Chinese Export Furniture
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.
Early 19th Century Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Ceramic
1730s Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
1760s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Korean Chinese Export Furniture
Brass
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Stoneware
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Pottery
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Teak
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Metal
Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Furniture
Terracotta
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Soapstone
18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Earthenware
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Brass
1930s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Furniture
Soapstone
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Hardwood
1770s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Bamboo
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Silver
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Metal, Brass, Bronze
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Ceramic
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Ceramic
Late 19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Ormolu
15th Century and Earlier Hong Kong Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Hardwood, Paper
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
Early 20th Century East Asian Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Silk
Late 20th Century Korean Chinese Export Furniture
Ceramic
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Ceramic, Porcelain
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Bronze
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Soapstone, Brass
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Chinese Export Furniture
Wool
1850s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
1970s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Furniture
Brass
19th Century Japanese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Paper
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Paint
20th Century Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Wood
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Bamboo, Hardwood
1930s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Furniture
Bronze
18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
19th Century Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Furniture
Teak
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
Early 1900s Vietnamese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Majolica