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.
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Style: Chinese Export
Pair of Ceramic Oriental Table Lamps, Decoration, Bronze, 19th C.
Located in Manhasset, NY
Pair of Ceramic Oriental Table Lamps, Decoration, Bronze, 19th C.
A fine pair of porcelain vase style table lamps depicting gathered figur...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain, Teak
Chinese White Porcelain Ginger Jar Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese style (19th Century) white porcelain ginger jar form lamp with foliate & bird details mounted on a round wood base.
Ships wi...
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain, Wood
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
$419 Sale Price
20% Off
Stunning Mid-Century Chinese Pair of Verdigris Bronze Lamps, James Mont Style
Located in Bochum, NRW
Monumental Chinese verdigris bronze pair of table lamps, in the spirit of James Mont.
Mounted on a solid wood base with a turned wood top. The brass vertical element is adjustable in...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Chinese Sang De Boeuf Vase Mounted as a Table Lamp, 20th Century
Located in London, by appointment only
Chinese Sang de Boeuf Vase mounted as a table lamp.
An attractive Chinese sang de boeuf vase with a flared rim, the neck gradually transfo...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Porcelain Hand Painted Porcelain Lamp
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A hand painted Chinese porcelain lamps with an imperial yellow background. The white porcelain with cartouches of aristocratic women in a floral background with intricately detailed ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
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
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
Chinese Pink Cherry Blossom Tree Motif Table Lamp Mounted on a Wooden Base
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese off-white porcelain table lamp made from a bulbous vase with a budding green and pink cherry blossom tree growing up its form, a wooden base, and brass hardware.
Ships witho...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Ceramic
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
Mid-19th Century Chinese Export Porcelain Rose Medallion Vase Mounted as a Lamp
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Mid-19th century Chinese export porcelain Rose Medallion Vase Mounted as a Lamp. Very good quality with foo lion handles; panel molded body with linen fold top. Perfection for this f...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Carved Green Quartz Censor, Now as a Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Chinese Carved Green Quartz Censor, Now as a Lamp
A captivating Chinese-carved green quartz censor was skillfully transformed into a lamp, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and art...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Quartz, Metal
$1,516 Sale Price
20% Off
ANTIQUE CHINESE EXPORT CIRCA 1920 ANTiQUE CHINOISERIE BLACK LACQUER FLOOR LAMP
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very rare hand painted and lacquered Chinese Export circa 1920's Chinoiserie floor standing lamp
Pleas...
Category
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Wood
Pair Chinese Mirror Black Baluster Vase Lamps Gilt Prunus Decoration, Circa 1900
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Chinese Mirror Black Baluster Vase Lamps with Gilt Prunus Decoration, Rewired
A refined pair of Chinese porcelain baluster-form vases, now mounted as table lamps, dating to ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal
Chinese blue and white porcelain vase / lamp, C19th
Located in Brighton, Sussex
This exquisite late 19th-century Chinese blue and white vase lamp showcases traditional craftsmanship with intricate hand-painted designs. The vase features delicate motifs of floral...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Important Chinese blue ceramic lamp with butterflies, Quing Thongzhi, China 1865
Located in VÉZELAY, FR
Important Chinese lamp in blue ceramic decorated with butterflies and flowers.
China.
QING dynasty, Tongzhi era, 1861-1875
Blackened wooden base
In excellent condition, electricity ...
Category
1860s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain, Wood, Ceramic
$2,515 Sale Price
20% Off
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
Bronze Asian Lamps Style of James Mont Pair
Located in New York, NY
Exquisite pair of bronze Asian lamps. These lamps are well designed, heavy and would look extra special in an Asian inspired room. James Mont styl...
Category
1940s Vintage Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$14,000 / set
Marbro Asian Style Hand Painted Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in Fulton, CA
Hand painted porcelain table lamp by The Marbro Lamp Company, circa. 1950's. Asian style ginger jar design with floral motif. Double pull-chain light socke...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Blue and White Crackle Ware Vases/Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of Chinese blue and white crackle ware vases / lamps, each with oriental figures looking up at bats flying around the sky.
...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Canary Yellow Porcelain Vases as Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Each of square tapering form mounted on a turned gilt base, fitted with adjustable brass rod and two-light sockets, height of vase is 15.5".
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
$2,800 / set
Large Antique Oriental Ceramic Table Lamp
Located in London, GB
A stunning and very impressive large antique oriental ceramic table lamp. We can’t work out if it’s Chinese or Japanese. It dates from the late 19th century and was likely converted ...
Category
1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Ceramic, Wood
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
Pair of Chinese Export Jadeite Stone Lamps
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
The stone bodies of this type of interior illuminated lamp are often referred to as quartz, jadeite or even jade but are in fact of the fluorite famil...
Category
Mid-20th Century Asian Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Quartz
$2,000 Sale Price / item
20% Off
19th Century Chinese Powder Blue Vase / Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A striking 19th century Chinese power blue vase / lamp with French gilded ormolu mounts to the top and plinth base.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of Antique Chinese Porcelain Lamps
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Pair of Chinese porcelain vases mounted as lamps. Square tapering vases with alternating panels with floral decorations on a white background. Mounted on mahogany colored bases. Wire...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
Chinese Ginger Jar Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese style (20th Cent) ginger jar shaped table lamp with a black, green & blue background with figures on a wood base.
Ships without a shade
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Asian Chinese wall sconce, painted birds, China, circa 1900
Located in VÉZELAY, FR
Lantern-shaped wall sconce.
Wooden structure carved with dragons.
Glasses painted with birds and floral bouquets.
China, circa 1900
In very good condition.
Dimensions:
height 43 c...
Category
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Glass, Wood
$698 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of Mid-20th Century Chinese Porcelain Jar Table Lamps
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Pair of Mid-20th century porcelain jar table lamps, Chinese. Handsome teal blue, ginger jar form. Newly remounted & electrified. Very good quality.
18.75" h. to top of socket. approx...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Table lamp Rosewood - Shoulao - God of Longevity Prosperety - China
Located in Den Haag, NL
Beautiful large antique Chinese sculpture of the god of luck Shou Lao/Shouxing Lao the immortal, with crane. Silver inlay .
God of Longevity cut from heavy rosewood. Dates back to t...
Category
1950s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Rosewood
Chinese Reticulated White Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese-style white filigree porcelain table lamp with floral design and black round base.
Ships without a shade
Category
20th Century Unknown Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Large Scale Chinese Export Blue & White Urn Form Lamp
Located in Huntington, NY
Chinese Export Blue & White Urn Form Lamp
With shade & cut glass finials with Elephant
holding rings.
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain, Wood
Antique Chinese Ching Dynasty Seated Famille Rose Figurines Designer Table Lamps
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Chinese Ching Dynasty seated famille rose figurines now designer table lamps. These lovely figures set freely on the lamp stands and have not bee...
Category
18th Century Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Pottery
Chinese Cloisonné Enamel Bronze Vase 19th Century Mounted as a Table Lamp
Located in Miami, FL
The cloisonné enamel bronze vase is mounted in table lamp.
The quality of the piece is very interesting as an object by itself.
The shape is unu...
Category
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Bronze
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
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 Chinese 19th Century Crackleware Vases / Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An impressive good quality pair of late 19th century Chinese crackleware vases, each with a white ground and bronzed boarder, motif and foliate decoration, circa 1890.
Batch 7...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of 19th Century Rose Medallion Ormolu Mounted Vases / Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of Chinese Cantonese / rose medallion bellied vases / lamps. Each with wonderful gilded ormolu scrolling foliate mounts top and bottom. ...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
French Large Samson Chinese Export Style Porcelain Armorial Table Lamp
Located in Vero Beach, FL
French Large Samson Chinese Export Style Porcelain Armorial Table Lamp
Elegant French porcelain Samson style armorial decorated table lamp from the early...
Category
20th Century French Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
20th Century Chinese Porcelain Ginger Jar Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese style (20th Century) porcelain ginger jar cylindrical form lamp in red, green & yellow on a white field.
Ships without a shade
Category
20th Century Unknown Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Decalcomania Vase Lamp
Located in Dublin 8, IE
Early 20th Century large decalcomania vase lamp of baluster form depicting oriental figures, birds, butterflies and foliate detail set against g...
Category
Early 20th Century Irish Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century Vintage Chinese Hand-Painted Porcelain Jar Table Lamp
Located in Pomona, CA
A vintage famille rose porcelain table lamp from the mid-20th century with kids playing design and Buddhist floral pattern. Born in China during the mid-20th century, this vintage fa...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
$438 Sale Price
25% Off
19th Century Famille Rose Style Samson Porcelain Vase / Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th century Famille rose style Samson porcelain lidded vase / lamp. Having classical oriental scenes with flowers, folate and motif decoration, inset painte...
Category
19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Blue and White crackle ware vase / lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A Chinese 19th Century Blue and White crackleware vase / lamp. Having a classical scene of a mother and child speaking to a traveller, a pair of ring drop bronzed handles in the mout...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Mid Century Modern Chinese Abacus Table Lamp, circa 1960
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Chinese abacus table lamp in hardwood with an ebonized counting frame and brass accents. Used for centuries in the Near East. This particular lamp is...
Category
1960s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
Large Pair of Canton / Rose Medalion Chinese Vases / Lamps, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of large 19th century Chinese Canton vases / lamps. Each with a green ground with flowers, foliage, butterflies and birds surr...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Lantern, Hexagonal, Oriental, Cedar Late 19th Century circa 1880
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a large antique Chinese lantern. A hexagonal, Oriental lamp crafted from cedar in the late 19th century, circa 1880.
Cedar with supe...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Cedar
Lovely Chinese Export circa 1920 Antique Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Table Lamp
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare hand painted and lacquered Chinese Export circa 1920s Chinoiserie table lamp with hand painted finish of a chap playing a flute
T...
Category
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Wood
Pair Antique 19c Chinese Gilt Cloisonne Covered Prunus Ginger Jar Table Lamps
Located in Richmond, CA
A matching pair of antique Chinese 19c azure blue ground cloisonne covered ginger jars, on gilt bronze body finely decorated with prunus blossoms in a rocky garden scene, with ruyi h...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Copper, Enamel, Bronze
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
Chinese Porcelain Vase Table Lamp
Located in Baltimore, MD
This is a colourful antique Chinese porcelain vase, depicting a traditional Chinese scene with exotic birds and landscape, converted into an elegant table lamp with a fine linen shad...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Hardwood, Porcelain, Linen
$280 Sale Price
20% Off
Chinese Export Green Painted and Gilt Tôle Tea Canister Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Of cylindrical form with incurved top; elaborately decorated with a central cartouche enclosing a Mandarin figure leaning against tea chests set above the number 11, flanked by pseud...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Black Chinese Pottery Vase Designer Table Lamp
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Huge Black Chinese Pottery Vase Now a Designer Table Lamp
Additional information:
Materials: Pottery
Color: Black
Designer: Randy Esada Designs...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Pottery
$880 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair 19th Century Famille Verte Chinese Porcelain Lamps
Located in Bradenton, FL
Rare pair decorated with court figures engaged in leisurely pursuits, on carved wood bases. Bright vivid and colorfully hand painted motif. Please note shade is not included.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
$2,340 Sale Price / set
35% Off
Chinese Art Deco Turquoise Craquelure Porcelain Vase Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Chinese Art Deco turquoise craquelure porcelain vase lamp with stylised
foo dog handles. Original brass base and lamp cap.
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Ceramic
Antique Chinese Famille Rose & Bird 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, with a multi-colored fam...
Category
18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
Antique Chinese Sang De Boeuf Vase or Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very decorative 19th century Chinese sang de boeuf baluster vase, converted to a lamp. Mounted on a carved hardwood stand.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Crackle Glazed Porcelain Lamps with Wooden Base and Lampshades
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly invite you to read the full description, as we aim to provide detailed technical and historical information to ensure the authenticity of our pieces. This exceptional pair ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Brass
19th Century Rose Ormolu Mounted Rose Medallion Vase / Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century Chinese rose medallion Cantonese vase / lamp, having wonderful gilded ormolu mounts to the top and base. Hand painted classical oriental scenes, depi...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Export Prunus Vase, Now as a Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Chinese Export Prunus Vase, Now as a Lamp
Early 20th Century, China
Dimensions: Height: 24 in Diameter: 7 in
Bring home this beautifully crafted Chinese E...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting
Materials
Porcelain, Wood
$1,000 Sale Price
20% Off
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.
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