Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
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 Export Four Panel Lacquered Coromandel Dressing Screen Room Divider
Located in Doylestown, PA
Chinese export smaller scale four-panel lacquered dressing screen room divider with hand-painted decoration on both sides.
One side depicts a charming continuous pavilion scene wi...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Metal
Four Panel Chinese Coromandel Folding Lacquered Screen
Located in Highland, IN
This screen has four panels with brass feet. The front features a tranquil nature scene with a variety of birds bordered by a pattern flowering vine with four different antique vases...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass
Rare & Collectable Vintage Chinese Export Hardstone Folding Screen Room Divider
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this extremely well made and highly collectable Chinese Export circa 1940’s Hardstone room divider folding screen.
A truly stunning and exquisit...
Category
1940s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Stone
Chinese Export Six Panels Lacquered Screen
Located in Madrid, ES
Chinese screen for export with 6 panels decorated on both sides. The front side with various scenes of daily palatial life with relief figures, buildings and landscapes made of pain...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass
Mid Century Chinese Export Four Panel Coromandel Folding Screen Room Divider
Located in Charlotte, NC
A hand painted Chinese Export Asian style four-panel folding screen room divider, artisan unknown. Solid wood with Coromandel black lacquer, front and reverse sides both having hand ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass
Chinese Qing Dynasty Lacquered Six-Panel Screen
Located in Hoddesdon, GB
Chinese hand-painted and lacquered Coromandel 6-Panel Room Divider/Screen dating back to the late Qing dynasty.
A truly stunning example , each panel is created using gesso before b...
Category
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Lacquer
Hand Painted in Hong Kong Chinese Style Hanging Wall Panel - Great White Herons
Located in Charlotte, NC
A Chinese style hand painted hanging wall panel. Untitled, (Great White Herons). Unsigned, artist unknown. Hand painted great white herons and florals on a wood panel with decorative...
Category
Mid-20th Century Hong Kong Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
Chinese Folding Floor Screen with Stone Insets
Located in Atlanta, GA
A six panel hinged folding floor screen from China circa end of the 19th- early 20th century. Each panel features three sections of black lacquere...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Stone
Chinese Export Lacquered Four Panel Coromandel Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Beautifully weathered Chinese export four-panel coromandel screen decorated on both sides. The screen features a pavilion landscape on one side and a floral and fauna landscape on th...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass
Six-Panel Double Sided Coromandel Asian Screen on Stand
Located in Germantown, MD
Six-panel double sided Coromandel Asian Screen on stand. Each panel seats in a removable custom wood stand / shoe. Brownish gold color on one side and nature on the other. The subje...
Category
Mid-20th Century Hong Kong Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass
Early 20th Century Chinese Lacquered Ebonized Six-Panel Decorative Screen
Located in Dallas, TX
Divide a room or decorate a living room wall with this elegant antique folding screen. Crafted in China circa 1920, the free standing screen stands on bracket feet dressed with brass...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass
Chinese Export Lacquered Six Panel Coromandel Landscape Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Beautifully weathered patina Chinese export lacquered coromandel screen with six double sided panels. The screen features a mountain landscape on one si...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass
Large Antique Coromandel or Kuancai Lacquer Screen Six Panel Chinese Export
Located in London, GB
A superbly decorative six-panel lacquered 'Coromandel' screen, exquisitely carved and hand-painted with oriental figures, flowers and exotic beasts on a dark brown background, in the traditional 17th century manner.
China, Canton, Qing dynasty, late 19th – early 20th century.
Why we like it
We like its impressive proportions which make it perfect for a feature wall, and the exquisite quality of decoration. The subtlety of colours lends a 'soft' look to the piece. The central motif depicts a scene set in the gardens of a Han dynasty palace, while the outer borders are decorated with the “one hundred antiques” motif interspersed with floral arrangements. In this regard, the present screen not only conveys auspicious meanings but also demonstrate the owner’s fine scholarly taste.
History
The term 'Coromandel', which is used to describe this particular type of lacquer technique (kuancai), is rather misleading. In the 18th century it was used commercially to indicate the place from which these objects were shipped to England through the East India Companies, and had no reference to China, the place of their origin. Similarly, Chinese painted wallpaper was often called 'India paper' in historic documants.
The kuancai lacquer technique, literally meaning “cut out colour” and found almost exclusively on screens, emerged in the 16th century to serve the domestic market. The iconographic elements were carved through the built-up coats of dark lacquer and filled with pigments and gold. Seventeenth century examples usually consisted of twelve panels, and were often employed in entrance halls or as room dividers or windscreens for gardens and terraces. They were often commissioned as gifts and depicted court scenes, episodes from the world of the immortals, panoramic or landscape views and auspicious symbols. This type of lacquerware was flourishing during the reign of the Kangxi emperor (1662-1722) and saw a revival in the 19th century.
Stylistically the present screen may be compared with the twelve-panel lacquer screen from the Kangxi period in the Victoria and Albert Museum illustrated by W. De Kesel and G. Dhont in Coromandel Lacquer Screens, ill. 23, pps 36-37.
Such luxurious items were popular in England during the height of fashion for oriental exoticism, called chinoiserie in Europe. In the 20th century, Coromandel screens still remained a staple in the European interior design. Coco Chanel had a collection of 32 rare Coromandel screens, which she proudly displayed in her home at 31 Rue Cambom, Paris. She one...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Green Painted Chinese Folding Screen Room Divider, circa 1840-60
Located in Round Top, TX
A set of four large carved elm wood interior folding screen panels that still maintain their original green painted finish, topped by traditional Chinese fretwork design left in cont...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Elm, Paint
Incredible 18’ wide 12 panel lacquered chinoiserie screen
Located in Charleston, SC
Incredible large scale 12 panel chinoiserie double sided screen. Great size and scale- could cover an entire 18’ wall.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Asian Modernist / Chinese carved & hand painted two-panel screen , divider.
Located in Buffalo, NY
Asian Modernist / Chinese carved & hand painted two-panel screen , room divider.Signed by the artist,, Age approbate wear consistent with use and age.. Hand delivery avail to New Yo...
Category
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Wood
Early 19th Century Chinese Coromandel Lacquer Screen
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive early 19th Century Chinese Coromandel lacquer eight fold screen, depicting courtiers and attendants in pagoda buildings and gardens. set in a boarder of flower pots...
Category
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Lacquer
Chinese Export Four Panel Carved Soapstone Lacquered Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Distinctive Chinese export four-panel coromandel screen featuring carved hardstone and soapstone decoration. The screen depicts a group of beauties in colorful flowing robes. The parcel-gilt landscape is decorated with two large carved stone trees...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Soapstone, Brass
Rare & Collectable Antique Chinese Export Soapstone Folding Screen Room Divider
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this extremely well made and highly collectable Chinese Export circa 1920’s Soapstone room divider folding screen depicting Geisha Girls
Please...
Category
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Soapstone
Six Panel Screen Ambush of Tigers Made in Hong Kong
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Amazing Six Panel Screen Ambush of Tigers made in Hong Kong, it has the label in the back, (check photo). From the 1960s Century. Hand painted and some beautiful bronze details. Very...
Category
1660s Hong Kong Antique Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Bronze
Chinese Export Six Panel Gilt Lacquered Folding Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Gorgeous Chinese export six-panel lacquered folding screen featuring idyllic gilt landscape scenes. Each panel is decorated with a painted scene...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass
20th Century Chinese Export Six Panel Gold Leaf Coromandel Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Late Qing, early republic period style Chinese export six-panel coromandel screen featuring a pavillion with figures engaged in leisurely activities on a dramatic gilt gold leaf back...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass, Gold Leaf
Chinese Export Four Panel Coromandel Screen Cranes on Gold Leaf
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Dazzling Chinese export lacquered four-panel coromandel screen featuring a flora and fauna waterscape with stylized cranes. The carved lacquer panels are embellished with vivid color...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass, Gold Leaf
Chinese Export Four Panel Lacquered Coromandel Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Celestial Chinese export coromandel four-panel screen depicting figures in colorful robes in a heavenly landscape among the white clouds. Eac...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass
Chinese Export Gilt Coromandel Screen Manchurian Cranes
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fantastic Chinese export four-panel lacquered coromandel screen featuring an idyllic pond landscape with eight red crowned cranes or Manchurian cranes...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Gold Leaf, Brass
Chinese Export Four Panel Coromandel Screen Pastel Beauties
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Gorgeous Chinese export four-panel coromandel screen featuring a courtyard scene of beauties engaged in leisurely activities. The lacquered panels are incised and painted in soft pas...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Chinese Export Four Panel Gilt Lacquered Coromandel Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Heavenly Mid-Century Modern period Chinese export lacquered coromandel screen featuring four panels depicting celestial beauties in the sky with decorative ruyi clouds and moon. Soli...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass
20th Century Chinese Gilt Coromandel Eight-Panel Screen Immortals Sky Gods
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Amazing Chinese export eight-panel lacquered coromandel screen depicting a heavenly scene of immortals and sky gods floating in ruyi clouds. The fascin...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass, Gold Leaf
Chinese Export Eight Panel Coromandel Screen Six Beauties
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rare and unusual Chinese export eight panel lacquered coromandel screen depicting six beauties. The scene is bordered by a walled pavilion with pagodas and trees. The women appear to...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass
Chinese Export Four Panel Carved Soapstone Coromandel Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Impressive Chinese export four panel lacquered coromandel screen featuring hand-carved soapstone beauties in a floral landscape with gilt clo...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Soapstone, Brass
2 Chinese Coromandel 4-Fold Screens
Located in New York, NY
2 Asian Chinese style (20th Century) black coromandel 4 fold screens with scene with people on one side and floral & bird design on back. (PRICED EACH)
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Chinese Qing Four Panel Carved Soapstone Coromandel Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Impressive Chinese export late Qing dynasty four-panel folding Coromandel screen featuring carved soapstone. The ebony lacquered panels are decorated with colorful carved scholars ob...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Soapstone, Brass
Chinese Export Four Panel Coromandel Screen Pearlescent Landscape
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Captivating Chinese export four-panel coromandel screen featuring an idyllic seascape with beauties. The background is comprised of pearlescent crystal sand that shines like glitter ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass
Chinese Export Six Panel Cloisonné Soapstone Coromandel Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Charming Chinese export six-panel lacquer coromandel screen featuring a blue and white cloisonné style border decorated with scholars objects,...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Soapstone, Brass
Chinese Export Twelve-Panel Lacquered Coromandel Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Grand scale Chinese export twelve-panel Coromandel screen featuring a pagoda garden pavilion with figures engaged in leisurely activities. The panels are intricately carved with thic...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass
Chinese Export Twelve Panel Coromandel Screen Spring in Han Palace
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Monumental Chinese export twelve-panel lacquered coromandel screen depicting the 17th century ming dynasty motif "Spring Morning in the Han Palace". The panels are intricately incise...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass
Chinese Twelve-Panel Red Lacquer Coromandel Screen of Xiwangmu
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Monumental Chinese export twelve-panel red lacquered Coromandel screen of Chinese mythological Daoist character Xiwangmu (Queen mother of the West). Remarkable large scale screen full of vibrant color on incised lacquer...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass
Chinese Export Six-Panel Silver Leaf Coromandel Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Impressive Chinese export six-panel folding coromandel screen depicting flora and fauna. Constructed from lacquered wooden panels hand carved and painted. Features a rare silver leaf...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass, Silver Leaf
Six-Panel Screen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Painted wood decorative Chinese screen with six panels.
(Please confirm item location - NY or NJ - with dealer).
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Wood
Monumental Chinese Export Twelve-Panel Lacquered Coromandel Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Very impressive monumental Chinese export twelve-panel Coromandel screen depicting a lush courtyard with figures involved in leisurely activities. The panels are incised and lacquered with vibrant colors and gilt over a dramatic dark red background. Each panel has a decorative fan...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Wood
Chinese Export Twelve Panel Coromandel Style Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Monumental Chinese export coromandel style lacquered screen featuring twelve panels with incised relief scenes of ladies in a courtyard among pavilions....
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass
Six-Panel Teak Asian, early 20th Century Folding Screen / Room Divider
Located in Stamford, CT
Asian 19th Century Folding Screen / Room Divider, Rosewood, Teak, Six Panel
Six-panel rosewood / teak, Asian, Late 19th Century early 20th century. Folding screen / Room divider. A spectacular six panel work of art depicts Chinese glamour at its peak. The finest carvings abound in the manner of love birds perched onto tree bark and branches. The overall case supported by dovetail and mortise tenons. The color of a deep rich patina that only time and age can give to any work. This item was purchased from a Sands Point Long Island mansion along with several other pieces.
Each panel measures 19 inches in width and stands 93.75 inches high. This is an unparalleled piece and is simply stunning in any setting.
The antique room dividers...
Category
1890s Antique Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Teak
Chinese Quing Dynasty Red Lacquered 4-Fold Screen
Located in New York, NY
Asian Chinese (Qing Dynasty 18/19th Century) 4 panel screen with a (restored) maroon lacquered background and finely decorated scene of figures and palace in a black lacquered frame.
Category
18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Lacquer, Paint, Wood
Chinese Export Six Panel Coromandel Screen Bamboo Plum Blossom
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Charming Chinese export lacquered coromandel screen featuring a colorful bamboo and plum blossom water landscape with flora and fauna. The six-panel screen has thick layers of lacquer incised and painted with natural pigments in pastel style colors. The opposite side features species of trees and bamboo in a delicate gilt rendering. The screen is supported by stepped legs...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Brass
Beautiful 4 Panel Coromandel Asian Screen
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Glamorous 4 panel accordian Asian Coromandel screen having carved, painted and gilded figural decoration. The back side is also finished with s...
Category
1950s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Screens and Room Dividers
Materials
Wood
Chinese Export screens and room dividers for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Chinese Export screens and room dividers for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage screens and room dividers created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Chinese Export screens and room dividers made in a specific country, there are Asia, East Asia, and China pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 screens and room dividers differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $714 and tops out at $65,000 while the average work can sell for $4,800.
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