Chinese Export Jars
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 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 Jars
Materials
Porcelain
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 Jars
Materials
Porcelain
$680 / item
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 Jars
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Blue and White Jar with Scholars' Objects
Located in Chicago, IL
This porcelain storage jar has a rounded, tapered form and is brightly glazed in the classic blue-and-white manner. The jar is decorated on three sides with cartouches enclosing stil...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Famille Rose Baluster Jar with Ancient Censers, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Beautifully commemorated on this lidded baluster jar, censers have been used for thousands of years in Chinese culture as a part of funeral rites or prayer offerings. Filled with dried aromatic plants and essential oils, the censer issued fragrant smoke that forged a connection to the spiritual realm. This late Qing-dynasty jar...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Bai Tea Leaf Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
Rendered in a striking cool white glaze, this contemporary porcelain jar offers a modern take on a classic form. Lidded jars like these were used in tea shops in China, where tea dri...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain
Large Blue and White Tea Leaf Jar with Mountain Landscape
Located in Chicago, IL
Tea drinking has been an important part of Chinese culture for at least a thousand years. Emulating traditional blue-and-white porcelain, this contempora...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Parade Scene Rounded Porcelain Watermelon Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) low, rounded white porcelain vase, known as a watermelon jar, depicting a spirited procession of participants holding flags and playing drums lea...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Famille Rose Baluster Jars with Ancient Censers, c. 1920
Located in Chicago, IL
Beautifully commemorated on this pair of baluster jars, censers have been used for thousands of years as a part of funeral rites or prayer offerings. Filled with dried aromatic plant...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Enameled Ginger Jar with Children at Play, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Contrasted by a crisp white field, this oval jar is decorated in the famille rose style with a lively scene of young children playing in a courtyard garden. Under an overarching bamb...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Enamel
Pair of Chinese Export Canton Rose Vases Provenance: Paul Vandekar
Located in San Francisco, CA
A fine pair of Chinese export vases in the Canton Rose Medallion pattern and palette. Provenance: Earle D. Vandekar, London.
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese White and Floral Pattern Porcelain Jars
Located in Queens, NY
5 Chinese white porcelain, open-mouthed jars decorated in an all-over pattern of florals and foliage in purple, orange and green, accented with gold lotus flowers (Priced each).
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Enameled Teapot with Mythical Qilin, c. 1920s
Located in Chicago, IL
Tea drinking has been an integral part of Chinese culture for centuries, resulting in a wide range of social customs and material traditions. In addition to tea leaves, water, and he...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Ceramic
Chinese Navy Blue Ginger Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) ceramic ginger jar vase in navy blue with a brown earthenware opening.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Ceramic
A Pair of Late 18th-Early 19th Century Chinese Lidded Jars
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of late 18th-early 19th century Chinese beautifully painted famille rose lidded jars. Very impressive with iron straps to secure and lock the lids. Jars are raised on 5" woode...
Category
18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Earthenware Jar with Blue Characters
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (early 20th century) small, earthenware jar with blue characters running down the center framed by thin stripes circling the top and base.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Ceramic
Set of three provincial glazed pottery ginger jars
Located in London, GB
A set of three provincial glazed ginger pottery pots of varying sizes and with different motifs. Sold as a set. Tallest 16cm smallest height 13cm.
Category
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Pottery
$530 Sale Price / set
28% Off
Chinese Maroon and Umber Lidded Porcelain Ginger Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese porcelain lidded ginger jar in a finish that shifts within a range of umber, red and maroon, adding dimension to its shape.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jars
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 Jars
Materials
Pottery
Vintage Chinese Hand painted Red Porcelain Ginger Jar
Located in Pomona, CA
This vintage Chinese red porcelain Ginger Jar was 100% hand made and hand paint from China. It has beautiful hand painted happy playing kids on the jar and lid. You can see from the ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain
$442 Sale Price
25% Off
Chinese Export Porcelain Group of Batavia-ware Urns & Covers
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export Porcelain Group of Five Famille rose & Batavia-ware Chocolate-colored Urns & Covers
1750s
The Chinese Export porcelain circular jards and covers are painted with a chocolate Batavia-ware ground with leaf-shaped panels of famille rose flowers-mostly of peonies.
Dimensions: Largest: 7 1/2 inches high x 7 1/2 inches diameter; Second largest: 7 1/4 inches x 6 1/2 inches diameter; Third largest: 5 1/2 inches high x 5 inches diameter; Pair of smaller jars...
Category
1750s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Terracotta Urns / Vessels
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of urn shapped terracotta pots or vessels wiht glazed decorations, China, 1930s.
Provincial rustic handmade terracotta wine jars or preserving pots.
The taller one is covered by...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Clay, Earthenware, Terracotta
$3,462 / set
Chinese Blue & White Porcelain Covered Jars with Floral Decoration & Calligraphy
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese blue & white porcelain ovoid jar with calligraphic characters on the lid plus a double border, the body painted with a keyfret border surrounding the mouth, a foliate pattern...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Paint
Chinese Blue and White Jar with Mythical Fu Lions
Located in Chicago, IL
This round, porcelain storage jar is brightly glazed in the classic blue-and-white manner. A combination of stenciled linework and hand-brushed shading, the sides of the jar are deco...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain
Striking Set 3 Large Antique Colorful Handpainted Chinese Metal Tea Canisters
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Striking large set of 3 antique metal hand painted Chinese tea canisters having wonderful graphic decoration. Colors are orange, black and green.
Category
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Metal
Early 20th Century Antique Chinese Tin Tea leaf Cans/Holders Set
Located in Pomona, CA
Tin Tea cans from Late Qing dynasty or early Republic era of China, tea fragrance blends with time!
🌸 A set of exquisite tin tea cans from late Qing dynasty to the Republic era of C...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Metal, Tin
Chinese Enamelware Teapot with Mythical Qilin, c. 1920s
Located in Chicago, IL
Tea drinking has been an integral part of Chinese culture for centuries, resulting in a wide range of social customs and material traditions. In addition to tea leaves, water, and he...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Ceramic
Chinese White and Floral Rounded Porcelain Watermelon Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) low, rounded porcelain vase known as a watermelon jar, painted with colorful, flourishing florals on one side and characters on the reverse.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese White and Orange Foo Dog Design Winter Melon Porcelain Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) white porcelain vase with an elongated, rounded winter melon form decorated in an orange foo dog on one side and ch...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain
Antique 19th Century Hand Painted Chinese Porcelain Lidded Jar
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This rather large antique Asian covered jar is unmarked but believed to have been made in China in circa 1880 for the export market. The jar is done with a robin egg blue background ...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Ceramic
Chinese Blue and White Botanical Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
This round, porcelain storage jar is brightly glazed in the classic blue-and-white manner with an allover pattern of botanical motifs. A combination of stenciled linework and hand-br...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Orange Lidded Porcelain Jars
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) orange porcelain jars depicting white medallions with imagery of fish, seaweed and pastoral scenes and topped with wooden lids (date mark...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain, Wood
$2,100 / set
Chinese Blue and White Four Flowers Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
Loosely brushed with cobalt blue pigments, this round, blue-and-white storage jar is underglazed with lush garden scenery featuring the flowering plants of the four seasons. Tree peo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese White and Multicolor Decoration Porcelain Watermelon Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) low, rounded porcelain vase, known as a watermelon jar, incised and painted with an array of decorations including floral arrangements in urns, bells, small...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Dark Blue and White Lidded Porcelain Watermelon Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese small porcelain watermelon jar with a dark blue background surrounding a white window pattern and turned wooden lid.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain, Wood
Monumental Cracked Chinese Oil Jar with Repairs
Located in Dallas, TX
The Brendan Bass Estate Collection is an homage to the beauty of vintage and antique
pieces, each artfully concealing endless stories collected through the generations in which they...
Category
19th Century Antique Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Pottery
Monumental Cracked Chinese Oil Jar with Repairs
Located in Dallas, TX
The Brendan Bass Estate Collection is an homage to the beauty of vintage and antique
pieces, each artfully concealing endless stories collected through the generations in which they...
Category
19th Century Antique Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Pottery
Chinese Sage and Tonal Botanical Motif Porcelain Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese sage-colored, lidded porcelain jar crafted in the style of the Song Dynasty with a round form decorated in a raised, tonal botanical pattern.
Condition: Good; Wear consisten...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain
Very Good Quality Large Chinese Lidded Jars / PAIR
Located in Dallas, TX
a large pair of Chinese vases, very good quality, each with female figures as finials, seated next to garden seats, and foo lion mask hand...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain
$34,000 / set
Chinese Export jars for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Chinese Export jars 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 jars 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 jars made in a specific country, there are Asia, East Asia, and China pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 jars 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 $27,000 while the average work can sell for $1,095.
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