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.
$192Sale Price|30% Off
Vintage Chinese Famille Verte Ginger Jar/Temple Jar c.1970s
Located in Glasgow, GB
Famille Verte style porcelain temple jar. Crafted in China towards the end of the 20th century in the 1970s. This piece is made from white undergl...
Enamel
19th Century Stoneware Jar
Located in New York, NY
A 19th century Chinese stoneware jar. Three wonderful hand-painted motives surround the exterior. Good condition with strong age and patina. At o...
Stoneware
$3,003Sale Price|30% Off
Qing Chinese Blue & White Porcelain Lidded Jar w Hand Painted Five-Clawed Dragon
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A very beautiful Chinese porcelain baluster-shaped jar with lid and knob, painted in underglaze blue crackle with hand-painted cobalt blue and white decorations depicting a two-horne...
Porcelain
19th Century Stoneware Jar
Located in New York, NY
19th century Chinese antique stoneware Jar. Hand-painted. Having strong wear and patina. Hunan Province, circa 1850.
Chinese Glazed Pickling Pot, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Originally used for pickling foods, this early 20th century ceramic jar is coated inside and out with a warm grey glaze. Decorative ridges patterning the jar's high shoulders manipul...
Ceramic
Chinese Ceramic Glazed Urn, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
At once ancient and contemporary, this beautiful urn speaks to the timelessness of Chinese ceramic design. Made in northern China in the early 20th century, the urn pays respect to m...
Ceramic
Chinese Ceramic Glazed Urn, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
At once ancient and contemporary, this beautiful urn speaks to the timelessness of Chinese ceramic design. Made in northern China in the early 20th century, the urn pays respect to m...
Ceramic
Sold|$5,625
H 36.62 in W 13.78 in D 13.78 in
Onyx Marble Vases Life-size Pair Classical Urns Circa 1960
Located in Cheltenham, GB
Life-size pair of green and red onyx turned polished vases, the rolling rims above slender baluster form terminating in circular bases. The onyx vases are carved from single blocks o...
Stone, Onyx, Marble
French 19th Century Pickling Jar
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A beautiful olive green glass storage jar from France, 18th century. Originally used to store vegetables, fruits, truffles and other food sundries, today this makes a wonderful vase and can be placed throughout the home for an added pop of color and texture. Rare and highly sought-after, what may be mistaken as imperfections: tilted mouths, bubbles and ripples in the glass, are actually the very attributes that make these colored glass jars...
Glass
French 19th Century Pickling Jar
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A beautiful bottle-green glass storage jar from France, 18th century. Originally used to store vegetables, fruits, truffles and other food sundries, today this makes a wonderful vase and can be placed throughout the home for an added pop of color and texture. Rare and highly sought-after, what may be mistaken as imperfections: tilted mouths, bubbles and ripples in the glass, are actually the very attributes that make these colored glass jars...
Glass
A "Grand Tour" Cast Iron Etruscan Vase/Urn
Located in Sheffield, MA
A “Grand Tour” Cast Iron Etruscan Vase 19th Century Depicting classical Greek figures, with ring handles with a leaf motif on each side. Height 20 in. Vas INV. 9
Iron
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
Set of two 19th Century Chinese porcelain vases
Located in London, GB
Set of two 19th Century Chinese porcelain vases Chinese, 19th Century Height 57cm, diameter 32cm The vases feature bodies of cylindrical form with retracted bases and stepped retrac...
Porcelain
$400Sale Price|20% Off
H 10.63 in Dm 9.06 in
Chinese Shiwan Green Glazed Ceramic Jar / Planter, c. 1900
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
A wonderful green glaze typical of Chinese "Shiwan" pottery adorns this early 20th Century Chinese storage jar. The jar likely occupied a private home to store grains or other househ...
Ceramic
Qing Dynasty Hand-Painted Glazed Pickling Jar, c. 1900
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This Pickling Jar was once used to pickle eggs and features a wonderful array of hand-painted motifs which include birds, foliage and other subtle symbols and patterning. The hand-pa...
Ceramic, Paint
19th Century Neoclassical Bronze Dore Urn Signed F. Levillain
Located in Savannah, GA
19th century neoclassical signed bronze doré urn with handles and adorned with elaborate roman scenes. Signed stamped F. Levillain. Ferdinand Levillain...
Bronze
$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
$2,800 / set
H 29 in Dm 14 in
Pair of Monumental Chinese Famille Rose Temple Jars with Gilded Foo Dog Finials
Located in Morristown, NJ
Pair of Monumental Chinese Famille Rose Temple Jars with Gilded Foo Dog Finials, China, Mid-20th Century A vibrant and stately pair of large-s...
Porcelain
$4,500 / set
H 6.5 in W 4 in D 2.5 in
Pair Chinese Dragon Fish Glazed Porcelain Vase, Qing Dynasty, 19th-20th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fantastic pair of Chinese molded and glazed biscuit porcelain vases with leaping dragon fish or makara, late Qing dynasty, circa 1900. The vases of balu...
Porcelain
Chinese Faceted Wine Jar, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
In Qing-dynasty China, large glazed jars such as this were used to store wines, foods, and other consumable items. The combination of high shoulders textured by an irregular, faceted...
Ceramic
Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Blue & White Porcelain Mantel Vase Urn 17"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 19th century Chinese Qing Dynasty baluster shaped vase / jar / urn - made of white Kaolin clay / porcelain with a pale cobalt bluish-green hue, hand painted with a scene of a...
Porcelain
Vintage Chinese Temple Jar Imari Qianlong Style
Located in Glasgow, GB
A large vintage Chinese temple jar, handcrafted in China during the 1980s. Hand-decorated and enameled with an Imari-style design, inspired by Qian...
Gold, Enamel
Sold
H 10.63 in W 10.63 in D 4.73 in
19th Century Antique Chinese Fu Foo Dogs Protected Ceramic Fang Ding.
Sold
H 10.63 in W 10.63 in D 4.73 in
Qing Dinasty Antique Chinese Fu Foo Dogs Protected Ceramic Fang Ding
Chinese Qing Dynasty 19th Century Green Glazed Water Vessel with Loop Handles
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Qing Dynasty antique green glazed water vessel from the 19th century, with petite loop handles. Created in China during the 19th century, this water vessel features a generous circular tapering body adorned with a green glaze and brown accents. Topped with an opening of 5" diameter and comprising of petite loop handles, this Chinese Qing Dynasty 19th century water vessel...
Ceramic
Sold
H 30 in Dm 20.5 in
Large Chinese Qing Dynasty 19th Century Green Glazed Storage Jug with Dripping
Located in Yonkers, NY
A large Chinese Qing dynasty green glazed storage jug from the 19th century with dripping touches. Created in China during the Qing dynasty period, ...
Ceramic
Provincial Chinese Jade Pickling Jar, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Originally used for pickling foods, this early 20th century ceramic jar is coated inside and out with a subdued jade green glaze. The wide-mouth jar has high shoulders and a rounded, oblong form that tapers to the base. Shaped by paddling, the jar has a wonderfully irregular surface, further textured by vertical lines drawn in the outer slip layer. Speckled with imperfections, this tall glazed pot...
Ceramic
Sold
H 16.54 in W 10.63 in D 10.63 in
Pair of Large Chinese Covered Vases in Withe and Red Porcelain, 19th - China
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Pair of large covered baluster-shaped porcelain jars with lotus flower decor, iron red. Qing period 19th century.
Porcelain
Sold
H 13 in W 6.875 in D 8.75 in
Chinese Export Silver Teapot or Kettle on a Stand by Hung Chong, circa 1900
Located in Sarasota, FL
Chinese export silver teapot or kettle on a stylized bamboo stand decorated with birds by Hung Chong. The surface of the teapot has repousse ...
Silver
Chinese Glazed Pantry Jar with Lid, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
As though slicked with oil, a thick blue-black glaze spills over the high shoulders and gentle swell of this lidded kitchen vessel. The early 20th century ceramic jar was once used t...
Ceramic
Early 20th Century Chinese Glazed Soy Vessel
Located in Chicago, IL
As though slicked with oil, an inky black glaze drenches the high shoulders and arched double strap handles of this tapered kitchen vessel. The 19th century ceramic jar was once used...
Ceramic