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.
19th Century Oriental Style Centrepiece with 'Blanc de Chine' Lions
Located in Basildon, GB
19th Century Oriental Style Centrepiece, of tri-form aspect, comprising an ovoid porcelain jar and cover with free-standing flowers and three projections each with a recumbent blanc ...
Bronze
19th Century Chinese Export Silver Two-Handle Cup & Cover, Luen Wo, circa 1880
By Luen Wo
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 19th century Chinese export solid silver presentation cup and cover, of traditional urn shape, the body is embossed with beautiful scenes in relief depicting Chinese nobility...
Silver
Beautiful Chinese Laquered Stand with Gilt Decoration
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Lovely small laquered Chinese stand with gilded carved decoration. Beautiful on a console or coffee table as special embellishment.
Wood
Chinese Bronze Porcelain Pedestal Bowl Centerpiece
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a Bronze Porcelain Pedestal Bowl Centerpiece. It depicts a heavy porcelain bowl cup hand painted cranberry color in the background an...
Bronze
Antique Chinese Porcelain and Eglomise Gold Scenic Lidded and Footed Box
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese (19/20th Century-possibly Satsuma) porcelain oval shaped centerpiece with a footed base and decorated exterior having genre scenes and botanical designs in beige, brown, oran...
Porcelain
Hand Painted and Gilt Chinese Export Porcelain Centerpiece Bowl & Giltwood Stand
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Very large Chinese export porcelain centerpiece bowl (or fishbowl) of the finest quality with giltwood stand. Featuring enameled decorations and cartouches in the shapes of fans, flo...
Porcelain, Wood
Antique Chinese Guangcai Centerpiece Bowl, Porcelain, Circa 1850
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Guangcai (Late 19th Century) export porcelain centerpiece bowl decorated with blue and orange patterned panels around a center scene of a woman walking with a large u...
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Export Silver Vases by Heng Li, Floral Design, 1920
$1,699Sale Price / set|20% Off
Vintage Chinese Tray in Ceramic Hand Painted
Located in Milano, IT
Beautiful vintage Chinese ceramic tray dating from the early 1900s, also useful as a pocket emptier or centerpiece. The vintage Chinese tray is entirely ha...
Ceramic
18th Century Chinese Export Ormolu Mounted Bowl
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive 18th century Chinese export porcelain bowl, having gilded floral decoration, wonderful gilded ormolu handl...
Ormolu
Chinese Export Silver Dragon Repousse Centerpiece
$1,450
H 4.25 in Dm 23.5 in
Large Mahogany Footed Lazy Susan with Carved Decoration Nine Framed Indentations
Located in Great Barrington, MA
An unusually large and beautifully decorated Lazy-Susan will be the perfect focal point on a table. Also wonderful for h'ors d'oeuvres, desserts and condiments at a buffet table, thi...
Wood
Chinese Celadon Footed Centerpiece, 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
Chinese Celadon footed centerpiece, 19th century.
$12,600
H 16.5 in W 18 in D 9 in
French Sèvres Porcelain & Ormolu-Mounted Hand-Painted Oval Centerpiece/Jardenier
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in New York, NY
An unusual antique French iridescent Sèvres Porcelain and ormolu-mounted oval shaped centerpiece, the light jade green iridescent color Sèvres Porcelain painted with a beautiful scen...
Bronze
$2,924Sale Price|25% Off
H 6.3 in Dm 12.21 in
Italian 19th Century Neoclassical Marble Bowl on Pedestal - Tazza Centerpiece
Located in Firenze, IT
19th Century Italian Neoclassical Marble Tazza Centerpiece Bowl This exceptional 19th-century Italian Neoclassical marble centerpiece bowl, or tazza, is finely hand-carved from highl...
Marble
$636Sale Price|20% Off
H 16.5 in W 7.5 in D 8 in
Large Italian White Blanc De Chine Creamware Fruit Topiary Centerpiece
Located in Pearland, TX
A stunning large 16.5" Mid-Century Italian Blanc de Chine creamware glazed ceramic handmade fruit topiary in a pedestal basket. Marked "Made in Italy" on reverse. This gorgeous topia...
Ceramic
Vintage Large Art Glass Bowl Tazza Centerpiece Bowl in Brass Stand
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Vintage Large Art Glass Bowl Tazza Centerpiece Bowl in Brass Stand Clear classical hand blown glass bowl fitting in an exquisite brass base. It is most likely dating from the Mid-Ce...
Brass
$1,250
H 8 in W 18.5 in D 12.8 in
Mid-20th Century Italian Blue & White Porcelain Foot Bath Jardiniere Centerpiece
Located in Pearland, TX
A vintage Mid-Century Italian blue and white white porcelain ironstone foot bath basin / jardiniere / planter crafted in Italy. No maker's mark. This lovely large footbath has a simp...
Porcelain
$759
H 5 in W 17 in D 10 in
Porcelain gilded footed large floral bowl, by W.A.A. & Co, 1890, Centrepiece
Located in Worcester Park, GB
This elegant antique footed bowl is a beautifully crafted piece, showcasing timeless English design and delicate decorative detail. Likely produced by W.A.A. & Co, it features th...
Porcelain
$409Sale Price|30% Off
H 5.5 in W 8.25 in D 10.25 in
Carl Thieme for Dresden Porcelain Footed Cherub centerpiece Bowl Polychrome 10"
By Carl Thieme
Located in Dayton, OH
An exceptional Carl Thieme for Dresden Polychrome Centerpiece. Made from porcelain with colorful details. The bowl has a diamond form with flowers and gold trim. Supported by four c...
Porcelain
Late 19th Century Crystal and Gilt Bronze Centrepiece
Located in Paris, FR
Red and transparent crystal centerpiece composed of a flared vase and cup. They are engraved with leafy rinceau, grape vines, and scrolling foliage. Gilt bronze mounts are decorated ...
Crystal, Bronze
$5,895Sale Price|37% Off
H 7.13 in W 19 in D 10.5 in
French 19th-20th Century Louis XV Style Silvered Centrepiece by Christofle & Cie
By Christofle
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine French 19th-20th century Louis XV style silvered centrepiece by Christofle & Cie. with an ovoid molded cut-glass centre-dish (later) on a pomegranate branch-form foot, the underside stamped: CHRISTOFLE and 1147156, Paris, circa 1900. Charles Christofle...
Bronze
$95,000
H 21.5 in W 94 in D 27 in
Excellent Quality 19th Century Gilt Bronze Surtout De Table on Low Stands
Located in Long Island City, NY
An Excellent Quality Mid 19th Century Gilt Bronze Four Piece Surtout De Table on Low Stands This wonderful plateau cast with a grapevine bronze gallery, cen...
Bronze, Ormolu
Very Large Vintage Chinese Bowl Centerpiece
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Very large impressive Chinese bowl having beautiful detailed decoration in navy blue, red oxide, soft green and white.
Porcelain
Chinese Export Silver Ship Centerpiece
Located in New Orleans, LA
This delightful and exceptionally rare steamboat centerpiece exemplifies the remarkable artistry of Chinese export silver. Chinese silver pieces are renowned for their exceptional qu...
Silver
Sold
H 12.5 in W 17 in D 13.25 in
Chinese 19th Century Rose Medallion Center Bowl on Gilt Bronze Base, Greek Key
Located in Stamford, CT
Chinese gilt-bronze mounted rose medallion center piece bowl, 19th century. A stunning Centerpiece of Chinese deisgn having a circular tapering form, with pierced Greek key designed ...
Bronze
Vase pot pourri porcelain and bronze
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A french vase pot pourri in porcelaine and bronze bear the mark on leg E.S probably Escalier De Cristal, famous maker in the late of 19 century and beginnin...
Bronze
Chinese Etched Brass Tazza, Lotus Flower, Yin Yang Symbol, Large Scale
Located in Stamford, CT
Large scale Chinese brass tazza, the rimmed tray with with etched decoration of a lotus flower with a Yin Yang symbol in the center surrounded by images of...
Brass
Samson Chinese Export Style Basin Cooler
Located in Essex, MA
Oval with foo dog handles, leaf form vignettes on a blue ground.
Porcelain
Antique 7 Pc Blue Willow Porcelain Cruet Condiment Set & Caddy Tea Coffee
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique blue willow pattern porcelain cruet or condiment set featuring a circular lazy Susan base on a wood dolly, labeled salt and pepper shakers,...
Porcelain, Hardwood
Sold
H 3 in W 15 in D 12 in
Chinese Export Sacred Bird and Butterfly Centerpiece and Covered Vegetable Dish
Located in San Francisco, CA
An impressive Chinese export sacred bird and butterfly pattern centerpiece decorated overall in typical orange and brown palette, with gilt-o...
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Export Solid Silver Goblet, Leeching C.1870
By Leeching
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 19th Century Chinese export solid silver wine goblet, impressive and exceptionally fine quality, double walled, fully chased and embossed with a dense bamboo leaves, standing...
Silver
Chinese Export Silver Filigree Gem Set Cup and Cover, circa 1950
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Stunning mid-20th century rare Chinese solid silver-gilt filigree cup and cover, the cup is richly gilded and applies with jade and amethyst cabochons stones. The cup stands proudly ...
Multi-gemstone, Silver
19th Century Chinese Export Solid Silver Fruit Bowl, Wang Hing, circa 1880
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique late-19th century Chinese export solid silver fruit bowl on stand, of exceptionally fine quality, intricately chased and embossed depicting a compendium of various designs an...
Silver
Sold
H 10.44 in W 10.24 in D 6.3 in
19th Century Chinese Export Solid Silver Trophy Cup, Woshing Shanghai circa 1890
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique late-19th Century Chinese export solid silver trophy cup, impressive and exceptionally fine quality, decorated with repoussé prunus and perched birds against a hand chased matted ground, cup resting on an elegant shaped stem and domed foot, base decorated in similar complimentary design, both sides applied with c-shaped handles imitating branches and terminating with applied flowers. Hallmarked with Chinese export marks, Artisan workshop mark of ZAN 賛, Shanghai and Retailer WS for Woshing (Active c. 1850s - 1925) an important manufacturing and retailing silversmith in Shanghai and Canton. Common mistakes in the transliteration of Chinese silver marks in English caused several names for Woshing, such as Wo Shing, Woo Shing...
Silver