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 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...
Ceramic
Pair Chinese Blue and White Crackle Ware Lamps, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
Pair late 19th century Chinese blue and white crackle ware vases, each with hand painted scenes of Doves sitting among flowers and foliage set b...
Porcelain
Frederick Cooper Bronze Chinese Warrior & Horse Table Lamp
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a 1970s cast bronze Chinese warrior on horseback table lamp by Frederick Cooper. It is such a handsome piece! The lamp is in working order...
Bronze
A 19th Century French Samson Famille Rose Porcelain Lamp
By Samson & Cie
Located in New York, NY
Conceived in the Chinese export style; the base of urn form on a sole base and with lions' masks applied to the side; profusely decorated with polychrome sprays and bearing an apocryphal armorial; fitted with a brass light socket...
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
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
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.
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
Pair 19th Century Famille Verte Chinese Porcelain Lamps
Located in Bradenton, FL
Pair of Chinese Famille Verte Hand-Painted Porcelain Lamps. Each lamp features a proportioned porcelain body, transitioning from a faceted base to a rounded shoulder and neck. The su...
Porcelain
Pair Of Chinese Phoenix Bird Porcelain Table Lamps
Located in Essex, MA
The birds now mounted as lamps with colorful bodies and hardwood bases. Two light sockets with jade finials.
Brass
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
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
Imposing Pair of Chinese Oxblood Glazed Porcelain Lamps
Located in San Francisco, CA
each large and richly glazed vase of baluster form with wiped rim and base featuring striated and speckled oxblood glazed body with deep lavender/blue overtones
Ceramic
19th Century Chinese Famille Verte Vase or Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century Chinese Famille Verte vase or lamp. Having wonderful hand painted inset panels to the green ground, depicting birds, flowers and various plants. Tape...
Porcelain
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
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.
Brass
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
Midcentury Chinese Export Style Porcelain Tobacco Leaf Pattern Table Lamp
By Mottahedeh
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a Chinese Export style porcelain table lamp in the vibrant tobacco leaf pattern. The wiring is new, and it is mounted to a brass base. It is unmarked.
Porcelain
Pair Fine 19th Century Chinese Cloisonné Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality pair of 19th century Chinese Cloisonne enamel vases, each with wonderful myithical Dragon flying among clouds. mounted with French gilded ormolu rims and plinths. ...
Enamel, Ormolu
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...
Ormolu
Associated Pair of 19th Century Chinese Porcelain Mirror Black Lamps
Located in San Francisco, CA
Associated pair of 19th century Chinese porcelain mirror black lamps, circa 1880 Baluster Classic form. Both on old hardwood bases. Two similar age...
Porcelain, Hardwood
Large Chinese Carved and Painted Wooden Buddha Head Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese carved bleached wood table lamp with Buddha head on a square giltwood base with a giltwood head piece under a three light top with central...
Glass, Wood
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...
Porcelain
$1,000Sale Price / set|64% Off
Chinese Rare Vintage Pair Symbolic Longevity Lighting Lanterns
Located in South Burlington, VT
Rare Pair -first we have seen Unusual find. One pair (2) "Longevity" calligraphy lanterns in the form of human effigies A fine and rare matching pair (2) of large 12 inch tall Chinese export hand cast lanterns with attractive longevity and mystical "human effigy...
Iron
Chinese Famille Noare style vase lamp. C19th
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality Samson porcelain Famille Verte style lidded vase / lamp. Having classical oriental scenes, hand-painted. Gilded scrolling highlighted decoration to the black grou...
Porcelain
Pair of Yellow Ground German Porcelain Vases with Flower and Bird Decoration
Located in New York, NY
A pair of beautiful yellow ground German porcelain vases mounted as lamps hand painted with flowers, bird and insect decorations. Each of these lamps are beautifully hand painted wit...
Porcelain, Wood
Pair of 19th Century Rose Medallion Vases / Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th century Chinese Rose medallion vases, each with gilded mythical serpent handles on either side, hand painted inset hand painted panels of exotic birds a...
Porcelain
Late 19th Century Chinese Famille Verte Vase / Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality late 19th century Chinese Famille Verte vase/lamp. Having classical green motif and symbol decoration, mythical dog of faux handles either side. Mounted on a gilded wo...
Porcelain
Pair Chinese Famille Rose Export Porcelain Vases Mounted as Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of antique (19th century) Chinese export porcelain vases in the Famille Rose style, later mounted as table lamps.
Porcelain
Chinese Famille Jaune Enameled Porcelain Vase Mounted as Lamp
Located in Germantown, MD
A Chinese Famille Jaune Enameled Porcelain Vase Mounted as Lamp. Measures: 6" in width, 6" in depth and 29.5" in height to the of the finial.
Enamel
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...
Porcelain
Vintage Chinese Porcelain Nanking Crackle Glaze Famille Rose Vase Lamp 20c
Located in Richmond, CA
A vintage Chinese porcelain ovoid jar vase with Nanking style crackle glaze and decorated in famille rose with warrior figures in a battle scene, electrified and turned into a lamp o...
Porcelain
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
Chinese Export Porcelain Phoenix Table Lamp
Located in Essex, MA
Colorful phoenix bird representing renewal, rebirth and immortality.. Mounted as a lamp on a molded brass base. Single socket.
Brass
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
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
$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
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
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.
Ormolu
Pair Chinese Canton Style Blue and White Palm Tree Porcelain Vases, Now as Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Chinese Canton-Style Blue and White Palm Tree Porcelain Vases, Now as Lamps This elegant pair of Chinese Canton-style blue and white porcelain vases exemplifies the refined ...
Metal
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
Large Pair Chinese Blue & White Bottle-form Lamps
Located in San Francisco, CA
each with long flaring neck above a bulbous body adorned overall with hand-painted blue and white decoration with lappet collar over a meandering floral and foliate vine; resting on ...
Ceramic
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...
Brass
Pair of 19th Century Famille Verte Chinese Export Crackle Ware Vase Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of 19th century Famille Verte Chinese Export porcelain crackle ware vase lamps on carved hardwood square bases. Entirely hand decorated, each slightly different from the other. ...
Ceramic, Hardwood
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
Pair of Chinese Celadon Porcelain Vases / Lamps, circa 1920
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very decorative pair of 18th century style Chinese Celadon porcelain two handled vases / lamps, raised on carved pierced hardwood stands, circa 1920.
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
Porcelain
Chinese 19th Century Famille Noire Vase / Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century Chinese famille noire vase / lamp. Having wonderful prunus blossom and chrysanthemums with birds among them, raised on a pierced ormolu base.
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
Chinese 19th Century Sang Du Bouf Vase or Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th century Chinese Sang du Bouf porcelain vase / lamp. Having gilded ormolu mounts.
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
Tang Dynasty Style Pewter and Brass Horse Mount Table Lamp by Frederick Cooper
Located in New York, NY
Chic Asia Modern, Hollywood Regency, Chinese style table lamp, depicting a Tang Dynasty style horse constructed of pewter and brass table, with flowing hair tail. This example is in ...
Brass, Pewter
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
Table Lamp, Chinese, Porcelaine, Hand Painted, in a Vase Shape, China circa 1940
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Vase, table lamp, in porcelain. It has been made in china, circa 1940. The decorative pattern are flowers and leaves.
Porcelain
Wood Chinese Table Lamp, with Hand Carved Butterfly Decoration Pa, China 1880
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This is a table lamps in wood, handcarved. With butterfly decor pattern. It has been made in china circa 1880. Brown color. Rond Shape. USA PLUG A...
Wood
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
$1,484Sale Price / set|20% Off
Bronze Chinese Table Lamps with Silk Pagoda Shades
Located in Bochum, NRW
Bronze Chinese table lamps with silk pagoda shades Pair of large bronze table lamps with feline decor handles. Wooden foot, silk fabric screens in pagoda form, first half of the 2...
Bronze
A fine pair of 19th century French porcelain and gilt bronze oil lamps .
Located in Dallas, TX
A beautiful pair of 19th century French gilt bronze mounted Chinese export porcelain urn lamps. Originally oil lamps converted for electricity.
Bronze
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Japanese Vase with Black Background in the Style of Chinese Famille Verte
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Japanese Vase with Black Background in the Style of Chinese Famille Verte. Well decorated with woman in a garden. No chips, cracks or repairs, drilled for electricity 21" h to socke...
Porcelain