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.
Armorial Garniture Porcelain with Romanov Grandeur
Located in San Francisco, CA
On offer is a Chinese export-style, porcelain armorial vase, decorated in the manner of an 18th-century service commissioned for the Russian Imperial Market. Original 18th-century Ch...
Porcelain, Paint
Monumental Chinese Jade, Stone and Glass Flower Arrangements
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Stunning monumental vintage Chinese floral arrangements handcrafted with stone, quartz and glass flowers with jade leaves on wrapped metal stems in a dramatic composition set in ston...
Stone, Jade, Quartz, Metal
$1,196Sale Price / set|20% Off
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...
Porcelain
Chinese Export-Style Porcelain Armorial Garniture Vase
Located in San Francisco, CA
Modeled after late 18th-century Chinese export porcelain made for Western markets during the Qianlong and Jiaqing periods, this armorial beaker vase combines historic form with decor...
Porcelain, Paint
Chinese Export Style Armorial Garniture Porcelain Vase
Located in San Francisco, CA
This trumpet-form or spill vase is an antique French porcelain reproduction of an 18th-century Chinese Export armorial piece, made in China or possibly manufactured by the famous Sam...
Porcelain, Paint
C18th Century style Chinese Famille rose garniture, circa 1880
By Edmé Samson
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality and rare Garniture of five match Samson 18th Century Style Chinese Famille Rose lidded and spill vases. Each with this very decorative Powder Blue ground with gilded ...
Porcelain
19th Century Bronze Mounted Rose Medallion Lidded Urns
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Century rose medallion covered urns with beautifully cast dore bronze French mountings. In excellent condition. Lids are not removable.
Bronze
$716Sale Price|20% Off
H 5 in W 4.75 in D 1.75 in
Chinese Daoist Monumental Snuff Bottle with Immortals, 1930-50
Located in Lomita, CA
A large Chinese glass snuff bottle decorated with the auspicious figures of Fu, Lu, and Shou, representing prosperity, rank, and longevity—a classical theme in Chinese decorative art...
Enamel
Large Chinese Export Style Famille Rose Planters / Jardinieres, Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a pair of large Chinese Famille Rose style planters. They are hand painted and lined with swimming koi fish. The body is painted with fruit and pastoral scenes. They are in v...
Ceramic
Early 20th Century Chinese Famille Rose Hand Painted Porcelain Vase
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in China circa 1920, the tall vase is round in shaped with an elegant long neck. The colorful antique urn is decorated with hand painted figural motifs including a mother playing with children. The large Famille Rose...
Porcelain
$24,753 / set
H 23.63 in W 10.24 in D 8.67 in
Antique Clock Garniture with Sèvres Style Porcelain and Ormolu
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
This fantastic porcelain clock garniture contains three vases, one of which has been mounted with a ormolu clock dial with jewels surrounding it. The vases are decorated in the style of the Sèvres Porcelain manufacturers, with cartouches to the front and back. The panels on the front depict ladies and putti in a landscape, while the reverse sides depict riverbanks. The vases are set on ormolu bases with canted angles, and feature twin ormolu handles which take the form of masks. The central vase is surmounted by an ormolu putti...
Ormolu
$102,902 / set
H 25.6 in W 11.82 in D 7.88 in
Antique Rococo Style Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Clock Garniture
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
This fantastic clock garniture is a truly exceptional piece of design, which takes after the elegant beauty of the work of the Sevres porcelain Manufactory. Comprising a set of three...
Ormolu
Pair of Famille Rose Vases, French, circa 1880
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Famille Rose vases, French, circa 1880.
Porcelain
$17,500
H 12.25 in Dm 10.75 in
Antique Black Ground Famille Rose 'Butterfly' Ginger Jar, China, 19th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Antique black ground famille rose 'butterfly' ginger jar and cover - fine shaded enamels with meandering flowering vines and fruit - elaborately decorated butterflies surround the pe...
Ceramic
Large Hand-Painted Famille Rose Chinese Temple Jar with Lid
By Edmé Samson
Located in Miami, FL
A beautiful, hand-painted Chinese famille rose temple jar decorated with foliage design and floral panels, gold lion dog form the knop of the l...
Porcelain
Chinese Famille Rose Vase Chinese Decorated Floral 42" Tall
Located in Newfoundland, PA
This large Chinese Famille Rose porcelain vase features a beautiful multi color design. The vase is adorned with intricate figurative patterns, showcasing traditional Chinese artistr...
Porcelain
Monumental Chinese Cloisonne Enamel Vase
Located in Long Island City, NY
Chinese Cloisonne Vase 20.5"
Enamel
Chinese Black Enamel Cloisonné Chrysanthemum Flower Vase
Located in New York, NY
Chinese black enamel cloisonné and brass ginger jar vase with chrysanthemum flowers, dogwood flowers and a butterfly and beautiful rich colors. Hand crafted on solid brass.
Enamel
Chinese-export Style Armorial Porcelain Vase
Located in San Francisco, CA
On offer is a Chinese-export style, cylindrical flared trumpet vase. While handsomely styled after 18th-century Qing Dynasty period armorial export wares--in this example bearing a E...
Porcelain, Paint
Sold
H 14 in W 4.25 in D 3.5 in
Chinese Porcelain Puce Ground 5 Piece Garniture Set with Floral Decorations
Located in New York, NY
A 19th century Chinese porcelain famille rose puce ground five piece garniture set with floral designs. The five-piece set is complete with two large covered vases with gilt foo-dog ...
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Export Blue and White Garniture Vases with Lids
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
A pair of 18th century vases with blue enamel and gilt decoration on a white base. The panels are hand painted with flowers and foliage. Cobalt-glazed seated Qilin finials and handle...
Porcelain
Chinese Export / Three-Piece Chinese Garniture Set
Located in Dallas, TX
Two vases and a lidded jar, white porcelain with hand-painted and gilded multi-colored decoration / scenes front and back and at neck, applied flowering vine and tiny squirrels very ...
Porcelain
Chinese ‘Famille Verte’ Porcelain Hat Stand, Guangxu Period, 1875-1908
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
The pierced cylindrical body decorated with enamels showing leafy branches with peach clusters and fruit blossoms. Iron red seal script mark and wax export approval seal on underside...
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Five Piece Porcelain Garniture Painted in Imari Colors
Located in Katonah, NY
A Chinese five piece garniture comprising three baluster vases and covers and a pair of trumpet beaker vases. Each vase decorated with flowers below floral reserves all painted in I...
Porcelain
Sold
H 12.75 in W 4.74 in D 4.75 in
18th Century Chinese Export Five-Piece Famille Rose Porcelain Garniture of Vases
Located in Downingtown, PA
The Chinese porcelain famille rose porcelain garniture is decorated with European flowers, crickets and moths and comprises of five vases, three baluster vases with covers and two of...
Porcelain
Five-Piece Chinese Export Garniture Set with Parrot Decoration
Located in Palm Beach, FL
A five-piece Chinese Export garniture set, with the traditional three lidded jars and two vase. A parrot in a swing with cherries decorate each piece. Rare to find a set like this in...