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.
$575Sale Price|52% Off
Chinese Export Oriental Hand Carved Rosewood Corner Chair
Located in Plainview, NY
A beautiful Chinese export oriental corner chair. The chair is finely hand-carved of quality rosewood with shiny lacquer finish and is made using...
Rosewood
$1,800 / set
Pair of Chinese Yoke Back Official's Hat Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Dramatic pair of Chinese yoke back official's hat chairs featuring a Shuangxi emblem on the backsplat. These carved chairs have a lacquer finish with...
Lacquer, Wood
Him & Her Vintage Handwoven & Crafted Chinoiserie Rattan Cane & Bamboo Armchairs
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Set of Him & Her Cane, Bamboo and Wicker armchairs. These are handcrafted chairs with cane seats feature bamboo frames and Chinese inspired bamboo patterns. The backrests are...
Bamboo, Cane, Plastic
Pair of Blue Painted Elm Yoke Back Officials Hat Chairs
Located in Asheville, NC
Beautiful tall pale blue chairs made for tall hat officials. Yolk back detail at top. Good luck symbol painted in gold paint or gold leaf, chairs tri...
Elm
Chinese Hongmu Corner Chair, 19th Century
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A Chinese Hongmu corner chair, 19th century. The horseshoe-form back with molded crest above a pair of open carved splats with fruiting and fl...
Wood
Chinese Export ‘Brighton Pavilion’ Bamboo Adjustable Day Bed
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Chinese Export ‘Brighton Pavilion’ bamboo adjustable day bed, possibly Canton, decorated throughout with pierced geometric and foliate motif...
Bamboo
Chinese Export Elm Wedding Chairs with Wishbone Backs Two Chairs In Stock
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Chinese Elm Horseshoe-Back Armchairs in the Ming Style With A Curved Back and Carved Rears Decorative Chinese elm horseshoe-back armchairs, designed in the traditional Ming style an...
Elm
Chinese Dragon Bench Carved Seat Cinnabar Lacquer 1860
Located in Potters Bar, GB
You are viewing a hand carved Chinese antique bench Dramatic carving features includes numerous dragon motifs including on the arms Circa 1860 The tall and dramatic backrest is the f...
Wood
$6,800Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair, Georgian Brighton Pavilion Carved Chinese Export Campaign Chairs
By Brighton Pavilion 1
Located in Atlanta, GA
English, likely Brighton Pavilion - Circa early 19th century. Offered is a very unique pair of Brighton Pavilion (attributed) campaign chairs. Featuring a fantastic faux bamboo cros...
Iron
Set of Four Chinese Official's Chairs, Rosewood, Qing Dynasty, China
Located in Buffalo, NY
A finely crafted set, four Chinese official's chairs. The center yoke back panel has elegantly carved section. The front leg apron is also beautifully carved. Retains foot rail joining legs. The lacquer finish on the chairs is original. Often this style of chair was referred to as an officials chair, since only a person of high status could afford to have such an elaborate chair...
Rosewood
$2,032Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair Chinese Black Ebonised Bamboo Chairs, Mid 19Th Century
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Great looking Pair Chinese Black Ebonized Bamboo Chairs, Mid 19Th Century. These are straight back chairs made for the countryside of China. the...
Bamboo
One Pair Red Lacquer hand-carved chairs, great attention to detail, dragon motif
Located in Buchanan, MI
One Pair Red Lacquer hand-carved chairs, great attention to detail, dragon motif. Please Note: Priced Per Chair.
Hardwood
$2,027Sale Price|20% Off
Pair of Chinese Chinoiserie Bergere Side Chairs Hand Painted & Lacquered Finish
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning pair of circa 1880-1900 Chinese Export Bergère side chairs with hand painted and lacquered finish...
Pine, Lacquer
Antique Shanxi Province Hand Carved Elm Top Hat Official Chair, Pair
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Shanxi Province hand carved elm top hat official chair - pair This pair of rare antique Shanxi Province top hat official chairs have all its original red color and patina. T...
Elm, Lacquer
Late 19th Century Bamboo & Cane Victorian Bedroom Chair, C.1890
Located in San Francisco, CA
Late 19th century bamboo & cane Victorian bedroom chair, C.1890 Outstanding English Victorian bamboo chair with woven cane seat Hand painted ...
Bamboo, Cane
$1,644Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Stunning circa 1800 Chinese Bamboo Primitive Occasional Chairs His & Her
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer this lovely original pair of circa 1800 primitive Chinese bamboo framed occasional chairs A very rare and highly decorative pair of bamboo framed chairs,...
Bamboo
$8,500 / set
Pair Of Chinese Export Padouk Side Chairs
Located in Essex, MA
Made in Goa by Chinese craftsman. Each with shaped crestrail with leaf carving over a pierced splat, drop in balloon seat. Raised on cabriole legs with turned stretchers and ending o...
Padouk
$2,855 / set
Pair Chinese Qing Ceremonial Chairs 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair Chinese Qing ceremonial chairs 19th century Each with a profusely carved and parcel-gilt back above a panelled seat, raised on scroll legs t...
Wood
$1,096Sale Price / set|40% Off
Antique Chinese High Chairs, Wood, Rustic Finish, Circa 1900, Pair
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
The original finish has been worn away through generations of use, leaving a soft, natural organic feel to the chairs. Rear legs have a piece added years ago due to wear: but I didn'...
Fruitwood
$1,041Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Chinese circa 1900-1920 Export Folding Occasional Chair Nice Carvings
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Wimbledon-Furniture Wimbledon-Furniture is delighted to offer for sale this lovely original Chinese red lacquered fret work carved folding chair with woven seat Please note...
Elm
Erik Worts Rosewood & Cane Armchair with Leather Seat 1950s
Located in London, England
Erik Wørts - Rosewood and Cane Back Armchair Erik Worts achieved great commercial success in his design career largely through collaborations with IKEA in Sweden and FDB Mobler in D...
Leather, Rosewood
Mid Century Boho Chic Faux Bamboo Rattan Chair
Located in Plainview, NY
A quality Mid Century Boho Chic faux bamboo and Rattan armchair. Finely carved , the chair features curved arms resting on a rattan seat. The back of the chair is slightly curved pro...
Faux Bamboo, Rattan
$1,301
H 44.1 in W 26.78 in D 0.4 in
19th Century Black Lacquered Elm Chinese Officials Hat Yoke Back chair
Located in Basingstoke, Hampshire
A late 18th-early 19th century black lacquered elm Chinese hat chair. Intricate carvings of traditional Chinese motif decorate the back splat of the ...
Elm
Vintage Rattan & Cane Armchairs, Set of 2
Located in Denver, CO
Midcentury bent bamboo Rattan and Cane Armchairs, Set of 2 Minor flaking of the clear coat in a few places on each chair (see images) No structural damage A few small spots ...
Bamboo, Wicker, Cane
$1,941 / set
H 36.23 in W 22.45 in D 24.41 in
Franco Albini Pair of Rattan and Bamboo Armchairs, Italy, 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous pair of mid-century armchairs entirely made of bamboo, curved rattan and hand-woven wicker. These charming organic modern chairs were produced in Italy during the 1960s and ...
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
$68,500Sale Price|27% Off
H 29 in W 84.25 in D 38 in
Important Adjustable 'Roll Back Day Bed' Sofa by Kagan-Dreyfuss, 1950s, Signed
By Vladimir Kagan, Kagan-Dreyfuss, Inc.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a very important piece of design history, and to understand why - it is all in the details, so to anyone interested in modern art and interior design, please keep reading. Vladimir Kagan’s 'Roll Back Day Bed' (model #6718) was originally conceived as a one-off design for a client in the 1950s. Valdimir Kagan selected Rosewood and Lucite, materials he had just started experimenting with at that time, blended it into a futuristic frame with a brass-capped cylindrical adjustable back cushion that can transform the sofa into a daybed and even into a double sided gallery seating system. All on top of Lucite legs giving the appearance the sofa is floating above ground. By all accounts - Vladimir Kagan advertisements, catalogues, the design community and even the team at Vladimir Kagan Designs had it documented that the design (model 6718 Roll Back Day Bed) was first put into production in 1967, however this one - this exact sofa in the photos and listed for sale, IS THE ONE that he created in the 1950s for a special one-off client. And it was later, in 1967 that he decided to bring the design into production, all based on this concept model which we have listed for sale. This is all documented with the Vladimir Kagan archives under registry 25073. They were thrilled to have found this surviving example and have added it into their archives, knowledge-base and timelines. They wrote: "We conducted a detailed review of the Kagan Archive, and we were puzzled to find that Vladimir consistently dated the release of the Roll Back Day Bed to 1967. Also based on Vladimir’s accounts, Hugo Dreyfuss retired in 1960, ending their partnership. This would mean that your example pre-dates the “earliest production date” we have on record for the Roll Back Day Bed or Roll Back Sofa...
Brass
$1,450
H 26 in W 17 in D 17 in
Late 19th Century French Bobbin-Turned Oak Fireside Corner Chair with Rush Seat
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
An evocative late-19th-century French Provincial corner chair, or coin du feu, handcrafted in France circa 1895. Distinguished by its compact proportions, unusual wraparound back and...
Rush, Oak
$685
H 25.99 in W 16.93 in D 16.93 in
Antique Dutch Oak Bobbin Turned Corner Chair with New Rush Seat, circa 1920
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
A charming antique Dutch corner chair in oak, made in the Netherlands around 1920 and built entirely from hand-turned bobbin elements. The chair has been given a newly woven rush sea...
Rush, Oak
$3,495
H 29.5 in W 31 in D 27 in
Vintage Chinoiserie Ming Style Yoke Back Chairs Black Lacquered Style James Mont
By Century Furniture, James Mont
Located in Topeka, KS
Wonderful vintage Asian Chinoiserie Ming style yoke back chairs with black lacquered frames & brass details in the style of James Mont. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that thes...
Brass
Pair of 19th Century Carved Oak Corner Chairs
Located in High Point, NC
Pair of 19th century carved oak corner chairs from England with a wonderfully carved back, supports and arms, all depicting acanthus leaves and scrolls. The seats have wonderful carv...
Oak
$4,200 / set
H 28 in W 25 in D 20 in
Pair of Stunning Round Barrel Shape Bamboo Rattan Cane Seat Chairs
By Adriano Albini, Paul Frankl
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair of vintage rattan bamboo cane seat chairs.
Bamboo, Cane, Rattan
$1,998 / item
H 35.8 in W 25.9 in D 23.6 in
"Liba" Rattan Covered Natural Cane Armchair Designed by Borek Sipek for Driade
"Liba", designed by Borek Sipek and manufactured by Driade, is a rattan covered natural red and black cane seat and back with solid ebonized wooden front ...
Cane, Rattan, Wood
Faux Bamboo Gilded 19th Century Corner Chair by Heywood Wakefield
Located in Water Mill, NY
Faux bamboo gilded corner chair with needlepoint seat by Heywood Wakefield.
Giltwood
Pair of Chinese Dragon Scroll-Back Armchairs, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Embellished with intricate carvings and gold pigments, these 19th-century Chinese armchairs display the playful opulence of Qing-dynasty furniture design. A variation on the southern...
Elm
$2,192 / set
H 34 in W 17 in D 17 in
Harlequin Set of 6 Beech & Elm Wheel Back Windsor Kitchen Dining Chairs
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Harlequin Set of 6 Beech & Elm Wheel Back Windsor Kitchen Dining Chairs The chairs are a classic design and traditionally made they have hooped backs some of them of them have a wed...
Beech
Superb Antique Chinese Horseshoe Hongmu Late Qing Occasional Chair
Located in Llanbrynmair, GB
An early 20th century Chinese Horseshoe Chair of late Qing / early Republic Era. Superb form with horseshoe back and sweeping arms, single vert...
Wood
SET OF THREE CHAIRS AND TWO CHINESE ARMCHAIRS end 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
SET OF THREE CHAIRS AND TWO CHINESE ARMCHAIRS end 19th Century in exotic wood, with carvings, "dragons" Dim.: (armchairs) 95 x 43 x 40 cm. Dim.: (chairs) 98 x 43 x 40 cm good condit...
Wood
A 19th Century Antique Chinese Elm Horseshoe Armchair Late Qing
Located in Llanbrynmair, GB
A late 19th Century Chinese Horseshoe Armchair in Elm. Superb form with horseshoe back and sweeping arms that hug your wrists perfectly. A single vertical slat backrest with solid ...
Wood, Elm
Chinese Hardwood Yoke-Back Arm Chair
Located in Astoria, NY
Chinese hardwood yoke-back arm chair of 'four-corners exposed' form, with shaped crest rail above the S-shaped relief-carved splat and supported on curved corner posts, the curved ar...
Hardwood
Antique Chinese Horseshoe Hongmu Late Qing Chair
Located in Llanbrynmair, GB
An early 20th century Chinese Horseshoe Chair of late Qing / early Republic Era. Superb form with horseshoe back and sweeping arms, single vertical slat carved backrest with roundel,...
Wood
Sold
H 39.5 in W 19 in D 19 in
Hand Carved Accent / Side or Desk Chair, Asian Motif Fabric, Louis XV Style
Located in Stamford, CT
Single hand carved accent / side chair, Asian Motif Fabric, Louis XV style A stunning oak accent or office chair having a finely carved frame in the Louis XV Style upholstered in a ...
Wood
Sold
H 37.6 in W 20.87 in D 19.3 in
Lovely Antique Chinese Export 1920 Qing Dynasty Carved Dragon Throne Armchair
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning original Chinese Export circa 1920 hand carved Throne chair with oversized Dragon back rest ...
Hardwood
Pair of 17th Century Chinese Folding Traveling Chairs
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
A pair of folding chairs produced in the early 17th century from elm a hardwood that is native to China, narrow rail supports and curved uprights, hinged rounded legs with rectangular base stretchers, woven and strung seat, parts of original lacquer showing early ironwork repairs to one chair, replaced seat stringing in overall very good condition, this pair of folding traveling chairs are a beautiful and unique addition to any home. They are perfect for use in any room in the house, from the living room to the bedroom. and are antique pieces that will add a touch of character to any room. The chairs have a simple design and fold up for easy storage. Portable folding chairs are more often than not damaged than other pieces of furniture because it is easy for them to fold, carry, and store. This makes these kind of chairs which have survived through time extremely rare. These chairs would have been used by elite dignitaries, who would have sat on them during their travels. Age: 1630 Style: Antique Chinese furniture...
Elm
Pair of Early 20th Century Chinese Bamboo Armchairs
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Unusual pair of Chinese bamboo armchairs circa 1920. Shaped back and made from various thicknesses of bamboo, ranging from small for the de...
Bamboo
Antique Shanxi Province Elm Horseshoe Back Official Chair
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Shanxi Province elm horseshoe back official chair This Antique Shanxi Province Horseshoe back official chair is made from elm and has its original color and patina. Circa E...
Wood, Elm
Antique Chinese Elmwood Child Chair - Pair
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Chinese Elmwood Child Chair - Pair These antique elm chairs are from the south of China. They have all original color and patina. Can be use...
Elm
Chinese Export Tortoise Shell Bamboo Rattan Armchair
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Brighton pavilion style Chinese export bamboo armchair featuring Chinese chippendale rattan fretwork. The chair frame is crafted from gorgeous tortoise shell style bamboo with dramat...
Bamboo, Rattan
19th Century Pair of Chinese 'Horseshoe Back' Chairs
Located in London, GB
19th Century pair of Chinese 'Horseshoe Back' chairs. Dimension: H 99 x W 67 x D 45 cm.
Wood
Chinese Bent Bamboo Dining Chair with Cane Seat, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Dated to the early 20th century, this captivating dining chair is crafted of bamboo that has been carefully steamed and bent into elaborate forms. The chair features a square woven c...
Bamboo, Cane
Hand Carved Chinese Side Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful representation of Chinese craftsmanship. Hand carved with dragons and bats, a unique piece that will make a wonderful side chair or focal point in many spaces from tradit...
Wood