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.
Petite Chinese Blue & White Jar, c. 1920
Located in Chicago, IL
Hand-painted in cobalt blue atop a cool white field, this petite tea leaf jar beautifully exemplifies the timeless allure of Chinese blue-and-white porcelain. The small jar dates to ...
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Export Gilt Lacquer Fan
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th Century Framed Chinese Export Painted Fan. Delicate painted fan with courtyard scene of royal figure and attendants, mother of pearl or similar inlaid faces. Bordered top and bo...
Glass, Wood
$380Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Chinese Serpentine / Jade Hand Mirror
Located in San Diego, CA
A nice antique Chinese serpentine / jade with hand painted porcelain hand mirror, circa 1910s to 1920s. The mirror is beautifully hand crafted from ...
Serpentine
$2,248Sale Price / set|20% Off
A Pair Chippendale Antique Export Chinese Low Sofa Tables Sold By Christie's
By Thomas Chippendale, Christie's
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Matching Pair of Chippendale Designed Chinese Export Red Lacquered Square Low Sofa Tables Auctioned at Christies 2542 3rd April 2012 (USA). Swing tag to the leg.
Lacquer
$385Sale Price|30% Off
Japanese Famille Noire Porcelain Vase by Yamatoku, Arita, 30cm Tall
By Arita
Located in Glasgow, GB
A large and vibrant Japanese porcelain vase in the classic rouleau form, crafted in the early 1950s by the Yamatoku kiln in the renowned Arita porcelain region. This striking piece i...
Enamel
$552Sale Price|30% Off
Blue and White Vintage Porcelain Ginger Jar Lamp with Rosewood Base
Located in Lomita, CA
The beautiful richly colored rosewood base contrasting the porcelain hand-painted vintage lamp makes it a standout. This Chinese export vintage lamp has its original blue and white f...
Porcelain
Important and Rare Canopy Bed of the Guangxu Reign
Located in Madrid, ES
Important and rare canopy bed. In 19th century tamarind, of the Guangxu reign (1875-1908). Decoration with plant motifs. Dimentions.: 228 x 210 x 165 cm. Complete and in very g...
Wood
$470Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Celadon Plate, Hand-Carved Chinese Export, Oval, Circa 1880
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Shaped antique oval Chinese plate from my private collection: simply elegant, for any use on any table. It's one of my private collection, about 35 years...
Celadon
Antique Hand-Painted Chinese Export Porcelain Cricket Boxes, 1960s
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Wonderful collection of Chinese porcelain cricket boxes or cricket cage. These boxes were used to house and care for crickets, a popular pet in Chinese culture. The box is all featu...
Porcelain, Paint
Antique Chinese Embroidery Textile 8" x 8"
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese Embroidery, Origin: China, Circa: Late 19th Century
Silk
Vietnamese Bowl with Dragon and Clouds Pattern Decor 1900 Vietnam
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Decorative Bowl. withblue Dragon and Clouds, circa 1900. it has been made in vietnam.
Majolica
Antique Chinese Export Blue & White Canton Porcelain Wall or Floor Tile
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique Chinese Export porcelain tile. In the Canton pattern. Decorated in underglaze blue with a mountainous Chinese village with houses, mountains, foliage, and a river an...
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Antique Chinese Ceramic Pickled Vegetable Jar
Located in Pomona, CA
This is a blue and White daily use ceramic/pottery jar from a private kiln. It belongs to the kind of daily use items like storing food or pickling vegetables in ordinary people's ho...
Ceramic, Pottery
Chinese Export Maritime Painting of the Steam Yacht Empress of China 19th C.
Located in Atlanta, GA
Chinese Export Maritime Painting of the Steam Yacht Empress of China Oil on canvas laid to board, in original black lacquered and giltwood frame China Trade, likely Hong Kong or Cant...
Giltwood, Paint
Pair of Antique Chinese Carved Rosewood Flower Stands Marble-Top Insert
Located in Brea, CA
A pair of antique Chinese hardwood stands 6 sides marble top insert, 2 pieces, the inset marble top over carved rosewood apron with dogw...
Hardwood
Antique Blue & White Canton Chinese Export Porcelain Miniature Sauce Tureen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique Chinese export porcelain sauce tureen or miniature tureen. In the Canton pattern. Decorated in underglaze blue depicting a mountai...
Porcelain
Circa 1980's Gracie Silver Leaf Handpainted Screen
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful vintage handpainted floor screen by Gracie, circa 1980s. A large tree, similar to a magnolia, is the central motif of this screen, with exquisitely, detailed birds, butt...
Wood, Paint, Paper
Late 19thC Carved Chinese Rosewood Side End Table
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Antique hand crafted Chinese rosewood side table with a red marble top. Carved fretwork with rosettes. In excellent antique condition with ...
Marble
Early 20th Century Hand-Crafted Chinese Cloisonné Ewer / Teapot
Located in Pomona, CA
This object is a Vintage Chinese Cloisonné Ewer / Teapot, crafted using detailed enamel-on-copper work with a signature turquoise-blue background. It features stylized archaic animal...
Copper
Antique Chinese Carved Stone Buddha Head Sculpture, Circa 1900s, 16.5"
Located in Pomona, CA
This magnificent Chinese Antique Carved Stone Buddha Head was handcrafted dated back to 1900s and shows very detailed hand carving works on it. You can see from the pictures that It ...
Stone
Set Chinese Carved Panels Screen Room Divider 1880
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Gorgeous set of four hand carved Chinese screens These were originally part of a screen or room divider and could be put back together to serve that purpose if required Good size at ...
Wood
$2,560Sale Price|20% Off
Large Chinese Modern Style Cabinet Credenza by Baker Milling Road Furniture
Located in New York, NY
Spectacular two part cabinet by Baker Furniture as part of their Millertown Road collection. The cabinet consists of a large upper case, that features two center doors which open to...
Brass
Antique Blue & White Canton Chinese Export Porcelain Butter Dish with Lid
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique Chinese export porcelain lidded butter dish. In the Canton pattern. With a figural strawberry finial to the lid. Decorated in underglaze blue depicting a mountainou...
Porcelain
Indian Hand Knotted Wool Rug with Chinese Tiger Motif
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a fun area rug! It is an Indian hand knotted wool rug with a Chinese tiger motif. It is in very good condition.
Wool
$517Sale Price|49% Off
Chinese Kraak Period Plate or Dish-B Porcelain Blue & White, Ming Wanli Ca 1610
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a hand-painted Chinese Export Kraak porcelain blue and white Side Plate or Dish, which we date to the Ming, Wanli period,( 1573-1620 ), datin...
Porcelain
Zabihi Collection Blue Chinese Pictorial Animal Rug
Located in New York, NY
1930s Chiense Animal Pictorial small Rug Details rug no. j3525 size 2' 7" x 4' 11" (79 x 150 cm)
Wool
Four Panel Screen with Antique Chinese Handpainted Floral Wallpaper
Located in New York, NY
Tall four panel screen with stunning antique Chinese handpainted wallpaper applied to the front. Handpainted wallpapers such as these were created for export, beginning in the 18th...
Wood, Paper
Antique Chinese Export Porcelain Famille Rose Cup & Saucer Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique Chinese Export porcelain cup & saucer pair. In a Famille Rose pattern. Decorated through with birds, butterflies, and flowers. Gilt to the rims of both and to the footrim of the cup. With a gilt 'EES' monogram to each. Simply a wonderful Chinese porcelain cup...
Porcelain
Chinese Gilt Brass Mounted Celadon Porcelain Lamp
Located in Bradenton, FL
Mid 20th Century Chinese Gilt Brass Mounted Celadon porcelain lamp with molded elephant ring handles and matching finial. Harp and finial included. Molded blue floral motif throughou...
Brass
Pair Chinese Export Phoenixes, Famille Rose Porcelain, Republic Period, China
Located in Austin, TX
A gorgeous pair of Chinese export famille rose enameled porcelain models of phoenixes, marked Jin Sheng Cheng, Republic Period (1911 - 1949), mid 20th century, China. The noble bird...
Porcelain
Chinese Export Regency Chinoiserie Gilt Lacquer Cabinet - Mid-Qing - Circa 1820
Located in Chatham, ON
An exceptional antique Chinese export black & gilt lacquer 'bonheur du jour' cabinet on stand in the Regency Chinoiserie style - mid Qing dynasty - masterfully crafted in Canton ...
Softwood, Giltwood, Lacquer
Monumental Chinese Export Porcelain Green Sancai Glazed Parrot, Late 19th C
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Monumental Chinese Export Porcelain Green Sancai Glazed Parrot Dimensions: 19" H × 6" W × 9" D (base 7" × 6") Origin: China, late Qing dynasty, circa 1880–1900 Condition: Minor glaz...
Ceramic
A Pair of Chinese Famille Verte Porcelain Covered Ginger Jars Mounted as Lamps
Located in New York, NY
A Fabulous Pair of Chinese Famille Verte Porcelain Covered Ginger Jars Mounted as Lamps. Each is of baluster form, with a domed lid and wide, slightly everted rim, mounted as table ...
Porcelain
Large Green Glazed Parrot, Chinese Export Porcelain, Late 19th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Large Green Glazed Parrot, Late 19th Century Provenance: Private Australian Collection. Description: Crafted in the late 19th century, presents a captivating collection of finely...
Porcelain
Large Chinese Blue-Green Celadon Glazed Stoneware Planter
Located in Yonkers, NY
Large Chinese blue-green celadon glazed stoneware planter featuring a luminous crackle glaze and a gracefully rounded silhouette. Its generous scale, timeless form, and refined finis...
Stoneware
Pair of Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Square Form Vases
Located in Bradenton, FL
Fine Pair of Chinese Porcelain Famille Rose "Wu Shuang Pu" Rectangular Vases, each with an inscription. Rectangular vases were less common and were considered an elegant variation fr...
Porcelain
Antique Pair Chinese Export Giltwood Carvings of Crane Phoenix or Foo Dogs 19Ct
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Impressive and quite rare Pair of Hand Carved Giltwood Hardwood hanging Wall Carvings of Chinese origin, last quarter of the Nineteenth Century. Each beautiful carving depicts a bi...
Harewood
Chinese Export Porcelain Armorial Dish Arms of Hugget Quarterly Impaling Randolp
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export Armorial Porcelain Dish, Arms of Hugget impaling Randolph, Circa 1755 A fine Chinese Export porcelain armorial dish, produced during the Qianlong period (circa 1755)...
Porcelain
Large Scale Archaic Chinese Style Bronze Finish Lamp Great Verdigris Patina 24"W
Located in Atlanta, GA
Archaic Chinese Style Sculptural Bronze Finish Lamp, probably Chinese, circa 1980s. The lamp has a very sculptural form and a wonderful verdigris antiqued patina. The lamp measures a...
Metal
Paintings of Chinese Ancestral Portraits Reverse Glass, 1940s, Pair
By Maitland Smith, Marshall Fields, James Mont, Gumps, Kutani Studio
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of reverse hand painted on glass of Chinese Emperor and Empress portrait paintings, circa 1940s. These detailed and well executed paintings still...
Wood, Paint, Glass
Chinese Art Deco Pair of Carved Cinnabar Lacquer Dragon Vases, Circa 1920
Located in New York, NY
Chinese Art Deco Pair of Carved Cinnabar Lacquer Dragon Vases, Circa 1920 A magnificent pair of Chinese cinnabar lacquer vases ...
Lacquer
Early 20th Century Chinese Cloisonne Enameled Tripod Censor/Incense Burner
Located in Pomona, CA
Museum Quality Chinese Champleve Cloisonné Incense burner of monumental size standing on a wonderful carved hardwood base. Gilt brass with enamel decoration, reclining elephant with ...
Copper
1960s Chinese Cloisonné Vase Turquoise Enamel Inlay Chrysanthemum & Butterflies
Located in Andernach, DE
Expressive and intricately detailed Cloisonné vase of medium size in turquoise, lapis blue, yellow & green. The metal filigree in brass beautifully detailed with butterflies, chrysa...
Brass, Copper, Enamel
Mid Century Rose Medallion Vase Mounted as Lamp
Located in Germantown, MD
Mid Century Rose Medallion Vase Mounted as Lamp. Measures 8 " in width, 8 " in depth and 18.5" height
Enamel, Brass
Impressive Mid-20th Century Chinese Flambé Glazed Vase Jingdezhen Jianguo Mark
Located in Richmond, CA
A striking and impressively sized mid-20th century Chinese flambé-glazed vase, produced in the 1950s by the Jingdezhen Jianguo Porcelain Factory (景德镇建国瓷厂), one of the foremost state-...
Porcelain
Chinese Carved Rosewood And Marble Inset Pedestal Plant Stand
Located in Germantown, MD
A mid century Chinese Carved Hardwood And Marble Inset Tabourette. Stands 36.5" tall. Great Condition
Rosewood
$11,250Sale Price|25% Off
Chinese Twelve-Panel Red Lacquer Coromandel Screen of Xiwangmu
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Monumental Chinese export twelve-panel red lacquered Coromandel screen of Chinese mythological Daoist character Xiwangmu (Queen mother of the West). Remarkable large scale screen full of vibrant color on incised lacquer...
Brass
Chinese Rosewood Dining Table & Four Chairs with Etched Decorative Brass Plaques
Located in London, GB
A rare late 19th-century Chinese export square dining table with four matching corner chairs that stow nicely away underneath. The base with four outer legs and a central leg is unit...
Mahogany
$716Sale Price|20% Off
18th Century Chinese Export porcelain Can/Mug Depicting Archery, As Found*
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
18th Century Chinese Export Porcelain Can/Mug Depicting Archery, As Found* A rare and unusual subject in Chinese export porcelain. This large-handled can or mug depicts a front vign...
Porcelain
Vintage Hand-Carved Soapstone Seal - Signed - China - Mid 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage hand-carved soapstone seal - mythical beast to the top - original presentation/padded fabric covered box - signed - China - mid 20th century. E...
Soapstone
Vintage Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Elephant Garden Stools - a Pair
Located in Pomona, CA
This is a pair of blue and white chinoiserie ceramic elephant garden stools or plant stands. They are often used as accent tables or decorative pieces for both indoor and outdoor spa...
Porcelain
Vintage Chinese Black Lacquered Wood Pedestal
Located in Doylestown, PA
Chinese black lacquered cylindrical wood pedestal, 1960s. Exquisite pedestal with a scene depicting elegant ladies in a pavilion garden with birds, architecture and trees. A picture...
Wood, Lacquer
Qing Dynasty Pair of Blue Parrots in Porcelain, Ormolu Base, Qing Dynasty China
Located in Valladolid, ES
An exquisite pair of parrot sculptures in deep blue glazed Chinese porcelain with a smooth, glossy finish, characteristic of advanced Chinese ceramic techniques. They rest on a gilt ...
Ormolu
Early 20th century carved Chinese hard wood floor lamp
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 20th century carved Chinese hard wood floor lamp circa 1920. Carved in heavy hardwood. Carved dragons head forming the outlet for the light fitment, long stem leading down to ...
Hardwood
Pair Large Chinese Iron-Red Foo Dog Vases, 20th Century
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a great pair of Chinese late 20th century Rouge de Fer or Iron-Red tall vases decorated with traditional Foo Dogs to the fronts and poems to the backs. These happy dogs prese...
Porcelain
$1,750 / set
Chinese Cloisonne Covered Chicken Box
Located in Pasadena, CA
These are two very detailed cloisonne boxes in the form of nesting chickens.** The principal color of one box is a pale green; the second box is a traditional Chinese turquoise. The ...
Gold Plate, Brass
Chinese Supper Large Cloisonné Enamel Egg "Hundred Birds" with Bronze Stand
Located in Norton, MA
Presenting a supper large and beautiful Chinese cloisonné enamel egg with intricated patterns of "hundred birds" made by hand seating on a tripod bronze stand, from the Mid-20th Cent...
Copper
$2,850 / set
Pair Of Antique Chinese Tables
Located in Houston, TX
Pair Of Antique Chinese Tables. Offered is a beautiful pair of hexagon shaped carved rosewood Chinese tables, side tables or drink tables. These versatile tables can be used together...
Wood
Chinese Export Porcelain Small Canton Famille Rose Elephant Candlestick
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export Porcelain small canton famille rose elephant modeled as a candlestick, circa 1860 The standing Chinese Export porcelain elephant with its trunk up is painted in an iron-red with gilt decoration. On its back is a vase-shaped candle holder rising from the raised saddle painted with a band of green leaves. Below the urn is a long saddle cloth hanging...
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Embroidered Textile Custom Pillow
Located in Stamford, CT
Antique Chinese embroidered textile made into a custom pillow. Antique pillow is made of Claremont champagne silk with bronze colored flat trim. Sewn sh...
Silk