Chinese Export Lighting
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.
to
45
225
126
364
4
1
Height
to
Width
to
247
126
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
58,252
19,055
9,127
8,108
3,961
2,690
2,084
1,633
1,591
969
837
829
671
581
551
411
200
128
10
157
197
5
55
54
21
4
6
6
3
4
8
2
2
276
233
146
102
82
300
290
286
28
21
369
369
369
1
1
1
1
1
Style: Chinese Export
Pair of Vintage Chinese Red and Gold Hand-Painted Tole Ginger Jar Table Lamps
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Vintage Chinese tole table lamps made from lidded ginger jars mounted with brass hardware, hand painted with an outdoor garden / genre scene in gold, white, and black, agains...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
Beautiful Satsuma Style Decorations & Elegant Gilt Gold Detailing Porcelain Lamp
Located in Tarry Town, NY
This exquisite 20th-century porcelain table lamp showcases exceptional craftsmanship with its beautifully painted Satsuma-style decorations and elegant gilt gold detailing. The lamp’...
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain, Wood, Paint
Pair of Chinese Rose Medallion Lamps
Located in Bradenton, FL
Pair of 19th century Chinese Rose Medallion Lamps. Beautiful painted florals, butterflies and birds on sides with Chinese figures in blue, red, gre...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain, Wood
$1,875 / set
Chinese Table Lamp, 19th Century with Brass Mount, 19th Century Famille Rose
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This table lamp is a 19th century Famille rose vase lamp, it has been made in china circa 1880.
The mount is in brass, and the porcelain in hand painted.
USA PLUG ADAPTATOR WILL BE ...
Category
1880s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$1,156 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair Of Samson Porcelain Table Lamps
Located in Essex, MA
Baluster form finely painted in the Chinese style. Bronze bases. Two light sockets.
From the A.B Dick Estate. Bellevue Avenue, Newport. Converted from vases to lamps.
Category
1750s French Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
$6,800 / set
Chinese blue and white vase / lamp, 19th century.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality Chinese 19th Century Blue and White vase / lamp. Having classical oriental motif decoration to the base and top, scrolling foliate and flower head design to the centre...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Porcelain Ginger Jar Form Floral / Botanical Table Lamps Att. Chelsea House-Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a lovely pair of porcelain ginger jar form hand painted table lamps attributed to Chelsea House. The vase portion is 12 inches in height. They rest on gilt Asian footed...
Category
Late 20th Century American Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain, Giltwood
Stunning Pair of 19th Century Chinese Blue & White Table Lamps
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Handsome large pair of slightly different blue and white Chinese vase shaped antique table lamps having lovely decoration and wooden bases. Vases are 18.25 h
One lamp is 32.5 h; the...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Ceramic
Late 20th-C. Chinese Export Style Table Lamp - Monkey With Pomegranates
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a late 20th century Chinese Export style table lamp depicting a monkey with pomegranites . It is mounted on a wood base with brass accents. It is in very good condition.
Category
Late 20th Century American Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
Vintage Chinese Ginger Jar Conversion Lamp
Located in Boynton Beach, FL
A beautifully detailed hand painted vintage Chinese ginger jar that has been converted to a lamp. With a white and gold colored background t...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$680 Sale Price
38% Off
Antique Chinese Blue And White Porcelain Vase As Lamp
Located in Norwood, NJ
Chinese 19th century porcelain vase converted as a lamp. Hand painted with a bird amongst a fruit tree with branches and leaves. A celadon ground and decorated with applied foo dog ...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Ceramic, Porcelain, Wood
Vintage Blue & White Porcelain Foo Dogs Table Lamp
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage blue and white porcelain foo dogs table lamp, circa 1950s. The lamp is in good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measures...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pair of Antique Chinese Orange and Gold Floral Round Porcelain Table Lamps
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) round table lamps made from orange, luster porcelain vases with gold floral designs, mounted on brown wooden bases with patinated brass h...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Ceramic
Chinese Porcelain Mirror Black Lamp; Bronze Mounts and Chinoiserie Decoration
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This mirror black glaze ginger jar form porcelain lamp is mounted with gilt metal fittings. Its gilt decoration includes floral and insect motifs.
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
A Pair of Chinese Famille Verte Porcelain Covered Ginger Jars Mounted as Lamps
Located in New York, NY
A Fabulous Pair of Chinese Famille Verte Porcelain Covered Ginger Jars Mounted as Lamps. Each is of baluster form, with a domed lid and wide, slightly everted rim, mounted as table ...
Category
1850s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese White and Blue Figurative Scene Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) table lamp made from a white and blue baluster-shaped porcelain vase depicting a mother and children playing outside...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Huge Pair 1960s Japanese Kutani Porcelain Table Lamps with Chinese style Peacock
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of monumental Japanese "Kutani Ware"" hand painted porcelain table lamps with Cerulean blue peacocks and flowers, circa Mid 20th Century. These amazing huge lamps are forty inch...
Category
1960s Japanese Vintage Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass, Gold Leaf
Pair of Chinese Ginger Jar Lamps
Located in Sheffield, MA
The pair of blue-and-off-white Chinese ginger jar lamps have Chinese characters as decoration. Simple and Classic at the same time. The fixtur...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Ceramic
$2,400 / set
Pair of Japanese Pagoda Form Porcelain Lamps
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
A Rare Pair of Japanese Pagoda Form Porcelain Lamps. Beautifully glazed in very vibrant colors with gilt accents. Lamps are mounted on square carved ha...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Enamel
$2,495 / set
Lamp Table Celadon Vase with Lid Chinese Custom Shade
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
Large, vintage, Chinese, Celadon vase with cover, upcycled into table lamp with custom made linen shade, 32” high
Celadon ware has been prized for centuries for its beauty because i...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Celadon, Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Canton / Rose Medallion Vases / Lamps, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality pair of 19th century Chinese rose medallion vases, each with wonderful bold pinks, blues and green coloring, exotic bird handles on either side, lizards circling ...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Pair Chinese Peacock Decorated Porcelain Vases Mounted as Lamps
Located in Germantown, MD
Pair of large Chinese peacock enameled decorated porcelain vases mounted as lamps. Measure 8inches in diameter and stand 39" tall to the tip of the fin...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass, Enamel
A fine pair of 19th century Rose Medallion and gilt bronze mounted lamps
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine 19th century pair of Rose Medallion porcelain lamps with gilt bronze bases.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Large Wooden Chinese Lantern with Dragons and Painted Glass, circa 1900
Located in VÉZELAY, FR
Superb large Asian lantern / chandelier / suspension.
Structure in solid wood carved with dragons and openwork. Glass plates painted with subjects of women and various flowers.
...
Category
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paint
$2,698 Sale Price
20% Off
Early 20th Century Chinese Green Botanical Table Lamp on Wooden Base
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) table lamp made from a vase painted with an intricate green motif of flora and dragon flies with brass hardware and a turned wooden base and top....
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Ceramic
Pair of Asian Style Celadon Table Lamps
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Pair of Late 20th century Asian style Celadon table lamps in very good condition.
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Ceramic
$1,800 / set
Pair Rose Medallion vases / lamps, 19th Century.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality pair of 19th Century Chinese Canton / Rose medallion vases / lamps. Each with wonderful bold classical greens and pinks, pairs of gilded Foo dog handles. The grou...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Export Adjustable Height Floor Lamp
Located in Tarrytown, NY
Chinese export floor lamp with adjustable height. The height can be adjusted up to 76".
Category
1970s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Mahogany
Large Pair of Rose Medallion 19th Century Vases or Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of 19th century Chinese rose medallion / Cantonese vases / lamps. Each having classical Chinese scenes of people in gardens and on verandas...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of Chinese Porcelain Hat Stands Mounted as Lamps
Located in Germantown, MD
A Pair of Chinese enamel and pierced Porcelain Wig / hat Stands Mounted as Lamps, with Ebonized wooden base.
Measures 6" in width x 6" in depth x 18.5" in height to the top light bu...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
Antique Chinese Porcelain Blue And White Ginger Jar As Lamp
Located in Norwood, NJ
Antique blue and white on celadon Chinese porcelain ginger jar converted as a lamp. Hand painted double happiness motif with floral decoration. Mounted on shaped rosewood base.
16" t...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain, Wood
Pair of 19th Century Cloisonné Lamps
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a lovely pair of cloisonné turquoise lamps painted overall with colorful figures and images, situated on pierced rosewood bases, 19th century.
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal
$3,200 / set
Chinese Porcelain Ocher Glazed Vase with Incised Design and Gilt Metal Mounts
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This impressive Chinese porcelain vase is mounted with gilt metal fittings.
The incised design features poppy, chrysanthemum, and prunus blossoms.
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Pink Floral and Bird Design Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese pink ceramic table lamp made from a baluster-shaped vase decorated with colorful birds, florals and koi on a wooden base with brass hardware.
Vase is cracked near the socke...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Chinese Export Blanc De Chine Porcelain Cylindrical Vases Mounted as Lamps
Located in Bradenton, FL
Chinese Export Blanc De Chine Porcelain Cylindrical Vases Mounted as Lamps. These are decorated with garden florals and foliage. Lamps have double sockets with hanging pull chains. T...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Beautiful Cinnabar Red Chinese Carved Wood Table Lamp
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Chinese carved wood cinnabar table lamp 1950’s
27” H to finial x 6.5” W x 5.75” D
Shade 10” H x 13” Diameter
Category
1950s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Wood
19th Century Pair Chinese Rose Medallion Vases / Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A wonderful quality and unusual colour pair of 19th Century Chinese Rose medallion porcelain vases / lamps. Having this rare yellow ground with the classical Cantonese floral decorat...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Large Pair 19th Century Rose Medallion Vases / Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality pair of 19th century Chinese Rose medallion vases / lamps. Each with wonderful bold classical Cantonese birds, flower, butterflies in Green, white and pink, inset hand painted panels depicting exotic birds and scenes of various courtiers, scholars, women and children.
Mounted on carved gilt wood stands.
We can convert the vases to lamps...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Vintage Chinese Gold and Green Tole Palm Tree Table Lamps
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Vintage Chinese tole table lamps in the shape of palm trees, painted with golden leaves and green trunks, resting on octagonal bases and mounted with brass hardware. (PRICED ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pair 19th Century Chinese Rose Medallion Vases / Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
Pair 19th century Chinese Rose medallion / Cantonese spill vases, each with the classical Green ground, wonderful floral and foliate decorati...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Early 19th Century Chinese Celadon vase/lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality early 19th Century Chinese Celedon porcelain vase / lamp. Having a wonderful bellied form with classical embossed motif decoration around, shell like handles to e...
Category
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
Early 20th Century Cast Bronze Floor Lamp with Neolithic Chinese Motif
Located in San Francisco, CA
Early 20th century cast bronze floor lamp with neolithic Chinese motif
13" diameter at the base x 74" high
The wiring needs to be updated (please see images)
This is truly an exception cast bronze lamp. The Chinese motifs around the base also have a strong resemblance to Mayan motifs...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Lámpara oriental
Located in VALÈNCIA, ES
Lámpara oriental Circa 1.960, realizada en cerámica esmaltada policromada, con incrustaciones decorativas, con tapa y base de madera.
Category
1960s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Ceramic, Wood
$433 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Chinese Blue And White Porcelain Vase As Lamp
Located in Norwood, NJ
Chinese 19th century porcelain blue and white vase converted as a lamp. Hand painted with Chinese figures in a courtyard setting with a light celadon ground and decorated with applie...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain, Wood
Pair of Blanc De Chine Vases Mounted as Table Lamps
Located in Morristown, NJ
20th c., a nice quality pair of blanc de chine vases mounted as table lamps. These are decorated with garden florals and figures in low relief. Decorative elements also include lion ...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal
Chinese Soapstone Carved Vase as Table Lamp
Located in Dallas, TX
ain intricately carved Chinese soapstone vase as custom table lamp with six (6) foo dogs chasing a ball, brownish-tan coloring, on a darker carv...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Soapstone
Pair 19th Century Rose Medallion Vases / Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of 19th Century Chinese Cantonese vases / lamps. Each with classical green ground, wonderful exotic floral decoration, butterflies and birds.
The vases can be co...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Alum Red Taishi Shaoshi Design Porcelain Vase Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese table lamp made from a porcelain vase mounted with wood and brass hardware as a lamp, with an alum red Taishi Shaoshi lion d...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
Large Antique Oriental Bronze Table Lamp
Located in London, GB
An impressive and beautifully made large antique oriental bronze table lamp, made in the far East and dating from around the 1930’s.
This is of superb quality, it is large and very ...
Category
1930s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Antique Chinese Famille Rose Procession Scene Design Porcelain Vase Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese table lamp made from an 18th century porcelain vase mounted with wood and brass hardware as a lamp, a multi-colored famille rose and genre scene depicting a processio...
Category
18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
19th Century Chinese Famille Verte Vase / Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 18th century style Chinese Famille verte vase / lamp. Having bold classical Chinese scenes of courtiers under pagoda buildings and in gardens playing games and on...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Style Filigree Gilt Wood Dragon Floor Lamps
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Asian Chinese-style (19th Century) carved and filigree gilt wood 6 sided dragon base floor lamps with round brass filigree shade (PRICED AS Pai...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
Chinese White Figurative Scene Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) table lamp made from a white porcelain urn painted with a scene of children playing in orange, pink, and red, mounted on a brown wooden base and...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Chinese Porcelain Reticulated Octagonal Pink and Green Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese porcelain table lamp comprised of a porcelain vase with eight reticulated sides in green with pink porcelain edges and a motif of Chinese vases filled with flowers on each si...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pair Japanese 19th c. Ceramic Martaban Jar Lamps, Billy Haines Attributed
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is an unusual pair of lamps that have been created with antique 19th century Japanese storage jars and are attributed to Billy Haines. The ru...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pair Rose Medallion Chinese vases / lamps, 19th Century.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
Pair of good quality 19th Century Chinese Rose medallion porcelain vases / lamps. Each vase having the unusual pink colouring, bird handles to either side, and Lizards. The inset han...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Porcelain Octagonal Multi-Colored Floral and Vase Motif Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese porcelain table lamp comprised of a porcelain vase with eight multi-colored sides featuring floral and vase motifs with raised decorative pomegranates around the neck, mounte...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
Antique Chinese Alum Red Taishi Shaoshi Design Porcelain Vase Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese table lamp made from a 19th century porcelain vase mounted with wood and brass hardware as a lamp, with an alum red Taishi S...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
Chinese Export Prunus Vase Lamp, circa 1900
Located in Lucenec, SK
A large Chinese blue and white porcelain prunus vase lamp, on wood base. No hairline, no restoration. The height of the vase is about 25cm. Traces of usage...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
$842 Sale Price
44% Off
Pair of Chinese Blue Tole Palm Tree and Man Table Lamps
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese light blue tole table lamps depicting a man holding a fan sitting in the shade of a palm tree. (PRICED AS Pair)(Companion lamps: NWL2012)
On...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Chinese Export lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Chinese Export lighting 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 lighting created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, asian art and furniture, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, porcelain and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Chinese Export lighting made in a specific country, there are Asia, East Asia, and China pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original lighting, popular names associated with this style include The Marbro Lamp Company, CANTON FAMILLE ROSE, Capodimonte, and Chapman Manufacturing Company. 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 lighting differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $200 and tops out at $24,680 while the average work can sell for $2,406.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Murano Glass Trumpet
Palm Finials
Primavera Barovier
Sergio Asti On Sale
Used Railroad Locomotives
Brass Cobra Snake
Chapman Brass Candlesticks
Copper Palm Tree
Islamic Oil Lamp
Mad Architects
Miami Used Office Furniture
Mirror With Crystal Flowers
Ship Spotlight
Victorian Vintage Cherub
Giraffe Marcantonio
Globus Vintage
Italian Violin
Robert Stadler