Oxblood Red Glazed Chinese Melon Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
The melon shape is respected by the Chinese not only as a form but as a symbol for proliferation. These contemporary ceramics call back to the Song Dynasty (960 to 1279) when artisan...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$680 / item
Antique Chinese Mahogany Flower Vase Base / Stand
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese carved mahogany flower pot base / stand with a circular surface to hold a pot or vase, resting on four bowed and carved feet with a circular stretcher.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Chinese White, Green, and Pink Floral and Rooster Design Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (early 20th century) white porcelain urn incised and painted with decorations of roosters amid blooming floral branches mixed with geometric patterned bands at the bo...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Carved Bone Turtle
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Whimsical turtle sculpture or object of art crafted in carved bone with an organic palette and amusing stylized form.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Bone
$2,350 / item
Chinese Off-White and Navy Vine Motif Porcelain Urn Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) off-white porcelain vase with an urn form decorated in a navy blue vine and floral motifs and bold characters on 4 sides.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair Of Metal Asian Men Busts
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a Pair of Patinated Metal Asian Men Busts. It depicts two large busts of an Asian men with long mustache and beards. Both of them are wearing what appears to be like a crown ...
Category
20th Century Unknown Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
$950 / set
Chinese White and Blue Feather and Floral Motif Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese porcelain urn painted with a blue and white floral background surrounding a center white oval with bold markings, dark blue feathers along the neck, and geometric patterned ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
20th Century Chinese Hand-Woven Bamboo Vase
Located in Pomona, CA
This rare and magnificent Vintage Chinese bamboo vase was 100% hand woven with bamboo strips. It has very exquisite bamboo weave honesty with detailed dragon carving on the side ears. It is truly an antique and collectible...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Bamboo
$1,387 Sale Price
25% Off
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
Antique Cloisonné Floor Vase
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Cloisonné Floor Vase
Circa Early 20th Century
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Antique Chinese Carved Wooden Longgui Dragon Turtle Sculpture
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese carved wooden sculpture of a Longgui or (dragon turtle) holding a coin in its mouth on an ornately carved wooden base.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Chinese White and Blue Floral and Character Ginger Jar Vases
Located in Queens, NY
5 Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) similar porcelain ginger jars with blue floral designs around bold, centered characters and geometric bands leading to unglazed rims (jars vary...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
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
$288 Sale Price
25% Off
Large Chinese Export Carved Soapstone Foo Dog Scholars Seal
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large Chinese export carved soapstone foo dog scholars seal, nicely carved, in two color soapstone, with large seal at base.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Soapstone
$380 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Serving Bowl, English, Ceramic, Fruit Dish, Oriental Taste, Circa 1920
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique serving bowl, an English ceramic fruit dish with Oriental taste, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1920. With dazzling colour and striking dragon motif, this...
Category
1920s British Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Unusual Pair of Large Chinese Export Canton Famille Rose 1000 Butterfly Vases
Located in New York, NY
An unusual pair of large Chinese export canton famille rose thousand butterfly porcelain vases. The vase has a very unusual shape and was most pro...
Category
1840s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Enamel
Large 19thC Chinese Zinc Lined Brass Trough Planter
Located in Altrincham, GB
Large 19thC Chinese Zinc Lined Brass Trough Planter Jardiniere with relief "Eternal Dragon" decorations - 25"w x 15"d x 11"h
Category
1870s English Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Zinc
Pair of Chinese Blue & White Good Fortune Jars
Located in Chicago, IL
These round, porcelain storage jars are brightly glazed in the classic blue-and-white manner with a striking, high-contrast design. Emphasizing the graphic aesthetic qualities of Chi...
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
Vintage Asian Glazed Ceramic Foo Dogs - a Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Stunning pair of glazed ceramic foo dogs. A chic deep green color with flashes of deep blue. Lots of intricate detail on the face and body. Areas of wear from age add to the effect. ...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
$1,950 / set
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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