Chinese Export Urns
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
Pair Mottahedeh Old English Lowestoft Lidded Orange Urns
By Mottahedeh
Located in Norwalk, CT
Elegant, hand painted orange and gilt decoration enhances the classical urn form of this pair. Details include removable lids with foo dog finials. Mottahedeh is the recognized lead...
Category
1990s Portuguese Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Ceramic
Pair of Palace Style Vintage Blue and White Chinese Urns
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
A very important vintage pair of oriental porcelain vases, each of urn form and decorated with floral and architectural designs in hues of blue on a white ground. The neck with oppo...
Category
1950s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Pair Antique Chinese Porcelain Lidded Urns with Wood Bases
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair Antique Chinese Porcelain Lidded Urns with Wood Bases are a delightful design, with classic form and exquisite jewel tones expressed with talented artistry to depict a variety o...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Export Imari Porcelain Decorative Vase / Urn
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Presenting a magnificent pair of 19th century Chinese Export Imari porcelain decorative vases, perfect for collectors and admirers of fine Asian art. Each vase showcases the exquisit...
Category
19th Century Asian Antique Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Large 20th Century Chinese Export Porcelain Decorative Piece
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Add a touch of traditional Chinese artistry to your space with this large 20th Century Chinese export Porcelain Decorative Piece. This striking piece features a classic bottle shape ...
Category
20th Century Asian Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
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 Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Japanese Meiji Period Satsuma Incense Burner Censer
Located in Pomona, CA
UP for you consideration is a beautiful antique Meiji period Japanese gold gilt satsuma incense burner marked/signed by Kinkozan. Very fine hand...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Chinese Export Urns
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 Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Light Green-Black Jade Lidded Urn
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a lidded light green-black color jade urn adorned with multiples branches of kelp leaves that are attached to it. The urn stands over an asymmetrical ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Jade
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 Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinese Cloisonne Enameled Tripod Censor/Incense Burner
Located in Pomona, CA
Museum Quality Chinese Champleve Cloisonné Incense burner of monumental size standing on a wonderful carved hardwood base. Gilt brass with enamel decoration, reclining elephant with ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Copper
20th Century Vintage Chinese Bronze Incense Burner
Located in Pomona, CA
This magnificent Chinese Antique Carved Bronze incense burner has very detailed hand craft works around the body, elephants trunk as legs and handle and lotus bud on the lid of incen...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Bronze
Chinese White and Blue Chrysanthemum and Bird Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white and blue porcelain urn decorated with a bird amid flowering chrysanthemums, and accented with two navy scrolled handles along the neck.
Sl...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
19th century Chinese Export Blue/ White Porcelain Large decorative Urn/ Piece
Located in Tarry Town, NY
This 19th century Chinese Export Blue and White Porcelain Decorative Urn is a stunning example of fine craftsmanship and intricate artistry. The urn boasts beautiful hand-painted flo...
Category
19th Century Asian Antique Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Two Chinese Gilt Bronze Mounted Cloisonné Enamel Vases
Located in London, GB
These cloisonné enamel vases are wonderful pieces of Chinese decorative art. They were crafted in the last decade of the Qing dynasty, which lasted from 1644 to 1911.
The vases a...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Enamel, Bronze, Ormolu
Large Chinese Blue and White Baluster Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
This blue and white baluster jar was made in the Jiangxi region of China. The landscape scenes hand painted by feathery brushstrokes are richly evocative and bring to mind ancient Ch...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
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 Urns
Materials
Marble, Stone
Early 20th century Champlevé Enamel and Bronze Large Vase
Located in Savannah, GA
Large 24" tall antique Chinese Champlevé enamel and bronze vase. Fine cloisonne floral decoration with stylized rooster head handles dating to the late 19th-early 20th century. Lovel...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Bronze
Chinese Export Blue/ White Porcelain Covered Urns
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Presenting a stunning pair of 19th century Chinese Export Blue and White Porcelain Tall Covered Decorative Urns. These exceptional urns showcase a timeless aesthetic with their intri...
Category
19th Century Asian Antique Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
China Republic 1912-1960 Inside Paint Carved Rock Crystal Vase Silver & Enamel
Located in Miami, FL
An impressive China inside-painted vase in rock crystal.
Beautiful and one-of-a-kind art-piece. created in China during the first years of the China-republic, circa 1912-1949. Thi...
Category
1940s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Multi-gemstone, Rock Crystal, Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Vintage Dried Flower Vase, Chinese, Handpainted, Decorative, Chinoiserie, C.1970
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage dried flower vase. A Chinese, waxed paper over board decorative drum vase, dating to the late 20th century, circa 1970.
Striking col...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Paper
Early-20th Century Chinese Hand made Cloisonne Dragon Incense Burner
Located in Pomona, CA
This magnificent, exquisite and rare large Chinese Cloisonne incense Burner has gold gilt dragon on the top of the lid and three gilt ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Metal
Vintage Baluster Vase, Decorative, Oriental, Ceramic, Urn, 20th Century
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage baluster vase, a highly decorative, oriental ceramic urn dating to the mid 20th century.
Of classic form and in good proportion
...
Category
20th Century Asian Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Ceramic
Chinese White and Blue Garden and Bird Design Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white and blue porcelain urn decorated with a bird amid a flowering garden, and accented in two navy scrolled handles along the neck.
Light wear...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Classic Pair of Mottahedeh Chinese Export Style Covered Urns
By Mottahedeh
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Beautiful classic pair of Mottahedeh painted Chinese Export style lidded urns having a striking color palette of white, blue and gold.
Bases arae 4 x 4.
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Ceramic
Chinese Rust Agate Vessel
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese rust agate (vessel) urn with a carving in relief and ring sides holding a loop handle with a cover having carved bats. (modern hanging stand 8½"w x 11¾"h)
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Marble
Chinese Han Dynasty-Style Patinated Bronze Tapered Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-style copy of a bronze tapered urn with a green and black patina, decorated with raised geometric patterns and linear, carved pieces extending outward fro...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Bronze
Chinese Off-White and Blue Symbol Patterned Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) large, off-white porcelain urn painted with a blue pattern featuring Buddhist symbols and other shapes with accented blue scrolled handles.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese White and Blue Nature Motif Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, 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.
Light wear with some damage ...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Rust Agate Incense Burner
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese rust colored agate urn (incense burner) with pierced round cover with rings and carved monkey and dragon handles resting on a base of 4 fish. (modern base 1¬O" high).
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Stone, Marble
Large Cobalt Blue Ceramic Urn or Planter
Located in Nantucket, MA
An Asian ceramic large tea container with an amazing cobalt blue glaze. Brass collar. Beautiful shape and in good condition. Could also be used as a planter. Opening of the mouth of the urn is 9".
The Lockhart Collection is a personally curated gallery...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Ceramic
Chinese White and Blue Natural Design Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white, porcelain urn decorated in a blue scene of a bird perched on a flowering branch above water, and accented with two light blue scrolled hand...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Vintage Chinese Black Glaze Pottery Urn
Located in Pomona, CA
Our wonderful collection of handmade old vintage Chinese hand carved glazed pottery pots will make great accent pieces for any room of your house. It is in good condition with signs ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Ceramic
Chinese White and Figurative Pastoral Scene Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white porcelain urn decorated with a detailed and lively scene of people gathering in a pastoral Setting and blue...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of 19th Century Blue and White Lidded Temple Jars/Urns
Located in Manhasset, NY
Pair of 19th century blue and white temple jars, Chinese or Urns. Each 19 inch large and impressive Urn with a full original lid, measures 15 in High without the lid. The pair signed...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain, Pottery
Two Chinese Qing Dynasty Porcelain Vases with Gilt Bronze Bases
Located in London, GB
These porcelain vases are exquisite pieces of antique Chinese decorative art. They were crafted in the late Qing dynasty, which lasted f...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Vintage Early 20th Century Chinese Black Glaze Pottery Urn/Vase
Located in Pomona, CA
Our wonderful collection of handmade old vintage Chinese hand made glazed pottery vase will make great accent pieces for any room of your house. It has some imperfection signs of age...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Ceramic
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 Urns
Materials
Porcelain
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 Urns
Materials
Porcelain
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 Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese White and Pink Cherry Blossom Motif Lidded Porcelain Urns
Located in Queens, NY
"Pair of Chinese white porcelain urns decorated with dark pink and green-leafed cherry blossoms growing up the rounded forms, finished with red-finial topped lids and made with holes...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese White and Navy Blue Botanical Design Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white, porcelain urn decorated with a blue botanical scene of an oversized peony emerging from a marsh under a bird...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Multicolor Banded Pattern Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) porcelain urn wrapped in a variety of patterned bands, including florals, roosters, and geometric patterns in pink, green, blues and yellows.
Th...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Green and Red Faded Floral Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white porcelain urn decorated with a faded green and red floral pattern and accented with pale pink scrolled handles along the neck.
Signs of we...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Pink Floral and Blue Cartouche Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (late 19th century) pink porcelain urn decorated with a light blue floral design grounding multiple light blue cartouches, each bearing a bogu pattern that signifies ...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Han Dynasty-Style Patinated Bronze Footed Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-style copy of a patinated bronze urn carved with raised geometric patterned bands wrapping its form, sitting atop a round foot, and fitted with two curved...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Metal
Early 20th Century Antique Chinese Bronze Dragon Temple Incense Burner
Located in Pomona, CA
Up for sell is a Huge magnificent Chinese Antique Carved Bronze incense burner. It shows very detailed hand carving works of Dragons as handles and two carved dragons play fire ball releaf on the front as well as three dragon legs...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Brass
Large Chinese Vases
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of two beautiful asian style large vases/urns.
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Export Urns
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 Urns
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 Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Han Dynasty Style Bronze Ritual Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-style verdigis bronze ritual urn with raised archaistic patterns wrapping its form and accented with small rings on two sides beneath the opening. Charact...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Bronze
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 Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Famille Rose Flowering Branch Porcelain Urns
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) famille rose similar porcelain white urns depicting fowl nestled amid an abundance of flowering branches, accented with foo dog scrolled h...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Celadon Revolving Pattern Porcelain Urns
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese celadon porcelain urns with continuous raised swirling motifs flowing up the slender, fluted necks. (PRICED AS PAIR).
Condition: Good; Wear consistent with age and use
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Beautifully Hand Painted/ Gilt Decorated Chinese Export Decorative Urn / Vase
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Presenting a masterpiece of Chinese artistry, this beautifully hand-painted and gilt-decorated Chinese Export Decorative Urn/Vase is an extraordinary addition to any fine collection....
Category
19th Century Asian Antique Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Gold
Pair, Sampson French Porcelain Famille Rose Medallion Pallet Porcelain Urns
Located in Atlanta, GA
Samson & Cie was operated by four generations in Paris and Montreauil-sous-Bois from 1845 to 1979/1980. It was first established by Edme Samson (Paris 1810 – 1891) at 7, Rue Vendôme ...
Category
20th Century French Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Enamel
Chinese Off-White and Navy Blue Bird Motif Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) off-white, porcelain urn with a navy blue bird amid florals and two blue scrolled handles along the neck.
Light wear, hairline cracks."
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Off-White and Light Blue 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 light blue, delicate vine and floral motifs and bold characters on 4 sides.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Export urns for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Chinese Export urns for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage urns created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include asian art and furniture, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, pewter and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Chinese Export urns made in a specific country, there are Asia, China, and East Asia 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 urns differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $289 and tops out at $22,777 while the average work can sell for $1,749.