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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
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

Asian Pictorial Blue and White, With 8 Figures, Table Lamp
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
An Asian pictorial blue and white table lamp, the lamp is done in a typical blue on white background, there are eight different figures around the baluster shaped base, there are bat...
Category

Early 20th Century Central Asian Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of 20th Century Chinese Ginger Jar Lamps with Birds of Paradise and Vines
Located in New York, NY
Lovely pair of vintage Chinese table lamps, crafted in porcelain sometime during the 20th century. Designed in a traditional ginger jar shap...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain

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

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

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...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Brass

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

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 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 Samson Style Armorial Lamps
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An elegant pair of French porcelain Samson style Armorial decorated table lamps. These are marked "Made in France" on the underside attributing ...
Category

Early 20th Century French 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

Chinoiserie Style Figural Pottery Attendant Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Chinoiserie Style Figural Pottery Attendant Lamp 1960s Height: 26 in Width: 8 in Depth: 8 in Revel in the exotic allure of this Chinoiserie style figu...
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Pottery, Hardwood

Pair of Chinese Off-White Floral Porcelain Urn Table Lamps Mounted on Wood Base
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese porcelain table lamps made from off-white, urn-shaped vases decorated with a winding natural scene of flowers and...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Blue & White Rooster & Florals 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 blue roster and flor...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Brass

Antique Chinese Carved Green 'Jadeite' Quartz Lamp
Located in Norwood, NJ
A Chinese carved stone lamp mounted on a carved rosewood base. The carved stone is often referred to as Jadeite or Quartz but is in fact from the fluorite family. This lamp base was ...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Quartz

Large Chinese Double Gourd Ceramic Lamp
Located in London, GB
Large Chinese Double Gourd Ceramic Lamp on wooden base 20th Century. In good condition commensurate of age. Shade not included
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Ceramic

Chinese Off-White and Figurative Scene Porcelain Urn Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) table lamp made from an off-white, urn-shaped, porcelain vase depicting a joyful scene of gift-bearing children greeting elders in a pastoral Set...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass

A 19th Century French Samson Famille Rose Porcelain Lamp
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...
Category

19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Brass

Vintage Pair of Chinese Abacus Lamps
By ABCO
Located in San Francisco, CA
Wonderful pair of mid century Chinese Abacus Lamps made in Honk Kong.
Category

1970s Hong Kong Vintage Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Wood

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

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

Chinese Porcelain Hat Stand Table Lamp
Located in Baltimore, MD
This is a colorful antique Chinese porcelain hat stand, depicting a group of women in a traditional Chinese setting, converted into an eleg...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain, Linen, Rosewood

lamp table abacus suanpan chinese calculator 13 rods 2 heaven 5 earth beads
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
CHINESE, HARDWOOD, ABACUS OR SUANPAN WITH 13 RODS, TWO HEAVEN BEADS & FIVE EARTH BEADS UPCYCLED INTO A TABLE LAMP, 16½“ HIGH Fun and engaging, interactive table lamp that can also be used as calculating tool As well as providing light, this table lamp can be used as a calculation tool by sliding the counters along the rods. In addition to the basic functions of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, the abacus can calculate square and cubic roots. Each bead in the upper deck...
Category

1880s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Hardwood, Beads

Chinese White and Floral Column Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese white porcelain table lamp made from a column-shaped vase painted with a crane alongside a blooming pink peony, a wooden base, and brass hardware. Ships without a shade."
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass

Chinoiserie decorated Standard lamp circa 1930s[A]
Located in Dereham, GB
Chinoiserie decorated Standard lamp circa 1930s Black background with gold Chinoiserie Decoration, Depicting: Figure, Houses, Trees & foliage Circular base with 3 bun shaped gilt fe...
Category

1930s British Vintage Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Lacquer

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

Porcelain, Linen, Hardwood

Chinese Porcelain Vase Table Lamp
Chinese Porcelain Vase Table Lamp
$280 Sale Price
20% Off
Asian Motif Etched Brass Free Standing Floor Lamp, circa 1920
Located in San Francisco, CA
Asian Motif etched brass free standing floor lamp, circa 1920 Finely etched brass floor lamp Dimensions: 17" triangular base x 69" high t...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Brass

Chinese Ceramic Cream, Orange, and Green Fish Motif Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) table lamp made from a porcelain vase intricately painted with orange fish swimming amidst green plant life framed by colorful geometric bands a...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass

Pair of Beautiful Chinese Porcelain Lamps with Brass Bases and Custom Shades
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Pair of elegant Chinese hand painted porcelain table lamps having new leaf shaped finials and chocolate colored custom shades. Lovely brass filigree bases. SW 30” H to finial. 9” ...
Category

1950s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Brass

Chinese Pale Yellow and Colorful Floral Porcelain Table Lamp
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...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass

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

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 Off-White Floral and Bamboo Design Table Lamps
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese porcelain table lamps made from off-white, urn-shaped vases decorated with a winding natural scene of flowers and bamboo growing from behind a decorative gate mounted...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass

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

Antique Chinese Blue & White Rooster & Florals 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 blue roster and floral design aga...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Brass

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...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain, Hardwood

Chinese Teal Cylindrical Patterned Cloisonne Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese cylindrical table lamp made from a teal and gold-patterned cloisonne vase painted with floral arrangements and fruit bowls with a brown woode...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass, Enamel

Pair of Vintage Chinese Yellow 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 yellow and green, resting on octagonal bases and mounted with brass hardware. (PRICED AS Pair) Ships wit...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Brass

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

Mid Century Converted Chinese Ginger Jar Lamp
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Beautiful and colorful vintage Chinese ginger jar that has been converted into a lap. The ginger jar is two pieces; vase and lid. Sits upon a dark wooded base. Ginger jar is masterfu...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Ceramic, Wood

Chinese Export Barley Twist Lacquer Decorated Floor Lamp
Located in Palm Beach, FL
A made for the English market, Chinese export carved to a barley twist floor lamp, once probably a torchiere. Lacquered in black and burnished with gold Asian motifs. Classic, chic a...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Paint

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

Chinese Export Meiping Vase Mounted as a Lamp
Located in Astoria, NY
Chinese Export Elongated Meiping Porcelain Vase Mounted as a Table Lamp, with blue and white underglaze and famille rose overglaze floral decoration, atop a stepped clear acrylic bas...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain, Acrylic

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...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Enamel

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

Chinese White and Blue Gaming Scene Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese white and blue porcelain table lamp made from an urn-shaped vase depicting a group of figures around a game table under a tree,...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass

Antique Chinese Orange and Gold Crane Design Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) table lamp made from a round, orange, luster porcelain, lidded vase decorated with a gold crane design on one side an...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass

Pair Of Samson Chinese Export Style Table Lamps
Located in Essex, MA
Interesting lamps with a central porcelain ginger jar with prunus decoration with cover with a carved and painted wood base to match and blend with the porcelain. An extender between...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Wood, Porcelain

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...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Glass, Wood

Antique Chinese Orange and White Cartouche Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) table lamp made from a round, luster ceramic vase with an orange and gold hexagonal patterned ground against two white cartouches depicting natu...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass

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.
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Celadon Porcelain Table Lamp on a Teak Base
Located in Queens, NY
"Asian Chinese style (19th Century) celadon porcelain lamp with blue figural scene and mounted on a round teak base and filigree cover. Ships without a shade"
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain, Teak

Chinese Celadon porcelain Vase / lamp, circa 1860.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
This exquisite Chinese Celadon vase from the early 19th century is remarkable for its unusual relief decoration, showcasing intricate motifs of flora and fauna. The vase is adorned w...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Bronze

Antique Chinese Orange and Metallic Bamboo Design Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) table lamp made from a round, orange, luster porcelain, lidded vase with a metallic bamboo design, mounted on a brown wooden base and fitted wit...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass

Chinese Style Black Iron Filigree Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese style (19/20th Century) tall black iron filigree design tiered table lamp on a round base. Ships without a shade
Category

19th Century Unknown Antique Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Iron, Wrought Iron

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.
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Orange and White Dragon Motif Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) table lamp made from a round, luster porcelain vase with an orange and gold hexagonal patterned ground against two white cartouches depicting dr...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass

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

Antique Chinese Orange and Gold Bouquet Design Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) table lamp made from a round, orange, luster porcelain vase with with a gold floral bouquet design, mounted on a brown wooden base and fitted wi...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass

Chinese Dark Blue and Red Cherry Blossom Tree Motif Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese porcelain table lamp made from a richly colored dark blue vase with a red, pink and white budding cherry blossom tree climbing up its form, a w...
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.

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