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.
18th Century British Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Resin
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Glass, Hardwood
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Paper
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Glass, Wood
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Brass
20th Century Hong Kong Chinese Export Furniture
Hardwood, Giltwood, Paint
Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Wood
Early 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Gold, Silver, Bronze
1770s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
16th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Wool
2010s Nepalese Chinese Export Furniture
Wool, Silk
1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Paste, Porcelain
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Metal
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Silk
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Pottery
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Marble
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Jade
Mid-20th Century Japanese Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Jade
1870s English Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Brass, Zinc
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Furniture
Copper
Mid-20th Century Nepalese Chinese Export Furniture
Bronze
18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Lacquer, Paint, Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Hardwood, Paper
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Ceramic
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Silver
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Soapstone
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Brass, Enamel
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Glass, Wood, Paper
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Soapstone
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Furniture
Wool
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Bronze
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Silver
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Furniture
Copper
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Shell, Wood, Lacquer
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Wood
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Silver
Early 19th Century British Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
1960s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Furniture
Ceramic
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Paint, Glass, Wood
Early 1900s Macanese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Chinese Export Furniture
Wool
18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Hardwood
20th Century Chinese Export Furniture
Bronze
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
1770s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Porcelain
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Stone, Marble
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Rosewood
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Giltwood, Lacquer, Wood