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.
19th Century Samson Famille Rose Style Ormolu Mounted Vase / Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th century Samson porcelain, Famille Rose style porcelain lidded vase / lamp. Having wonderful colorful classical oriental motif, floral and foliate decora...
Porcelain
Lovely Chinese Export circa 1920 Antique Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Table Lamp
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare hand painted and lacquered Chinese Export circa 1920s Chinoiserie table lamp with hand painted finish of a chap playing a flute T...
Wood
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
19th Century, Chinese Blue and White vase / lamp. 56cm (22") high
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An impressive, good quality late 19th Century Chinese export blue and white crackleware vase / lamp. Having wonderful hand painted scenes of soldiers on horseback and running holding...
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Blue and White crackle ware vase / lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A Chinese 19th Century Blue and White crackleware vase / lamp. Having a classical scene of a mother and child speaking to a traveller, a pair of ring drop bronzed handles in the mout...
Porcelain
Chinese 19th Century Powder Blue Vase/Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very stylish 19th century Chinese powder blue vase / lamp, having the light blue ground with gilded leaf decoration, inset painted panels one depict...
Porcelain
$744Sale Price|20% Off
Chinese Carved Soapstone Table Lamp, Early 20th Century, Floral Design
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A carved soapstone lamp base, unusual because of the color of the stone; reddish, brown and black. The carving is in the shape of a vase which i...
Sandstone
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
Pair of 19th Century Rose Medallion Ormolu Mounted Vases / Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of Chinese Cantonese / rose medallion bellied vases / lamps. Each with wonderful gilded ormolu scrolling foliate mounts top and bottom. ...
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
Pair of Late 19th Century Chinese Crackle-Ware Vases / Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A pair of late 19th century Chinese crackle-ware vases/lamps. Each with various battle scenes with warriors on horseback, mounted with wonderful gilded ormolu lids and bases.
Porcelain
Pair Chinese 19th Century Crackleware Vases / Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An impressive good quality pair of late 19th century Chinese crackleware vases, each with a white ground and bronzed boarder, motif and foliate decoration, circa 1890. Batch 7...
Porcelain
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
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...
Porcelain
Chinese Blue and White 19th Century Vase / lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A decorative late 19th Century Chinese export blue and white vase / lamp. Having wonderful flower and leaf decoration and mythical ...
Porcelain
Large Pair of 19th Chinese Yellow and Green Ground Vases/ lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A large, good quality pair of 19th century Chinese green and yellow ground vases, each with classical motif decoration, scrolling flowers, leaves an...
Porcelain
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 Noure Vase / Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very decorative 19th Century Chinese Famille Noure lidded vase with classical gilded floral and motif decoration to the whole. Mounted with gilded ormolu base and light fitting.
Porcelain
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...
Bronze
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
20th Century Chinese Export Table Lamp, Yellow Porcelain Barrel Design
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese porcelain table lamp in a pale yellow hue and barrel shape on a wooden base with brass hardware. (Available in gray: NWL2002) Ships without a shade."
Metal, Brass
Antique Chinese Table Lamp with Orange Luster and Gold Floral Design
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...
Metal, Brass
20th Century Chinese Export Table Lamp, Off-White Porcelain Foliage
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese off-white porcelain table lamp made from a baluster-shaped vase decorated with a motif of beige foliage punctuated by red florals and two colorful geometric bands, a wooden b...
Ceramic
Pair of Chinese Blue and White Crackle Ware Vases/Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of Chinese blue and white crackle ware vases / lamps, each with oriental figures looking up at bats flying around the sky. ...
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Export Urn Lamp
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Originally a covered Chinese jar converted to lamp with very fine French dore bronze mounts. Beautiful bronze finial. Custom parchment shade dimension is 15" in diameter x 9.5" high.
Bronze
$6,259 / set
Pair Century Chinese Vases / Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very decorative pair of 20th Century Chinese porcelain vases / lamps. Each with blue coloured classical motif decoration boarders and Deer head handles, inset hand painted panels ...
Porcelain
19th Century Pair of Imari Porcelaine Lamp Mounted Gilt Bronze
Located in Marseille, FR
19th century pair of porcelain lamp from Imari. Frame gilt bronze decorations of metal polychrome flowers.
Porcelain
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 19th Century Rose Medallion Vases / Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of 19th Century Chinese Cantonese vases / lamps. Each with classical green ground, wonderful exotic floral decoration, butterflies and birds. The vases can be co...
Porcelain
Chinese Blue and White Prunus blossom vase/lamp, circa 1890.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An impressive late 19th Century Chinese Blue and White Prunus blossom vase/lamp, circa 1890 Batch 74 N/H
Porcelain
$13,214 / 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
Pair Chinese 19th Century Powder blue porcelain vases / lamps.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
Pair Chinese 19th Century Powder Blue vases / lamps. Each with Blue and gilded ground, inset hand painted panels depicting classical battle scenes of warriors on horse back. We can ...
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Blue and White Vase or Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very decorative 19th century Chinese blue and white vase or lamp, having a white ground with blue hand painted scenes of exo...
Porcelain
$2,498Sale Price / set|25% Off
Pair of Kerosene Lamps with Birds in Chinese Style
Located in Paris, FR
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 Rose Crackleware Vase / Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive and decorative 19th Century Chinese Famille Rose crackelware vase / lamp. Having classical motif bronzed decoration, leaf and berry handles. Hand painted scenes dep...
Porcelain
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
Samson Porcelain Famille Rose Style Lidded Vase
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th century Famille Rose style porcelain lidded vase / lamp. Having wonderful colorful floral and motif decoration with scenes of vases with exotic flowers....
Porcelain
Pair Chinese Celadon Porcelain Vases / Lamps, circa 1900
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very decorative pair of late 19th century Chinese Celadon porcelain two handled vases, each with embossed classical motif decoration. Mounted on faux Sienna marble plinths and wire...
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Pink & Blue 'Famille Rose' Lamps with Birds and Flowers
Located in London, GB
Pair of baluster form lamps in the floral Famille Rose palette, hand decorated in polychromes with foliates and birds.
Porcelain
Pair of 19th Century Chinese Crackelware Vases / Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of late 19th century Chinese crackleware vases / lamps. Each with oriental style ormolu mounts to the top and bottom. Cla...
Ormolu
Pair of Blue & Orange Colour Chinese Lamps Hand Decorated with Court Scenes
Located in London, GB
Pair of baluster form lamps, hand decorated with court scenes in polychrome on wood bases.
Porcelain
$13,500Sale Price / set|25% Off
19th Century Pair of Porcelain lamps Ormolu Bronze
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of very beautiful powder blue porcelain lamps ,the gourd-shaped are very rare ,the bronze are finely executed,high -end decoration they are in their original condition
Bronze
$5,842 / set
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.
Porcelain