Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
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.
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Ceramic, Porcelain
1770s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Stoneware
1760s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Ceramic
Early 19th Century English Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Ironstone
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Enamel
20th Century Unknown Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain, Paint
1770s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
Early 1700s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Stoneware
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Paste, Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Ceramic
Early 20th Century English Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
Early 19th Century English Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Ironstone
19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
17th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
Early 1900s French Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Enamel
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain, Paint
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain, Paint
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
1880s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Paper
1880s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Mother-of-Pearl, Paper
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
1770s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain, Paint
Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
1760s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Ceramic
18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Bamboo
1760s Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
1770s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Ceramic
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Brass
Mid-18th Century Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
1770s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
Early 1800s Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Platters and Serveware
Ceramic