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.
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...
Brass
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...
Brass
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...
Porcelain, Linen, Rosewood
$12,791 / set
Two Antique Cloisonné Enamel and Gilt Bronze Lamps
Located in London, GB
These antique lamps feature beautiful Chinese cloisonné enamel bodies and fine French gilt bronze (ormolu) mounts. Each item is comprised of two light sockets, which are attached ...
Ormolu, Bronze, Enamel
Stunning Pair of Early 19th Century Chinese Export Bronze Mounted Lamps
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A remarkable pair of early 19th century hand painted Rose Mandarin Chinese Export porcelain vases now as lamps. The vases are pre-1850 and lamped i...
Bronze
Chinese 18th Century style Ormolu mounted lamp.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An impressive Chinese 18th Century style, Celadon porcelain vase / lamp, having classical oriental motif hand painted decoration to the whole, and scrolling handles to each side. Mou...
Ormolu
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...
Metal
Pair of Chinese Celadon Glaze Porcelain Vases Mounted as Table Lamps
Located in Germantown, MD
Pair of Chinese Celadon Glaze Porcelain Vases Mounted as Table Lamps Dimensions: 5" in width, 5" in depth and 21.5 inches in height.
Celadon, Porcelain
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...
Bronze
Pair of Porcelain Satsuma Style Table Lamps w/ Gold Accents on Wood Stands
Located in Pasadena, TX
These table lamps are made in the Satsuma style. They rest on wooden bases and are hand painted. They have gilt gold accents and pagoda like shades.
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Alum Red Taishi Shaoshi 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 an alum red Taishi S...
Brass
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...
Metal, Brass
Chinese Crackle Glazed Vase Mounted as a Table Lamp, 19th Century
Located in London, by appointment only
Chinese Crackle Glazed Vase Mounted as a Table Lamp. Chinese monochrome crackle-glazed vase with opposing black lion masks, now mounted a...
Porcelain
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
Carved Fluorite Table Lamp, Chinese Export, Wood Base, Circa 1930
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 family, a softer sone more easily car...
Quartz
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...
Brass
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"
Porcelain, Teak
$1,250 / set
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...
Stone
1930s Antique Chinese Brass Lotus Table Lamp, Hollywood Regency
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Under stated beauty, made in China, c.1930s. Nice heavy antique lamp from a wonderfully old multi-generational estate. Included is the original worn octagonal lampshade.
Brass
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...
Brass
Early 20th Century Blue & White Ginger Jar Converted to Lamp
Located in Dublin 8, IE
Early 20th Century blue and white ginger jar converted to lamp in the style of the Chinese period of the 18th Century. Ornamented with a floral landscape of leaves, and geometric mot...
Porcelain
$2,850 / set
Pair Of Chinese Export Rose Mandarin Table Lamps
Located in Essex, MA
Vase alone 13.5. Diameter of base 6 inches. Good quality with people in vignettes with lion handles. Decorated with butterflies, fans and berries.
Brass
Large Chinese Blue Grey Pottery Table Lamps
Located in Sheffield, MA
Highly decorative over-size stunning blue and white Asian style ginger jar lamp featuring a blue and white body with Chinese characters and decorative fish details. Including blue Be...
Ceramic
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.
Porcelain
19th Century Rose Medallion lamp.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th Century Chinese Rose medallion vase / lamp. Having classical inset hand painted panels depicting classical scenes of various courtier, the ground in the typi...
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...
Brass
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
19th Century Chinese Famille Rose lamp.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th Century Chinese Famille Rose export porcelain vase / lamp. Having wonderful scrolling foliate and motif decoration, the inset hand painted panels depicting a vases of flowers, tables and chairs...
Porcelain
$2,000Sale Price / item|20% Off
Pair of Hand-Carved Chinese Export Jadeite Stone Lamps, Circa 1930
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...
Quartz
Bayeux Porcelain Pair of Lamps, Canton Style, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of Bayeux porcelain lamps on a white background with a polychromatic decoration in the Chinese Canton style porcelain. On one side, a scene with Chinese dignitaries on a cartouc...
Bronze
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...
Porcelain
Chinese Export Adjustable Height Floor Lamp
Located in Tarrytown, NY
Chinese export floor lamp with adjustable height. The height can be adjusted up to 76".
Mahogany
$1,250 / set
Pair Samson Style Armorial Lamps
By Edmé Samson
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 ...
Porcelain
Chinese White Floral Patterned Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese white ceramic table lamp made from a bulbous vase decorated with colorful florals, mounted on a wooden base and fitted with brass hardwa...
Metal, Brass
Large Vintage Chinese Ox-Blood Flambe Glaze Covered Vase Lamp D: 10"
Located in Richmond, CA
A large vintage Chinese porcelain ox-blood flambe glaze covered jar, electrified and made into a lamp E26 socket Overall size: H: 19", D: 10" Vase size: H: 12.5" D: 10" Lamp circa...
Porcelain
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...
Metal, Brass, Enamel
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...
Paint
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...
Porcelain
Large Cantonese Porcelain Lamp, 19th Century
Located in NICE, FR
This Cantonese porcelain table lamp is formed in a cylindrical shape and dates to the Napoleon III period. The porcelain body is richly decorated with hand-painted panels, each caref...
Bronze
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
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...
Brass
$697Sale Price|20% Off
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...
Glass, Wood
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...
Brass
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...
Soapstone
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...
Brass
Whismical lamp cloisonne and bronze chinese export
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very beautiful cloisonne and bronze lamp from china export , the cloisonne is in perfect condition and the bronze of the top of the lamp is guilloche signed of high quality
Bronze, Enamel
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
Iron, Wrought Iron
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
Pair Famille rose Ginger jars / lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
Pair late 19th Century Famille Rose Ginger jar / lamps, each depicting mothers and children playing. Mounted on turned ebonized bases. Batch 82...
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
Antique Chinese Blue And White Porcelain Vase As Lamp
Located in Norwood, NJ
Chinese 19th century porcelain blue and white vase converted as a lamp. Hand painted with Chinese figures in a courtyard setting with a light celadon ground and decorated with applie...
Porcelain, Wood
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
Pair of Chinese Blue Tole Palm Tree and Man Table Lamps
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese light blue tole table lamps depicting a man holding a fan sitting in the shade of a palm tree. (PRICED AS Pair)(Companion lamps: NWL2012) On...
Metal, Brass
Vintage Oriental Ceramic Table Lamp
Located in London, GB
A wonderful vintage Oriental ceramic table lamp, dating from the 1960’s. It is of excellent quality and depicts a lovely subject of a boy riding a bull. It is full of character and ...
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...
Metal, Brass
Chinese Off-White and Blue Figurative Scene Stoneware Table Lamp
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
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...
Hardwood, Beads
Chinese Style Porcelain Imari Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese style porcelain table lamp with Imari style floral decoration on round wood base.
Porcelain, Wood
$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
Pair of Chinese Off-White Orange and Pink Floral Motif Porcelain Table Lamps
Located in Queens, NY
"Pair of similar Chinese porcelain table lamps made from off-white, urn-shaped vases with pink, orange and green florals, berries, leaves and snap dragons with wooden bases and brass...
Metal, Brass
Pair of Chinese Cream Balance Beam Design Table Lamps
Located in Queens, NY
"Pair of Chinese table lamps made from cream, gourd-shaped vases hand-painted with figures on a balance beam and wooden bases with brass hardware. (PRICED...
Metal, Brass