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.
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...
Porcelain
$2,240Sale Price|20% Off
A 19 Century Nanking Porcelain Vase on an Ormolu base turned into a Lamp
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A large late 19 Century Qing Era Chinese Nanking Porcelain Vase in famille verte crackle glaze decorated with intricate warrior and landscape scenes The vase would have been exported to France from Nanking China...
Porcelain
$650Sale Price / set|23% Off
Chinese Export Style Armorial Porcelain Vases as Lamps, Pair
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of Chinese Export Style Armorial Porcelain Two Handled Vases Mounted as Table Lamps, 20th century, each decorated with polychrome flowers and a central coat of arms, depicting a...
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...
Metal, Brass
Vintage Mid-Century Chinese Wooden Lamp with Carved Fretwork Design
Located in Queens, NY
Vintage Mid-Century Chinese style wood lamp with fretwork design carving. Ships without a shade
Wood
Pair of Porcelain Polychrome and Gilt Rouleau Vase Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Each decorated in the 18th century spirit with floral blossoms, butterflies and bees, and gilt banding, on a giltwood turned base. Fitted with brass ...
Brass
Early 20th Century Chinese Carved Green (Jadeite) Quartz Lamp
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A Chinese carved quartz lamp mounted on a brass and a carved rosewood base. Presented with a pagoda shaped shade. The carved quartz is often referred to as Jadeite iis in fact from...
Quartz
LOVELY ANTiQUE STYLE CHINESE PORCELAIN LARGE TABLE LAMP SUPER DECORATIVE FINISH
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely ex-display Chinese Porcelain table lamp with lovely original finish Please note the delivery f...
Porcelain
Pair of Good Quality 19th Century Chinese Rose Medallion Vases
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality pair of 19th century Chinese Cantonese / rose Medallion vases, each having the classical green ground with pink floral decoration, pierced blue handles to either ...
Porcelain
Pair of Mid-Century Style Turquoise Table Lamps
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Striking pair of table lamps crafted in porcelain in a classic asian form with an alluring blue glaze and presented on lucite bases.
Porcelain, Lucite
20th Century Chinese Antique Table Lamp, Pale Yellow Floral Porcelain
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese porcelain table lamp made from a pale yellow, rounded vase decorated with a brightly colored floral design mounted on a wooden base with wooden top and brass hardware. Ship...
Metal, Brass
Japanese, Copper, Lacquered Metal, Brass, Maruni Vase Table Lamps, Japan, 1960s
Located in Stamford, CT
Japanese, Copper, Lacquered Metal, Brass, Maruni Vase Table Lamps, Japan, 1960s Pair of lacquered deep red table lamps designed and produced in Japan in the middle of the 20th centu...
Metal
Early 19th Century Chinese Export Porcelain Pistol Handle Urn, wired as a Lamp
Located in Atlanta, GA
Early 19th Century Chinese Export Porcelain Pistol Handle Urn, wired as a lamp.
Porcelain
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...
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Table Lamp, Off-White & Blue, Late 19th Century
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) table lamp made from an off-white and blue stoneware vase with carved floral bands, two small decorative handles, and a scene depicting two women...
Metal, Brass
20th Century Chinese Export Table Lamp, Gray Porcelain & Brass Base
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese porcelain table lamp in a light gray hue and barrel shape on a wooden base with brass hardware. (Available in yellow: NWL2003) Ships without a shade."
Metal, Brass
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...
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Familie Rose Porcelaine and Gilt Bronze Lamps, Late 19th
Located in Warsaw, PL
A decorative pair of Chinese Famille Rose porcelain vases, later mounted as table lamps. The baluster-form bodies are finely hand-painted with figural court scenes depicting scholars...
Bronze
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...
Brass
$2,506Sale Price|20% Off
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 ...
Porcelain, Wood, Ceramic
Antique 19th Century Chinese Mirror Black Porcelain Jar Lamp
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A stunning antique Chinese porcelain 19th century jar, as a lamp. The porcelain jar is in a Mirror black glaze, which is a very dark The Lamp measures 27 inches to the top of the sha...
Brass
Pair of Chinese Famille Rose Ginger Jar Lamps, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of 19th century Chinese Famille rose lidded ginger jar lamps, each with wonderful colorful scenes depicting vases, motifs and floral decoration, raised on pierced...
Porcelain
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...
Celadon, Porcelain
Chinese Hand Painted Ceramic Table Lamp
Located in Bradenton, FL
A Chinese table lamp made with a converted fragrance vase as the base. The vase is hand painted with two long-tailed blue birds perched on flowering Cherry blossom branch. Below is a...
Ceramic
Chinese Export Black Ceramic Table Lamp with Floral and Bird Design
Located in Savannah, GA
Chinese Export table lamp made from a graceful vase decorated with colorful birds, dogwood branches and fruit on an orange peel surface. The hardware is brass and the vase is perched...
Brass
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...
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Porcelain Lamp
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautifully painted 19th Century Chinese vessel converted to lamp. Wooden base. Custom parchment shade is 10" high x 16" wide.
Enamel
Chinese Cloisonné vase/ lamp, circa 1880
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th Century Chinese Cloisonné vase / lamp. Having wonderful bold colour classical motif and floral decoratio...
Enamel
1940s Chinese Blanc-de-Chine Figural Lamp of the Goddess Guanyin
Located in Cookeville, TN
A beautifully rendered blanc-de-chine porcelain figural lamp depicting the revered Chinese goddess Guanyin, dating to the 1940s. The sculpture features graceful drapery, serene expre...
Metal
Pair of Chinese Export Porcelain Lamp Bases
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of Chinese Export porcelain lamp bases mounted in French Louis XVI style bronze dore.
Chinese Export Porcelain Lamp Base
Located in Dallas, TX
A Chinese export porcelain lamp base with French, Louis XVI style bronze doré mountings.
19th Century Chinese Urn Lamp
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Originally, a ginger jar converted to a lamp. Fine French dore bronze mounts. Custom parchment shade is 14" in diameter by 9.5" high. The overall body width is 9.5".
Bronze
Pair Chinese blue and white Ginger jar vases / lamps, C19th.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An unusual pair of late 19th Century Chinese blue and white ginger jar lamps. Each with hand painted motif decoration to the gro...
Porcelain
Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Vase with Ebonized Base Mounted as Lamp
Located in Germantown, MD
A Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Table Lamp with Ebonized Base Measures 6" in width, 6" in depth and 19" in height to the top of the bulb socket and 27" in height to the top of the ...
Brass, Enamel
Lovely Decorative Chinese Vase Converted into a Table Lamp Decorative Piece
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage Chinese vase converted into a lamp A very good looking and well-made lamp, exceptionally decorative and I think the only one...
Porcelain
DECORATiVE PAIR OF ANTIQUE CHINESE CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER VASE TABLE LAMPS
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely pair of Chinese Circa 1940's Carved Cinnabar Lacquer Vase form table lamps A striking pair of C...
Wood
Pair Chinese Blue and White crackleware vases / lamps, 19th Century.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of late 19th Century Chinese blue and White crackleware vases / lamps. Each with bronzed scrolling impressed boaders and handles. The crackleware ground with scro...
Porcelain
Vintage Shanxi Province Elm Red Lantern Floor Lamp
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Shanxi Province Elm Red Lantern Floor Lamp This limited edition Vintage Shanxi Province Elm Red Lantern Floor Lamp is crafted from antique elm tha...
Fabric, Elm
Pair of 19th Century Rose Medallion, Canton Vases or Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An impressive pair of 19th Century Chinese cantonese, rose medallion vases or lamps. Having panels of classical oriental scenes, also flowers, birds and butterflies amongst a green b...
Porcelain
Vintage Shanxi Province Elm Cream Lantern Floor Lamp
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Shanxi Province Elm Cream Lantern Floor Lamp This limited edition Vintage Shanxi Province Elm Cream Lantern Floor Lamp is crafted from antique elm that is over a 100 years o...
Fabric, Wood, Elm
Pair of Kerosene Lamps with Birds in Chinese Style
Located in Peyraud, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Pair of French antique kerosene lamps. The bronze paunch is decorated with birds on branches and flowers in Chinese style. What makes these lamps stun...
Bronze
19th Century Chinese Famille Noire Porcelain Vase / Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th century Chinese Famille Noire porcelain vase / lamp, having wonderful exotic flowers hand painted to a Black ground, a tapering form mounted on bronze claw feet. ...
Porcelain
Antique Hand Painted Chinese Porcelain Lamp with Gilt Metal Mounts
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This handsome 19th Century Chinese hand painted porcelain lidded jar was mounted as a lamp in the early 20th Century. It is...
Porcelain
Large 19th Century Chinese Rose Medallion / Canton Vase / Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality late 19th century Chinese Cantonese / rose medallion vase / lamp. Having gilded dog of faux handles and serpents, classical green ground decoration with inset painted ...
Porcelain
Pair Chinese Cloisonné Vases / Lamps, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very decorative pair of late 19th century Chinese cloisonné enamel vases / lamps. Each having wonderful turquoise ground and exotic flowers, with gilded ormolu mounts.
Enamel, Ormolu
Vintage Shanxi Province Elm Brown Lantern Floor Lamp
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Shanxi Province Elm Brown Lantern Floor Lamp This limited edition Vintage Shanxi Province Elm Brown Lantern Floor Lamp is crafted from antique elm that is over a 100 years o...
Fabric, Elm
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...
Ceramic
Pair of 20th Century Chinoiserie Brass Candles Sconces
Located in Germantown, MD
Measures 37" in width x 18" in depth at the base x 41.5" in height.
Brass
Fine pair Antique Chinese Export Orange Ground & 24K Gilt Vases Turned to Lamps
Located in New York, NY
A Pair of Antique 19th Century Chinese Export Orange Ground and 24K Gilt Decorated Vases later turned to Lamps. This is a truly beautiful pair of...
Porcelain
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
Early 20th Century Chinese Carved Green Jadeite Quartz Lamp
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A relatively large Chinese carved stone lamp mounted on a stepped brass and a carved wood base. The carved stone is often referred to as Jadeite or Quartz but is in fact from the flu...
Quartz
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...
Porcelain
Oriental Porcelain Celadon Glazed Painted Vase Mounted as a Lamp 20th Century
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
An oriental porcelain Celadon-Glazed painted Vase mounted as a lamp 20th century. Of meiping form painted with flowering branches of peonies and poem inscription, on turned wood stand...
Celadon
Hand-painted Flower Motif Porcelain Table Lamp, Qing Dynasty, China
Located in Grythyttan, SE
Hand-Painted flower motif porcelain table lamp, Qing dynasty, China, late 19th or early 20th century. This stunning cylinder-shaped table lamp has been expertly repurposed from a va...
Brass
Mid-Century Chinese Export Oxblood Red Porcelain Vase Table Lamps - Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a pair of Chinese Export phoenix tail form oxblood red porcelain table lamps in very good condition. The wiring is vintage but in wor...
Porcelain, Wood
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...
Porcelain
$780Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Chinese Export Chinoiserie Floor Lamp For The English Market
Located in New Orleans, LA
An outstanding antique lacquered, hand painted and hand crafted chinoiserie Chinese Export floor lamp, made for the English market and dating from about 1920. This is a quality lamp ...
Brass, Gold Leaf
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...
Porcelain
Chinese Carved Jadeite Guanyin with Cat, Mounted as a Lamp, Circa 1920s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Chinese Carved Jadeite Guanyin with Cat, Mounted as a Lamp on French Bronze Base with Longevity Finial, Circa 1920, Two pieces of Jadeite, the Lamp (co...
Metal, Bronze
$1,000Sale Price|20% Off
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...
Porcelain, Wood
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.
Porcelain