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 Elm Rustic Farmhouse Primitive Brutalist Stool
Located in Germantown, MD
Dated to mid 19th century, this rustic, farmhouse, primitive and brutalist stool has simple splayed-leg design and well-worn finish. Crafted of northern elm wood with mortise-and-ten...
Elm
Pair of Vintage Chinese Lacquered and Painted Garden Seats
Located in Chireno, TX
Pair of vintage Chinese lacquered and painted garden seats. Hand-carved wooden garden seats, or stands. Decorated with painted foliate scrolls and birds over red. Perfect height to s...
Wood
Antique Chinese Side Table or Stool, Hand-Crafted Wood, 19th Century
Located in Sheffield, MA
The antique Asian stool has a square top and a balanced form with timeless rustic appeal. Beautifully worn from a century of use, the aged wood pat...
Wood
Caramel Brown Glazed Prosperity Garden Stool
Located in Chicago, IL
This sculptural, ceramic garden seat reinvents the barrel shape of classic Chinese drum stools. Slip casted in low relief, a pattern of boss-head nails rings the top and bottom, imit...
Ceramic
Graphite Black Glazed Prosperity Garden Stool
Located in Chicago, IL
This sculptural, ceramic garden seat reinvents the barrel shape of classic Chinese drum stools. Slip casted in low relief, a pattern of boss-head nails rings the top and bottom, imit...
Ceramic
$964Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Vintage Famille Rose Porcelain Garden Stools with Mandarin Ducks
Located in Sarasota, FL
A finely decorated pair of famille rose porcelain garden stools, each painted with Mandarin duck motifs—traditional emblems of fidelity—set among lotus blossoms, floating coins, and ...
Porcelain, Paint
$2,550Sale Price|25% Off
19th Century Two-Tone Patinated Chinese Brass & Copper Garden Barrel Drum Stool
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Rare two-tone Copper and Brass hand tooled Chinese garden stool. Versatile and exuding character to be used indoors, on the porch or exposed to the elements. The hollow centre can be...
Brass, Copper
Blue Glazed Bamboo Pond Garden Stool
Located in Chicago, IL
Sculptural and drenched in color, this ceramic garden table reinvents the barrel shape of classic Chinese drum stools. Slip casted in low relief, the six-sided stool is patterned wit...
Ceramic
Pair of Antique Chinese Hardwood Flower Stands Rouge Marble Top Insert
Located in Brea, CA
Pair of antique Chinese hardwood flower stands rouge marble top insert, 20th century. Measures: H 18”, D 20”.
Hardwood
Milky White Prosperity Garden Stool
Located in Chicago, IL
This sculptural, ceramic garden seat reinvents the barrel shape of classic Chinese drum stools. Slip casted in low relief, a pattern of boss-head nails rings the top and bottom, imit...
Ceramic
Drip Glaze Blue & White Prosperity Garden Stool
Located in Chicago, IL
Sculptural and drenched in color, this ceramic garden seat reinvents the barrel shape of classic Chinese drum stools. Slip casted in low relief, a pattern of boss-head nails rings th...
Ceramic
$1,325Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair Of Vintage Barrel Stools, Chinese, Inlaid, Decorative Display Stand, C.1970
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a pair of vintage barrel stools. A Chinese, mahogany and mother of pearl inlaid decorative display stand, dating to the late 20th century,...
Wood
19th Century Chinese Elm Rustic Primitive Brutalist Stool
Located in Germantown, MD
Dated to mid-19th century, this rustic, farmhouse, primitive and brutalist stool has simple splayed-leg design and well-worn finish. Crafted of northern elm wood with mortise-and-ten...
Elm
Chinese Hardwood Melon Shape Garden Seat Side Table with Mother of Pearl Inlay
Located in New York, NY
Chinese curved melon shape hardwood garden stool or side table with mother of pearl inlay. Beautiful floral tree and bird motif inlaid top, with floral sprays at top of curved wood b...
Mother-of-Pearl, Hardwood
Vintage Chinese Red Lacquered Dragon Barrel Form Garden Stool
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice Chinese red lacquered barrel form garden stool / plant stand with dragon motif, circa 1940s. I believe the stool is made of elm wood and covered with a rich red lacquer f...
Elm
Post-war Chinese Koi Fish Glazed Art Pottery Garden Patio Toadstool Stool
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Original set of art pottery Chinese toadstool-shaped stools featuring a relief of koi fish along the base of each stool. Crafted with exquisite detail, this table features a vibrant ...
Pottery
Pair Chinese Plant Stands Lacquered Painted Pedestal Table 1920
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Gorgeous pair of Chinese hardwood stools or pot stands With floral decorations all over Circa 1920 Offered in great shape ready for home use right away We ship to every corner of the...
Hardwood, Paint
Milky White Glazed Cloud Garden Stool
Located in Chicago, IL
Sculptural and drenched in color, this ceramic garden seat reinvents the classic Chinese drum stool. Slip casted in low relief, the drum stool has sloping, concave sides and an allov...
Ceramic
$1,036Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Chinese Hand-Carved Wood Elm Writing Console Entryway Table Pi Stool
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Possibly Late 19th century, heavily patinated, still usable, not loose, but with cracks and chips to wood. Mainly decorative uses recommended. There is a split to one leg, pictured. ...
Elm
Ceramic Hand Painted Chinese Garden Stool
Located in Vilnius, LT
Vintage Chinese ceramic garden stool with hand painted decor in blue and white dragon motives. Very good/excellent vintage condition. NOTE: Buyer is solely responsible for paying cu...
Ceramic
Italian Hand-Painted Ceramic Garden Stool by Ezio Ceccarelli, 1980s
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Tuscan clay stool, nice hand-painted. An idea of an Italian garden even in a city apartment: at the entrance it welcomes You with its colors, in the living room You can put down Your...
Ceramic
$990
H 16.5 in W 21.5 in D 9.5 in
Mid-Century French Hand Painted Faience Elephant Garden Seat or Side Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Bring a sculptural and whimsical accent to a room or patio with this vintage French faience elephant garden seat, crafted circa 1960. Modeled with its trunk raised for good fortune, ...
Ceramic, Faience
Ceramic Hand Painted Chinese Garden Stool
Located in Vilnius, LT
Chinese ceramic garden stool with openwork details and circumferential decoration of the floral elements and scenes of ladies.
Ceramic
Midcentury Italian Majolica Neoclassical Style Garden Seat Stool
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Whimsical Mid-Century Modern Italian Majolica garden seat stool made in the neoclassical taste. The square stool features a Tromp l'oeil verde green tassel...
Majolica, Pottery
Pair of Antique Chinese Ceramic Garden Stools
Located in Atlanta, GA
A beautiful pair of Chinese ceramic garden stool from late Qing Dynasty. Classic barrel shape with Famille Verte glaze depicting figurative groups in garden settings.
Ceramic
Vintage Chinese Famille Rose Medallion Garden Stool, Porcelain, 1950s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Vintage Chinese Famille Rose Medallion Garden Stool. Wonderful floral motif with traditional figures. These traditional cultural motif's al...
Porcelain
Pair of Emerald Green Glazed Garden Stools
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A charming pair of mid-century elephant garden stools or side tables, finished in a vibrant emerald green ceramic glaze. Rich in color and beautifully detailed, the sculpted forms ca...
Ceramic, Terracotta, Paint
1970s Glazed Ceramic Garden Seat
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1970s Glazed Ceramic Garden Seat Raised ceramic details Handle on both sides One little nick (as shown in pictures)
Ceramic
Sculptural Mango Wood Side Table or Stool, Organic Modern Design
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
A wonderfully sculptural round side table or stool. Its neutral pigment makes it perfect for any space. A uniquely sculptural and versatile piece certain to invoke conversation. It w...
Wood, Fruitwood
Provincial Chinese Rustic Square Stool, 19th Century
Located in Chicago, IL
With rustic charm and a great patina, this provincial Chinese stool has a simple design that feels at home in any interior. Known as a fang deng, or square stool, this type of casual...
Elm
Pair of Ceramic Hand Painted Chinese Garden Stools
Located in Vilnius, LT
Pair of Chinese ceramic garden stools with hand painted decor in blue and white floral motives. Very good/excellent vintage condition. NOTE: Buyer is solely responsible for paying c...
Ceramic
Jade Green Glazed Blossom Garden Stool
Located in Chicago, IL
Sculptural and drenched in color, this ceramic garden table reinvents the barrel shape of classic Chinese drum stools. Slip casted in low relief, th...
Ceramic
Milky White Glazed Cloud Garden Stool
Located in Chicago, IL
Sculptural and drenched in color, this ceramic garden seat reinvents the classic Chinese drum stool. Slip casted in low relief, the drum stool has s...
Ceramic
Drip Glaze Blue & White Prosperity Garden Stool
Located in Chicago, IL
Sculptural and drenched in color, this ceramic garden seat reinvents the barrel shape of classic Chinese drum stools. Slip casted in low relief, a pattern of boss-head nails rings th...
Ceramic
Chinese Export Porcelain Rose Medallion Garden Seat
Located in Downingtown, PA
Verdant Elegance: A Chinese Export Rose Medallion Garden Seat Mid-19th Century (One of two we have in stock and on 1st Dibs- There is a ve...
Porcelain
Chinese Export Porcelain Rose Medallion Garden Seat
Located in Downingtown, PA
Verdant Elegance: A Chinese Export Rose Medallion Garden Seat Mid-19th Century (One of two in stock, the decoration on the top is very sligh...
Porcelain
Blue and White Porcelain Garden Seat
Located in New York, NY
Profusely decorated in blue with dragons within shaped cartouches on a meander fretwork ground bordering scrolling chrysanthemums. Very fine example.
Porcelain, Paint
Pair Antique Asian Octagon Garden Stools, Off-White & Salmon Color, Hong Kong
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Just in from Hong Kong this pair of Antique Asian Octagon Garden Stools, Off-White & Salmon Color, Hong Kong. This pair is a heavy glazed clay, with an off-White background and hand ...
Ceramic
Pair of Blue and White Chinoiserie Porcelain Garden Stools
Located in Sarasota, FL
An elegant pair of blue-and-white porcelain garden stools, each finely hand-painted with continuous bird-and-branch landscapes enclosed by classic trellis and fretwork borders. The c...
Porcelain, Paint
Chinoiserie Chinese Garden Stool or Side Table Black Lacquer w/Asian Details
Located in Topeka, KS
Marvelous vintage Chinoiserie Chinese garden stool or small side table with black lacquer & hand painted & gilded Asian details, Made in China. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind t...
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Early 20th hand painted century Chinese terra-cotta garden stool
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a hand mid-century Chinese export hand painted terra-cotta garden stool. This garden stool has a dark brown background with a golden Amber hand painted dragon decoration arou...
Pottery
Blue and White Porcelain Garden Seat
Located in New York, NY
Of hexagonal form; decorated in blue with pagodas in riverscape settings. Collection of Mario Buatta, New York, NY
Porcelain, Paint
Pair of Vintage Terra Cotta Blue and White Garden Seats
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Unusual pair of mid century Chinese garden seats crafted in terra cotta in classic form with hand decorated stylized white floral designs on an alluring deep blue background.
Porcelain