The last imperial dynasty from 1644 to 1912 was a time of change in China, beginning with the invasion by Manchurian forces that ended the Ming dynasty and established the Shunzhi Emperor. The expansion of exportation and trade that had bolstered the arts during the Ming era continued, as Qing dynasty furniture involved the same attention to craftsmanship with expert construction techniques in hardwood pieces that were assembled with mortise and tenon joints rather than nails or glue. Together, these eras comprise a golden age of Chinese furniture design.
Ming-style furniture is simple and elegant with clean lines. Chairs of the period and other Ming furniture made an impression on Scandinavian modernist Hans Wegner and his streamlined seating, for example. Whereas Qing-style furniture is elaborate, with an increasing influence from the West leading to lavish carving inspired by the European Baroque and Rococo styles. And while many of the forms that define examples of the latter are common within classical Chinese furniture, such as curving and folding chairs as well as large screens, Qing designs are laden with ornamentation. Frequently, the carved motifs and inlaid designs in mother-of-pearl were auspicious, such as peonies for wealth or dragons for luck. Bats were symbols of happiness in the design of Qing furniture, with one of the characters in the word for bat, bianfu, being a homophone for fu, or “fortune.”
While several types of wood were used in the construction of Qing beds, tables, storage pieces and seating, today’s collectors know that the most prized were the rare rosewoods zitan and huanghuali. They were both sourced from Hainan, China’s largest island, and are marked by a rich luster that occurs naturally, without the application of lacquer or other decorative materials. Many of the most popular woods were imported from southeast Asia, adding to their value. Red sandalwood was also sought after for its durability and connection with Chinese medicine, with some chairs being made for health benefits.
Find a collection of antique Qing tea tables, stools, benches, decorative objects and more furniture on 1stDibs.
Chinese Snuff Bottle Hand Carved Natural Serpentine Stone Spoon Top, circa 1920s
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a beautiful Chinese snuff bottle, heavy for its size and hand carved from a hardstone with a celadon color, which we attribute to Serpentine stone and dating to the early 20t...
Serpentine, Bronze
Rare Shape Chinese Cloisonne Snuff Bottle Hand Enameled, 19thC Qing
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very good example of a small rare shaped triangular Chinese snuff bottle, made from cloisonne´ with hand enamelled decoration depicting various floral designs and complete ...
Bronze
Chinese Shan Shui Relief Snuff Bottle, c. 1940s
Located in Chicago, IL
A mixture of finely powdered tobacco, herbs, and spices, snuff was introduced to China in the 17th century by Western diplomats. Initially reserved for ranking members of Qing-dynast...
Resin
Chinese Blue and White Snuff Bottle, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A mixture of finely powdered tobacco, herbs, and spices, snuff was introduced to China in the 17th century by Western diplomats. Initially reserved for ranking members of Qing-dynast...
Porcelain
Chinese Large Glass Snuff Bottle Inside Painted Spoon Top with Box, Mid 20th C
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very good Chinese glass snuff bottle, which is beautifully inside hand painted and with a spoon top, all coming complete with a b...
Glass
Chinese Plum Blossom Snuff Bottle, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A mixture of finely powdered tobacco, herbs, and spices, snuff was introduced to China in the 17th century by Western diplomats. Initially reserved for ranking members of Qing-dynasty society, the practice provided an opportunity to display one's refined aesthetic through collectible snuff bottles. This decorative snuff bottle has a simple ceramic form and a colorful finish of overglaze enamels atop white glaze. The bottle has an oval shape, with flattened sides and rounded edges. The shoulders are accented with a door knocker motif and the sides are painted with birds amid plum blossom...
Ceramic, Porcelain
Chinese Export Porcelain Snuff or Lidded Bottle hand painted, Qing Late 18th C.
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a Chinese porcelain small Lidded Bottle or snuff Bottle, finely hand painted with flowers, leaves and butterflies , which we date to the late 18th century of the Qing Dynasty...
Porcelain
White Agate Chinese Snuff Bottle, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A mixture of finely powdered tobacco, herbs, and spices, snuff was introduced to China in the 17th century by Western diplomats. Initially reserved for ranking members of Qing-dynast...
Agate
Late Qing Dynasty Ceramic Wine Jug with Calligraphy and Dark Glaze
Located in Yonkers, NY
A dark brown late Qing Dynasty ceramic wine jug with hand-painted calligraphy and a timeworn patina. This antique vessel features a rich, dark glaze that highlights its organic, slig...
Ceramic
Chinese Ceramic Wine Bottle with Dark Brown Glaze, 18th Century
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
A visibly old ceramic wine bottle from 18th century China in a dark brown glaze. This bottle comes from Shanxi Provence and is a wonderful example...
Ceramic
Chinese Ceramic Wine Bottle with Dark Brown Glaze, 18th Century
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
A visibly old ceramic wine bottle from 18th century China in a dark brown glaze. This bottle comes from Shanxi Provence and is a wonderful example...
Ceramic
Chinese Export Snuff Bottle porcelain with roosters signed to base, Circa 1940
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a good quality Chinese snuff bottle, made from porcelain, circa 1950. The cylindrical bottle has a tall narrow neck. The main decoration depicts two painted cockerels (or r...
Porcelain
Qing Dynasty Dark Glazed Water Jug Vase with Petite Spout from the 19th Century
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Qing Dynasty glazed ceramic water jug vase from the 19th century with petite spout. This antique Chinese Qing Dynasty glazed ceramic water jug from the 19th century enchants with i...
Ceramic
Chinese Qing Dynasty Blue and White Blue Porcelain "Rose Water" Sprinkler
Located in Montreal, QC
A Chinese Qing Dynasty blue and white blue porcelain "rose water" sprinkler, fitted with silvered metal filigree work, the stopper decorate...
Porcelain
Chinese Art Deco Persimmon Vase with White Cranes, circa 1920s
Located in Chicago, IL
Drawing on the enduring phoenix tail form that dates to China’s Bronze Age, this porcelain vase from the 1920s exhibits the sinuous lines and gilded refinement that helped to define ...
Porcelain
Bruno Gambone Ceramic/Pottery Bottle/ Vase Signed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great sweet vase/bottle by the well known artist Bruno Gambone . signed and Italy in bottom.
Pottery, Ceramic
$6,500
H 14 in Dm 9.5 in
Chinese Qing Dynasty Flambé Glazed Bottle Vase, Tianqiuping, Late 19th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A gorgeous Chinese monochrome red flambé glazed bottle vase, called a tianqiuping, Qing Dynasty, late 19th century. The voluptuous body o...
Porcelain
Chinese Grey Agate Snuff Bottle, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A mixture of finely powdered tobacco, herbs, and spices, snuff was introduced to China in the 17th century by Western diplomats. Initially reserved for ranking members of Qing-dynast...
Agate
Art Deco Green Malachite Glass Figural Perfume Bottle
Located in Devon, England
A truly beautiful Art Deco green malachite glass perfume bottle with a female embossed figure to the stopper. Made in Czechoslovakia, th...
Malachite
$2,575
H 20.87 in W 18.31 in D 14.18 in
Very Rare 19th Century Hand Carved Qing Dynasty Chinese Hongmu Jardinière Stand
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning and very rare 19th century hand carved Chinese Qing Dynasty Hongmu stand A very good looking well mad...
Wood
Pair Chinese Porcelain Foo Dog Covered Jars, mid 20th Century, China
Located in Austin, TX
A delightful pair of Chinese famille verte enameled porcelain covered jars with foo lions, circa 1960's, China. The jars of baluster form and painted in bold and bright famille vert...
Porcelain
$5,200 / set
H 10.24 in Dm 13.78 in
Pair of Ceramic Planters Signed Austria, Vienna Secession Period, circa 1900
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Pair of ceramic planters signed Austria. Vienna Secession period, circa 1900.
Ceramic
Chinese Art Deco Persimmon Vase with White Cranes, circa 1920s
Located in Chicago, IL
Drawing on the enduring phoenix tail form that dates to China’s Bronze Age, this porcelain vase from the 1920s exhibits the sinuous lines and gilded refinement that helped to define ...
Porcelain
Large Museum Quality 1700s Dutch Demijohn Bottle
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Beautiful Dutch Demijohn. Hand blown bottle; with naval battle scene. Portrait of dutch admiral martin tromp, "The bravest and most skillful enemy t...
Blown Glass
Chinese Blue Cloisonne Floral Enameled Vase 20thC
Located in Big Flats, NY
Chinese Blue Cloisonne Floral Enameled Vase 20thC. Measures- 9.25"H x 5"W x 5"D. A beautifully crafted Chinese cloisonné vase from the 20th century, featuring intricate floral ...
Metal
Awaji Pottery Vase, circa 1920s
Located in New York, NY
Stunning and large emerald green hand card ceramic Awaji vase with iris design. This dynamic vase shows the artistry of the Japanese during the 1920s. Magnificent scale and a vibrant...
Pottery
Red Cinnabar Carved Snuff or Fragrance Bottle
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful cinnabar snuff or fragrance box. The piece could be used for perfumes, snuff, or purely decorative. The intricate hand-carved detailing and color make this a very speci...
Resin, Wood
Set of Four Petite Glass Chinese Medicine Bottles
Located in Chicago, IL
A set of four petite medicine vials of hand-blown glass from an early 20th-century Chinese apothecary, likely originally used to store liquid opium known as chandu. Additional Dime...
Blown Glass
Sold
H 3.5 in W 2 in D 2 in
Asian Crane Birds Reverse Painted Cut Glass Decorative Bottle with Agate Stopper
Located in New York, NY
A delightful églomisé reverse-painted Chinese decorative snuff bottle, with a captivating scene depicting a landscape with white blossom trees and red-crowned white and black cranes ...
Agate
Antique Green Spinach Jade Snuff Bottle Jadeite
Located in Somis, CA
A beautiful, natural spinach jadeite jade snuff bottle from the early 20th century Chinese republic era. Very well hollowed, of elongated ovoid form ...
Jade
Sold
H 3.25 in W 2.5 in D 1.2 in
Chinese Snuff Bottle White Stone Hand Carved with Red Stone Spoon Top
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a beautiful Chinese snuff bottle, made of a white stone with a red stone top and spoon, dating to the mid 20th century. The bottle is hand carved and polished from a type of stone having a lovely milky white colour with hand-carved detail to the side shoulders. This bottle has a cold soapy feel and is very tactile. The stopper has a top of a different material, probably stone and of a slightly mottled speckled red colour, sitting in a bronze ferrule and with a bronze spoon...
Stone
Sold
H 2.8 in Dm 1.8 in
18th Century Chinese Snuff Bottle porcelain Celadon with Elephant Head Handles
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very good quality Chinese porcelain snuff bottle, with a gourd shape and unusual elephant head side handles all in a celadon glaze, dating to the 18th century, Qing dynasty...
Porcelain
Sold
H 2.15 in W 1.32 in D 0.75 in
19th C Chinese Snuff Bottle Celadon Nephrite Stone Hand Carved & Spoon Top
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a beautiful Chinese snuff bottle, well carved and made from a stone with a light celadon green colour that we attribute as being nephrite . The bottle has a lovely light green celadon color and sits on a low foot. It has two different hand carved floral scenes, either side. It is this high quality hand carving and its detail that make this piece special ! The stopper has a top of a different material, probably stone with a lovely Lapis Lasuli blue colour and is fitted with a bronze spoon...
Stone
Sold
H 3 in W 2.19 in D 1.25 in
Chinese Opaque Glass Snuff Bottle Hand Enamelled 4-Character Base Mark, Ca 1930
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very good Chinese glass snuff bottle, beautifully hand enamelled, which we date to the first half of the 20th century, circa 1930...
Glass
Sold
H 2.44 in W 1.57 in D 0.7 in
Chinese Snuff Bottle Hand Enamelled Dragons on Copper & Spoon Top, circa 1920s
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a Chinese enamelled snuff bottle, with two hand painted dragons chasing a flaming pearl, with a neck border pattern, together with ...
Copper
Sold
H 3 in W 1.88 in D 1.2 in
Two 19th Century Chinese Snuff Bottles Hand Carved & Decorated Bovine Bone, Qing
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
These are two good Chinese hand carved, Bovine Bone Snuff bottles, with engraved and black inked decoration, which we date to the early 19th Century,...
Bone
Sold
H 2.5 in W 1.32 in D 1 in
Early 19th Century Chinese Snuff Bottle Hand Engraved & Inked on Bovine Bone
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very good Chinese hand carved, Bone Snuff Bottle with an engraved and inked bird decoration, which we date to the early 19th Century, circa...
Bone
Sold
H 2.57 in Dm 1.2 in
Chinese Snuff Bottle Hand Enamelled Dragons on Copper & spoon top, circa 1920s
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a Chinese enamelled snuff bottle, with two hand painted dragons and coloured borders around the base and shoulder, together with a ...
Copper