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 Chinese Blue Ground Vase or Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An unusual 19th century Chinese blue ground porcelain vase or lamp. Having wonderful mythical dragons amongst flowers and classical motifs.
Porcelain
Gilt Bronze Mounted Chinese Canton Famille Rose Porcelain Lamps
Located in London, GB
These elegant lamps are crafted from Chinese Canton famille rose porcelain and mounted with French gilt bronze (ormolu). The lamps featur...
Ormolu, Bronze
$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
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
Large 19th Century Chinese Famille Rose Vase or Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An impressive 19th century Chinese Famille rose vase or lamp. Having beautifully painted panels depicting mortals in a temple and gardens, set in a floral surrounds and having gilded...
Ormolu
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
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
Chinese blue and white porcelain vase / lamp, C19th
Located in Brighton, Sussex
This exquisite late 19th-century Chinese blue and white vase lamp showcases traditional craftsmanship with intricate hand-painted designs. The vase features delicate motifs of floral...
Porcelain
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
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 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
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
$2,200
Chinese Export Lamp
Located in Stockton, NJ
A blue and white motif Chinese export vase, now as lamp. Interesting raised dragon detail. Distress painted base. Two sockets. Shade for display purposes only. Vase measures 19"H.
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
$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
$5,733 / 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