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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 20th Century Canton Enamel Mandarin & Bird Motif Vases, Now as Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of 20th Century Canton Enamel Mandarin & Bird Motif Vases, Now as Lamps An exquisite Pair of 20th Century Canton Enamel Mandarin & Bird Motif Vases, now transformed into lamp...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Copper

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...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Samson, Famille Verte Style Vase / Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century Samson, famille verte style lidded vase / lamp, having wonderful gilded ormolu scrolling foliate and beeded decoration. The vase having a green folia...
Category

19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain

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

Early 20th Century Chinese Lamps
Located in San Francisco, CA
Fabulous pair of early 20th century hardstone Chinese figural lamps. The finials are jade and come with the original silk shades. They measure 12 1/2 inches high with the base and 11...
Category

Early 20th Century Asian Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Stone

Pair Chinese Export Turquoise/ White Famille-Verte Floral Vases Now as Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair Chinese Export Turquoise/ White Famille-Verte Floral Vases now as Lamps Each one of square form, finely decorated with intricate turquoise enameled necks, the sides hand paint...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain, Wood

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

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

Fine Pair of Chinese Baluster Form Lamps
Located in London, GB
Fine pair of baluster form lamps hand decorated in polychromes with court scenes, fitted with Rococo gilt bronze bases.
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain

Large Scale Archaic Chinese Style Bronze Finish Lamp Great Verdigris Patina 24"W
Located in Atlanta, GA
Archaic Chinese Style Sculptural Bronze Finish Lamp, probably Chinese, circa 1980s. The lamp has a very sculptural form and a wonderful verdigris antiqued patina. The lamp measures a...
Category

1980s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Metal

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...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Celadon

Pair of Porcelain and Brass Table Lamps with Chinese Decoration
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice and fine pair of table lamps is made of porcelain in the blue and white tons with Chinese decoration on a brass base. This is a French work. Circa 1970
Category

Late 20th Century French Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Brass

Fine Antique Chinese 19c Relief Carved Celadon Porcelain Vase Table Lamp 20c
Located in Richmond, CA
A fine 19c Chinese relief carved celadon glaze handled vase, decorated with scrolling vines, lappets and borders, with faux ring handles to neck, and "S...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese 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

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

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...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Brass

Early 20th century carved Chinese hard wood floor lamp
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 20th century carved Chinese hard wood floor lamp circa 1920. Carved in heavy hardwood. Carved dragons head forming the outlet for the light fitment, long stem leading down to ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Hardwood

Large Chinoiserie Faux Cinnabar Lacquer Vase Lamp
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A large Chinoiserie faux Cinnabar lacquer vase lamp Mid 20th century. Baluster-shaped vase cast in plaster in great detail  Shaped panels depic...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Pottery

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

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.
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain

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

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

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

Pair Chinese Porcelain Dragon Vases fitted as Lamps
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a very large and stunning pair of late 19th century Chinese Pale Celadon Crackle Glazed Dragon and Flaming Pearl Vases that have been adapted to lamps with double socket fitt...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Brass

19thc Painted Porcelain Vases Converted into Lamps w/ Teak Bases & Custom Shades
Located in Savannah, GA
These colorful 19thc hand-painted porcelain vases have been converted into lamps with decorative scrolled teak bases and custom shades. Each vase features a different delicately pain...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Metal

Late 19thC Chinese Import Hardwood Lantern Stand
Located in Altrincham, GB
Late 19thC Chinese Import Hardwood Lantern/Gong Stand - formed as a dragon's head on a circular base with a painted paper and bamboo shade - 16"w x 9"d x 28.5"h - converted to electr...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Hardwood

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...
Category

1880s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Wood

Pair Yellow Porcelain Dragon Table Lamps
Located in Houston, TX
Pair carved porcelain gourd lamps with white shades. Intricately incised porcelain detailed with bold multi colored auspicious dragons, clouds and greek key over a bold yellow backgr...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain

Pair Antique Chinese Famille Rose Rouleau Figural Vase Table Lamps Early 20c ROC
Located in Richmond, CA
A matching mirror pair of antique Chinese early 20th century famille rose figural rouleau vase turned into lamps. The finely painted decorations depict a scene of a general looking u...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain

Porcelain Ormolu Mounted Chinese Lamp
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A porcelain ormolu-mounted Chinese export style vase Now mounted as a lamp Early 20th century, probably Samson The vase is in the form of a meiping In the Chinese export famil...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain

Oriental Porcelain Famille Vert Cylinder Vase Mounted as a Lamp, 20th Century
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
An oriental porcelain Famille vert cylindrical Vase mounted as a lamp 20th century. Decorated with cartouches on both sides, with flowering branches, all on a yellow ground ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain

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

19th Century Famille Verte Vase Lamp Conversion on White Ground Large, Unusual
Located in Lomita, CA
The color palette, the size and the fine artwork on the surface of this late 19th century lamp make it stunning. This lamp has everything. Of circular section and baluster form with ...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain, Hardwood

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 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 Style Jar / Vase Form Crackle Glaze Table Lamps W/ Fruit - Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a lovely pair of large scale Chinese export style jar form table lamps. They are ceramic with a bright marigold cradle finish. The pair are in working order.
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Pottery, Wood

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

Porcelain Crackle Glaze Table Lamps Chinese Inspired Pair with Custom Shades
Located in Manhasset, NY
Porcelain crackle glaze table lamps. Chinese inspired pair of mint green table lamps each with a custom shade. The pair sitting on teak bases wit...
Category

1960s Vintage Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Qing Period Blue and White Chinese Export Hat Stand, Now as a Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th Century Qing Period Blue and White Chinese Export Hat Stand, Now as a Lamp China, 19th Century Lamped in the 20th century 19th-century Qing Period Blue and White Chinese Expor...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain, Wood

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

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

Famille Noir Vase as Table Lamp
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a very decorative Famille Noir vase with colorful flowers and leaves painted overall on a black background, situated on pierced rosewood base, electrified and converted to a ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain

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

Antique Chinese Famille Rose Multi-Colored 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 famille rose intr...
Category

18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Brass

Pair of Chinese Red & White Peking Glass Vases, Now as Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Chinese Red and White Peking Glass Vases, Now as Lamps  China 20th Century  This elegant pair of Chinese red and white Peking glass vases, now converted into lamps, beautifu...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Glass, Wood

Chinese porcelain lamp decorated with flowers and peacocks, China, Early 20th
Located in VÉZELAY, FR
Asian porcelain vase mounted as a lamp. Floral and animal decor: peacocks. China, first part of the 20th century. Very good condition, ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass

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.
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain, Lucite

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...
Category

1930s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Brass

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

Pair of Chinese Export Jadeite Stone Lamps
Pair of Chinese Export Jadeite Stone Lamps
$2,000 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Pair Antique 19c Chinese Blue & White Prunus Blossom Vase Table Lamps Early 20c
Located in Richmond, CA
A matching pair of antique 19c Chinese blue and white vase of elongated barrel form, hand painted with sprays of prunus blossoms in reserve on cobalt blue ground, drilled four charac...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Parcel Gilt and Ebonized Weighted Tea Canister Dual Lights Lamp
Located in Germantown, MD
A 19th Century Parcel Gilt and Ebonized Weighted Tea Canister mounted as Table Lamp with Original finish. Measures 34" in height to the tip of the finial. Canister is 18" tall. New...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Metal

Pair Reddish Orange Asian Style Ceramic Table Lamps
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Pair of Asian style vibrant reddish orange baluster form ceramic table lamps on giltwood bases. Newly wired with new brass 3 way sockets and cords. Shades not included.  
Category

1960s American Vintage Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Brass

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

19th Century Chinese Famille Rose Gilt Metal Mounted Vase as Table Lamp
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a lovely Chinese Famille Rose vase decorated with a centralized scene depicting Classic Chinese figures and floral motif, electrified as a lamp and ensconced in ornate gilt m...
Category

1860s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Metal

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 C, Chinese, Champleve Cloisonne Vase Mounted as a Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Charming champleve cloisonné bronze base, enameled table lamp, in very good, original, clean and working condition. The lamp has a vase form body, with unusual and intriguing Chinese...
Category

19th Century American Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Rose Medallion Canton Baluster Vase circa 1800 Mounted as a Table Lamp
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Rose Medallion Chinese Export Canton baluster vase circa 1800 mounted as a table lamp wired for the USA. This exquisite Rose Medallion Chinese Export baluster vase from circa 1800 ...
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Brass

Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Lamp
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th century Chinese famille rose floral and bird porcelain lamp. Pink, green and teal colors on a white background. Lamp sits on a carved wooden ...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

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.
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Enamel, Ormolu

Japanese, Copper, Lacquered Metal, Brass, Maruni Vase Table Lamps, Japan, 1960s
Located in Manhasset, NY
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...
Category

1960s Japanese Vintage Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Metal

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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