Chinese Export Seating
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 Antique Chinese Export Seating
Porcelain
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Seating
Porcelain
1960s Italian Vintage Chinese Export Seating
Majolica, Terracotta
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Seating
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Chinese Export Seating
Rosewood
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Porcelain
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Seating
Wood
Mid-20th Century Chinese Export Seating
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
1960s Italian Vintage Chinese Export Seating
Majolica, Terracotta
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Seating
Bamboo
1910s Asian Vintage Chinese Export Seating
Wood
19th Century Antique Chinese Export Seating
Porcelain
Late 19th Century Asian Antique Chinese Export Seating
Wood
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Rattan, Wood
Late 20th Century Philippine Chinese Export Seating
Bamboo, Cane, Plastic
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Chinese Export Seating
Rosewood
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Marble
19th Century Antique Chinese Export Seating
Hardwood
1960s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Seating
Teak
1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Seating
Copper, Brass
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Seating
Hardwood, Paint
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Enamel
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Rosewood
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Seating
Wood
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Elm
Late 20th Century Chinese Export Seating
Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Elm
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Hardwood
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Elm
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Marble
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Seating
Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Fruitwood
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Mother-of-Pearl, Hardwood
1860s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Seating
Bamboo
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Ceramic
19th Century British Antique Chinese Export Seating
Iron
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Seating
Velvet, Wood
1810s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Seating
Bamboo
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Elm
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Wood
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Elm
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Seating
Hardwood
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Elm
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Seating
Elm
Late 20th Century Philippine Chinese Export Seating
Bamboo, Cane, Natural Fiber
Early 20th Century European Chinese Export Seating
Wood
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Seating
Elm
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Seating
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Seating
Hardwood
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Hardwood
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Seating
Bamboo
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Crystal
1870s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Seating
Hardwood
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Wood
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Seating
Elm, Lacquer
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Seating
Wood
Early 20th Century Unknown Chinese Export Seating
Elm
1960s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Seating
Upholstery, Wood, Rosewood
Mid-19th Century Antique Chinese Export Seating
Elm
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Seating
Mahogany
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Upholstery, Wood, Rosewood
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Seating
Pine, Lacquer
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Seating
Lacquer, Wood