Chinese Export Furniture
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.
to
3
650
162
817
3
24,537
15,524
7,519
2,776
2,378
1,639
1,140
1,019
824
636
556
489
436
362
340
279
268
63
110
251
456
3
73
17
20
1
5
4
1
449
408
255
141
131
728
719
717
8
6
820
820
820
26
11
7
6
3
Style: Chinese Export
Recognized Seller Listings
Chinese hardwood Long Rectangular Console Table
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese (19th Century) hardwood narrow rectangular console table with open apron featuring interlocking circular design.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood
Chinese Watercolor of a Sampan on Paper, circa 1800
Located in Downingtown, PA
The large Chinese watercolor on European paper depicts a starboard view of a two-master sailing ship with one man sailing the vessel while two passengers can clearly be seen inside t...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Paper
Pair of Chinese Blue and Orange Fish Design Porcelain Sleeve Vases
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of antique Chinese (mid 20th century) sleeve-shaped porcelain vases decorated with orange fish swimming around blue backgrounds, inspired by patterns ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Silver Cocktail Shaker
Located in London, GB
Chinese Silver Cocktail Shaker, of traditional form with a matte backgound around most of the body, a plain circular space for any requ...
Category
1930s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
Chinese Han Dynasty Style Patinated Bronze Lidded and Footed Pot
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-style copy of a patinated bronze pot etched with raised geometric patterned bands wrapping its form, sitting atop three feet, fitted with two handles and ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Continental Porcelain Soup Tureen
Located in Queens, NY
Continental (19th Century) (Chinese Export) soup tureen with cover on an associated oval tray, both decorated with birds and a 3-masted ship.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Export Silver Box by Wang Hing
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Chinese export silver dragon box; an addition to our collection of boxes and cases
This fine antique C...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
Vintage Indo-Chinese Carpet
Located in Closter, NJ
The city of Amritsar, in the Punjab region in northwest India, began producing carpets in the 19th Century when Kashmir was annexed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh...
Category
1940s Indian Vintage Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Chinese Off-White and Figurative Scene Porcelain Urn Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) table lamp made from an off-white, urn-shaped, porcelain vase depicting a joyful scene of gift-bearing children greeting elders in a pastoral Set...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Large Chinese Export Silver Bowl
Located in London, GB
A large Chinese Export Silver Bowl with chrysanthemum decoration on a matte background. It was retailed by HC, for Hung Chong "鸿昌", whose shop was in Shanghai between around 1870-194...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
Chinese Lacquered Carved Wall Plaque
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese style (19th century) red lacquer and gilt trimmed wall carving with filigree & carved panels with scenes with figures.
Category
19th Century Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood
Chinese Export Porcelain Blue Fitzhugh Oval Platter and Mazarin
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese export Blue Fitzhugh very large porcelain blue Fitzhugh oval platter and Mazarin,
Late 18th-early 19th century.
The remarkably large serving di...
Category
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Export Silver Cigar Case
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Chinese Export Silver cigar case; part of our diverse Asian silverware collection
This exceptional antique Chinese Export Silver (CES) ci...
Category
1910s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
Pair of Chinese Mid-Century White Porcelain Chickens
Located in Queens, NY
"Pair of Antique Chinese (Mid 20th Century) white porcelain chickens, detailed with tonal feathers and red features and sculpted perched on rocks (P...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Han Dynasty Style Patinated Bronze Fluted Wine Goblet
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-style copy of a patinated bronze wine goblet with a fluted, conical form carved in intricate designs running up the surface, intercepted by two indented b...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Chinese Export Silver Bowl
By Luen Wo
Located in London, GB
Chinese Export Silver Bowl, of round form with applied prunus around two-thirds of the bowl leaving the remainder plain, in keeping with Chinese tradition seen on paintings where bla...
Category
1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
$10,161
Antique Chinese Export Silver Tray
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Chinese Export silver pen tray; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection
This exceptional antiq...
Category
1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
Chinese White and Blue Gaming Scene Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese white and blue porcelain table lamp made from an urn-shaped vase depicting a group of figures around a game table under a tree,...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Pair of Chinese White Porcelain Gall Bladder Vases
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of antique Chinese (Mid 20th Century) white porcelain gall bladder form vases, named for their resemblance to the shape of the organ, with bulbous bottoms and thin, delicate nec...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Rust Agate Carved Plate with Sea Motif
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese rust agate plate with a carved crayfish and shells in relief and a crayfish carved handle.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Stone, Marble
Chinese Export Silver Box
Located in London, GB
Chinese Export Silver Table Box circa 1890 of long rectangular form, embossed and chased with prunus branches and blossom against a matte background.
The box is marked with WH, for ...
Category
1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
Pair of Chinese Lidded Porcelain Elephant Figurines
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Antique Chinese olive green elephant figurines, decorated with carved detailing and pierced sides, and fitted with lids (PRICED AS PAIR).
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
$14,800 / set
19th Century Chinese Filigree Carved Wall Plaque
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese style (19th century) red and gold painted filigree carved horizontal wall plaque.
Category
19th Century Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Gold
Chinese Olive Green Handled Porcelain Jug
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese olive green ceramic jug formed with a handle stretching over the mouth, and an opening for contents within a chicken head emerging from the side.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Light Gray and Red Cherry Blossom Tree Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese light gray porcelain vase with a flowering red and gray cherry blossom tree stretching up its urn-shaped form.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese White, Brown, and Red Floral Design Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese white porcelain vase decorated with incised and painted brown foliage and stems growing blooming red florals, and wrapped in geometric bands of blue, pink and yellow at the ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Vintage Chinese Red and Gold Hand-Painted Tole Ginger Jar Table Lamps
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Vintage Chinese tole table lamps made from lidded ginger jars mounted with brass hardware, hand painted with an outdoor garden / genre scene in gold, white, and black, agains...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Brass
Chinese Mustard Colored and Tonal Patterned Meiping Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese, mustard-colored porcelain Meiping form vase carved in raised, tonal florals, with patterned bands around the top and base.
Crackling in glaze.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Table Lamp Oriental Colors 19th Century, China
Located in New York, NY
Table lamp oriental colors 19th century, China. A table lamp made during the 19th century in China. Multicolored with gilded details.
Category
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Asian Chinese Style Carved Mahogany and Bevelled Glass Dragon Wall Mirror
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese-style (19th century) carved mahogany and bevelled glass wall mirror with carved dragon and scroll design frame with a filigree pediment top.
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood, Mahogany, Glass
Chinese Export Silver Box
By Luen Wo
Located in London, GB
A Chinese Export Silver Box, c1890. Two dragon on the hinged lid. Embossed and chased with fish and crustaceans. Marked with LH, for 'Luen Hing' ’联兴‘, a retailer based in Shanghai, b...
Category
1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
Chinese White, Blue and Orange Floral Moon Flask Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (early 20th Century) white moon flask vase decorated with a central botanical design surrounded by blue and orange flowers, and topped with two blue handles.
Conditi...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Export Style Porcelain Oval Basin
Located in New York, NY
With applied handles to the sides, painted in blue monochrome with band of swags under the rim, over crown, shield motifs and sparse stylized flowers; the interior with three leaves ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Oxblood and White Natural Motif Meiping Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese porcelain Meiping vase in a red oxblood hue decorated with a white natural motif capturing the silhouettes of birds, vines and leaves.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Faux Bamboo and Floral Motif Hat Stand Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese faux bamboo cylindrical porcelain vase, in a shape traditionally used as a hat stand in ancient China, decorated with a raised motif of a bird perched on a flowering branch.
...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Teal and Red Crackle Porcelain Moon Flask Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) teal moon flask porcelain vase decorated with a red crackle overlay and topped with two stepped handles (mark on bottom, see photos).
Condition: ...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Terra Cotta Woman and Kneeling Camel Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terracotta tomb figure of a woman in a gray dress sitting on a kneeling Bactrian camel with its head tilted back and mout...
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Terracotta
Japanese Meiji Terra Cotta Pitcher
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Japanese Meiji period (19/20th Century) red and black glazed terra cotta pitcher with figures of scholars in high relief (signed Sumida Gawa).
Category
20th Century Japanese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Terracotta
Pair of Chinese White and Blue Floral Decorative Plates
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese blue and white porcelain decorative plate painted with thin blue double lines surrounding a floral garland along the rim, opening to a wider floral and swirling vine ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Black and Green Leaf Glazed Porcelain Pear Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (17th Century-style) black glazed ceramic pear-shaped vase decorated with a green leaf on the front and back.
Category
17th Century Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Export Silver Candelabrum & Dish
Located in London, GB
Chinese Centrepiece circa 1895, formed as a 2-light candelabrum with a central dish supported by two flying dragons.
The underside of the candle holders and the dish are fluted, and...
Category
1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
Pair of Chinese Celadon Scalloped Pots
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese celadon colored pots with scalloped tops and detached base trays framing tonal, raised carvings of cranes in natural settings (priced as pair).
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
$800 / set
Chinese Carved Bamboo Root Face Wall Hanging
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese wall plaque made from a bamboo root carved in the shape of a smiling face with a bamboo root fiber beard.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood, Bamboo
Chinese Orange and Gold Decorative Motif Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese small, round orange porcelain vase with gold detailing surrounding white circular shapes and a brown band around the mouth opening.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Cream Floral and Bird Motif Round Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese cream porcelain vase decorated with softly rendered pink florals blooming from green leaves alongside an orange bird on one side, and character ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Burgundy and White Floral Motif Pots
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese ceramic burgundy pots decorated with white floral motifs capturing the silhouette of florals, vines and leaves surrounding central medalli...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
$18,000 / set
20th Century Bas Relief Chinese Carved Wall Plaque
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese style (19/20th century) stripped and carved wall plaque of figures with bull and cart.
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair of Antique Chinese Botanical & Bird Patterned Porcelain Lidded Ginger Jars
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Antique Chinese (late 19th-early 20th Century) porcelain lidded ginger jars with a pattern featuring sprawling tree branches and foliage in greens, oranges, and browns, and ...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Orange and Gold Bouquet Design Porcelain Table Lamp
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...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Pair of Antique Chinese Orange Foo Dog Patterned Porcelain Lidded Ginger Jars
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Antique Chinese (late 19th-early 20th Century) porcelain lidded ginger jars with a pattern featuring swirling orange foo dogs with green accents against a gray-beige backgrou...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese White, Brown, and Magenta Floral Motif Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese white porcelain vase decorated with incised and painted brown foliage and stems accented by magenta, light blue and yellow florals, and bands of floral garland at the openin...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Contemporary Chinese Hand Painted Black and Gold Center Tables
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese center tables hand-painted with Chinoiserie scenes of houses and seated women captured in pastoral settings on tops trimmed in carved gold leaf motifs, supported on g...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood
Chinese Porcelain Famille Rose Vase and Wood Wall Plaque
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese wall plaque framing a bisected famille rose porcelain lidded vase, depicting trees and blooming florals, in wood with a decorative faux ba...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain, Wood
Pair of Chinese Lacquered Carved Wall Plaques
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Asian Chinese style (19th century) red lacquered and decorated carved vertical wall plaques of ladies (Priced as pair).
Category
19th Century Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood
$16,500 / set
Chinese Floral Cloisonné Enamel and Ormolu Vase for Islamic Market
Located in London, GB
Chinese floral Cloisonné enamel and ormolu vase for Islamic Market.
Chinese, early 20th century
Dimensions: Height 20cm, diameter 23cm
This beaut...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
Chinese Hardwood Vitrine Cabinet
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese (20th Century) hardwood display vitrine cabinet with 2 large glass doors with carving on 2 bottom doors and 3 shelves with glass in wood frames.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood
Chinese Watercolor Children Portrait
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese style (19th Cent) watercolor portrait on paper of fat seated figure surrounded by 6 children in a gilt frame
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Paint
Pair of Chinese Off-White Floral and Bamboo Design Table Lamps
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese porcelain table lamps made from off-white, urn-shaped vases decorated with a winding natural scene of flowers and bamboo growing from behind a decorative gate mounted...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Charger
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese-style (19/20th Century) blue and white porcelain charger with a floral scene and a scalloped edge.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Antique Chinese Peacock and Floral Patterned Porcelain Rouleau Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Antique Chinese (late 19th-early 20th Century) porcelain rouleau-form vases with a pattern featuring a large multi-colored peacock amidst branches and florals against a beige...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Export furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Chinese Export furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include asian art and furniture, decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, porcelain and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Chinese Export furniture made in a specific country, there are Asia, East Asia, and China pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, Wang Hing & Co., Luen Wo, and Hung Chong & Co.. 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 furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $40 and tops out at $216,780 while the average work can sell for $1,998.