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.
Blue & White Four Flowers Ginger Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
This round, porcelain ginger jar is brightly glazed in the blue-and-white manner. A combination of stenciled linework and hand-brushed shading, the jar is decorated with garden scene...
Porcelain
Vintage Chinese Cloisonné Lapis Blue Round Lidded Box or Bowl
Located in Doylestown, PA
A striking Chinese lapis blue cloisonné round lidded box or bowl, early 1980s. Vibrantly decorated with a green border, ombre cherry blossoms, a single butterfly, gilded accents and ...
Metal, Enamel
$548Sale Price|20% Off
Chinese Oriental Ceramic Fish Bowl, Jardiniere or Planter On Rosewood Stand
Located in Plainview, NY
The Chinese ceramic fish bowl, jardiniere, or planter features a rich, multicolored palette that vividly brings to life intricate scenes of regal...
Ceramic
$85,000 / set
19th Century Chinese Cloisonné Fu Dogs
Located in Houston, TX
An exceptional palatial quality pair of 19th century Chinese cloisonné Fu dogs featuring gold gilding over copper. Chinese cloisonné o...
Copper, Enamel
$1,196Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Decorated Tea Caddy Box
Located in Atlanta, GA
Chinese for the English market, 19th century. A fine quality antique Chinese export tea caddy decorated with beautiful gilding surfaces, a hinged lid which opens to reveal a tooled ...
Pewter
Porcelain Ginger Jar Form Floral / Botanical Table Lamps Att. Chelsea House-Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a lovely pair of porcelain ginger jar form hand painted table lamps attributed to Chelsea House. The vase portion is 12 inches in height. They rest on gilt Asian footed...
Porcelain, Giltwood
Chinese Silver and Enamel Teapot with Magpies and Blossom
Located in Newark, England
FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING This Chinese silver and enamel teapot is a mid-20th century piece from the final years of the Republic period, dating to around 1945. Combining traditional m...
Silver, Enamel
Large Antique Rose Medallion Chinese Export Porcelain Punch Bowl
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A large Chinese Rose Medallion porcelain punch bowl. In the Rose Medallion (Famille Rose) style. The central cartouche of the bow...
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Cloisonné Salt Cellar and Pepper Shaker Sets
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese enamel on copper cloisonné salts and pepper shaker sets. There are 12 pieces in total. 6 salt cellars, and 6 matching pepper shakers. Colors include blue, dark green, red, black , and light green. The light green salt...
Copper
Antique Mason's Ashworth Ironstone Chinoiserie 12 Plates Set, England, 1862-1880
Located in New York, NY
Rare complete set of antique Mason's Ashworth Ironstone Chinoiserie pattern hand enameled and transfer decorated plates in excellent condition England, 1862-1880 Vibrant, joyful colo...
Ironstone
Vintage Chinese Wicker Horned Animal From the Shanghai Collection
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout vintage Chinese horned animal with a removable lid ambitiously handcrafted in woven reed or wicker with carved wood highlights. From the famed Shanghai Collection.
Wicker, Reed, Wood
Pair of Porcelain Kneeling Chinese Boys Holding Shallow Single Blossom Vessels
Located in Savannah, GA
This whimsical pair of porcelain figures depict kneeling Chinese boys holding square containers suitable for single blossoms. The symmetry is graceful from all angles and the color p...
Porcelain
$188 / item
Blue & White Trailing Vines Ginger Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
This round, porcelain ginger jar is brightly glazed in the blue-and-white manner. A combination of stenciled linework and hand-brushed shading, the sides and lid are enlivened with a...
Porcelain
$600Sale Price|20% Off
Hand Carved Chinese Rosewood Stand / Pedestal
Located in San Diego, CA
High quality vintage hand carved Chinese rosewood stand / pedestal, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good condition and measures 11.5" W x 11.5...
Rosewood
Chinese Export Eight Panel Coromandel Screen Lotus Blossoms
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Grand Chinese export post republic period eight panel coromandel screen featuring a waterscape decorated with blossoming lotus and birds....
Brass
Mid-20th Century Heavily Hand Carved Wood Cocktail Bar Cabinet
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautiful craftsmanship and hand carved aromatic wood cocktail bar cabinet. the bar cabinet features heavily urban chinoiserie carved scenes detail with rounded rectangular top and a...
Wood
Rare Antique Ironstone Mason's Ashworth Chinoiserie Large Serving Platter
Located in New York, NY
Rare early antique Mason's Ashworth Ironstone Chinoiserie pattern hand enameled and transfer decorated large serving platter 19th Century Vibrant, joyful colors of orange, mulberry, ...
Ironstone
Mid-Century Chinese Coffee Table with Mother of Pearl Inlay
Located in Chicago, IL
This beautifully hand-carved coffee table features a marble inset top with mother-of-pearl inlay decoration. These tables are popular due to their beautiful aesthetic, craftsmanship,...
Marble
Chinese Export Four Panel Coromandel Screen Cranes on Gold Leaf
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Dazzling Chinese export lacquered four-panel coromandel screen featuring a flora and fauna waterscape with stylized cranes. The carved lacquer panels...
Brass, Gold Leaf
Pair of Vintage Landscape Paintings, Oriental, Watercolour, Art, Mid Century
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a pair of vintage landscape paintings. An Oriental, framed watercolour picture, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1950. Appealingly subdued paintings with an endearing m...
Glass, Paper
Chinese Export Four Panel Gilt Lacquered Coromandel Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Extraordinary Chinese export four-panel coromandel screen featuring a pagoda pavilion landscape with a dramatic gold leaf background. The black lacquered panels are incised with vibr...
Brass, Gold Leaf
$298Sale Price|20% Off
Chinese Export Porcelain Bowl Hand Painted Blue and White, 18thC or earlier
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a Chinese Export porcelain bowl, hand painted in a blue and white pattern, which we date to the 18th Century or earlier, back to late Ming dynasty in the early 17th century. ...
Porcelain
Pair of Vintage Chinese Red Lacquer Open Front Door Table Cabinets
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Pair Vintage Chinese Red Lacquer Table Cabinets. Beautiful pair of matching red lacquer diminutive Chinese storage table cabinets. Created...
Wood
Chinese Huge Pair Cloisonné Enamel Eggs "Hundred Butterflies" with Wood Stands
Located in Norton, MA
Presenting a pair of huge and beautiful Chinese cloisonné enamel eggs with intricated patterns of hundred butterflies made by hand seating on a wood stand, from the early 20 century....
Copper
Pair Of Antique Guo Hua Panels, Oriental Art, Watercolour, Woven Silk, Edwardian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a pair of antique guó huà decorative panels. An Oriental, watercolour on woven silk cotton frieze, dating to the Edwardian period and later, circa 1910. A beautifully execute...
Cotton, Silk, Glass
Chinese Porcelain Snuff Bottle
Located in Vienna, AT
Very decorative, hand painted, Chinese snuff bottle, made from porcelain, circa 1940s. The bottle has a narrow neck with a cone shaped stopper. The main decoration is hand painted.
Porcelain
Chinese Export Porcelain Soup Tureen & Cover, Famille Rose, Circa 1780
Located in Downingtown, PA
Qianlong Chinese Export Famille Rose Porcelain Botanical Tureen Circa 1770-80 This impressive octagonal soup tureen and cover is a superb example of Chinese Export Porcelain, demons...
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Rose Mandarin Porcelain Vase, 19th Century
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very fine, antique Chinese Rose Mandarin porcelain vase. With rich polychrome enamel decoration on a light celadon ground. An excel...
Porcelain
Chinese Qing Four Panel Carved Soapstone Coromandel Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Impressive Chinese late Qing dynasty four panel folding coromandel screen featuring carved soapstone. The lacquered panels are decorated with idyllic scenes of beauties in a pagoda p...
Soapstone, Brass
Asian Tea Set with Hand Woven Wicker Carrying Warmer Basket, Teapot and Mugs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Asian tea set with carrying basket. 1 porcelain teapot, 2 porcelain tea mugs and a wicker carrying basket. Perfect for a trip to the garden for tea time or pi...
Porcelain, Wicker
$2,240Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Chinese Elm Yoke Back Officials Hat Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Highly carved pair of Chinese elm yoke back officials hat chairs. Featuring a decorative back splat with figural scenes. The arms have a whimsical serpentine form and the spandrels on the crest and front apron have finely carved detail. Constructed with a mortise and tenon joinery and supported by square legs with a foot rest in the front. Also known as pagoda chairs...
Elm
Chinese Export Reverse Glass Portrait Painting of an Opium Maiden, circa 1830
Located in Kinderhook, NY
A wonderful and rare circa 1830 Chinese export reverse glass portrait painting of unusually large size of a lady in traditional robes holding a closed fan shown sat in front of black...
Iron
Pair of Vintage Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Floor Vases
Located in Pomona, CA
This pair of large, highly decorated porcelain vessels are Chinese Famille Rose style floor vases features blooming peonies and exotic birds, likely peacocks or pheasants. Peonies ar...
Porcelain
$4,800Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Fish Tail Lamps on Gilt Bases.
Located in New York, NY
Elegant Pair of Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Fish Tail Lamps on Gilt Bases. 20th Century.
Porcelain
Circa 1880 Chinese Export Porcelain Thousand Butterfly Creamer
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1880 Chinese export porcelain thousand butterfly creamer. Scroll handle with gilding; finely enamelled decoration overall. Popular motif. Minor rubbing typical for age & use. 4...
Porcelain
Chinese export 17 century Ming Dynasty Swatow - Ware plate
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Swatow- ware ( or Zhangzhou ware) refers to a type of Chinese export porcelain produced in Fujian province , primarily for Southeast Asia and Japanese markets from 1500 to 1600's . O...
Pottery
Chinese Porcelain Framed Famille Rose Plaque of Birds with Prunus and Cherry
Located in Downingtown, PA
Lovebirds in Blossom: A Famille Rose Porcelain Plaque This beautiful Chinese Porcelain Plaque, dating to the 20th Century, captures a classic and auspicious natural scene in a horiz...
Porcelain
$1,400 / set
Chinese Carved Stone Foo Dogs, a Pair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Chinese carved stone foo dogs. Very nice substantial size. Each with moveable ball in mouth. 6.5" x 4" wide 9" tall. Add some Asian style to your design project.
Stone
Large Pair of Chinese Blue‑and‑White Lidded Jars, Late 20th Century
Located in Grythyttan, SE
Large Pair of Chinese Blue‑and‑White Lidded Jars, Late 20th Century A striking pair of large Chinese lidded porcelain jars crafted in the late 20th century, decorated in classic blu...
Porcelain
Early 19th Century Chinese earthenware jars containers or Planters
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An old glazed stoneware pair of Chinese 'egg post' or planters from Southern China. The pots have a traditional continuous coiling dragon wrapped around the body chasing the eternal ...
Earthenware
Chinese Export Famille Rose Porcelain Soup Tureen
Located in Bradenton, FL
Chinese Export Famille rose porcelain soup tureen and underplate. Qianlong Period, decorated with the figure of a mahout astride an elephant and flower sprays with gold rim. The theme of this lot indicates that it was probably made for the European colonial market in India, where East Indian ships...
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-Style Bronze Fluted Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-style copy of a patinaed bronze urn with ram head ornamentation below the fluted mouth, raised geometric patterns wrapping the body and a tapered circular...
Bronze
Celadon Vase, in a Green Color, Ceramic, Mid-20th Century, Made in China
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Green Celadon vase. This ceramic was made in China in the 20th century. It is small in size and has decorations in the manner of the Song period.
Ceramic, Celadon
Beautiful Satsuma Style Decorations & Elegant Gilt Gold Detailing Porcelain Lamp
Located in Tarry Town, NY
This exquisite 20th-century porcelain table lamp showcases exceptional craftsmanship with its beautifully painted Satsuma-style decorations and elegant gilt gold detailing. The lamp’...
Porcelain, Wood, Paint
Large Chinese Porcelain Famille Rose Medallion Bowl #10
Located in Bradenton, FL
Large colorful vintage Chinese export famille rose medallion porcelain bowl. Features classic oriental scenes with Chinese people throughout. Ov...
Porcelain
Pair of Antique Chinese Beige and Orange Foo Dog Patterned Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Antique Chinese (late 19th-early 20th Century) porcelain urn-form vases with a pattern featuring swirling orange foo dogs against a gray-beige background. (PRICED AS PAIR) C...
Porcelain
Large Italian A.Santini Faux Ivory Tusk Carving God of Longevity Chinoiserie 20c
Located in Richmond, CA
A huge Italian A.Santini faux ivory resin sculpture in a curved tusk form, standing 25" tall, of a detailed Chinese god of Longevity standing with a child, mounted upon a stand with ...
Resin
$3,040Sale Price|20% Off
Chinese Export Four Panel Coromandel Screen Pearlescent Landscape
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Captivating Chinese export four-panel coromandel screen featuring an idyllic seascape with beauties. The background is comprised of pearlescent crystal sand that shines like glitter ...
Brass
FINE ANTiQUE FOUR PERSON MAHJONG CIRCA 1920'S CHINESE EXPORT PERIOD HAND CARVED
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this highly collectable Chinese export Circa 1920's Mahjong set with the original hand carved box and additi...
Bamboo, Hardwood
Large Chinese Silk Embroidery, Framed
Located in Bradenton, FL
This tall Chinese silk embroidery depicts Asian figures and scenes of boats, bridges and Asian landscapes. Features red, green, salmon and whit...
Silk
Pair of Rose Medallion Vases
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
Fine pair of 19th century rose medallion vases.
Ceramic
19th Century Flow Blue Gravy Sauce Boat with Two Handles
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous double handled double spout fliw blue gravy boat. In excellent antique condition with a minor chip at the base.
Clay, Porcelain
Chinese Brass Vase with Dragon Relief, 20th Century, Signed
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A vintage Chinese vase in brass. The decorations are handmade. Its signed by an unidentified maker to the base. It was made for export purposes d...
Brass
Chinese Export Four Panel Carved Soapstone Lacquered Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Distinctive Chinese export four-panel coromandel screen featuring carved hardstone and soapstone decoration. The screen depicts a group of beauties in colorful flowing robes. The parcel-gilt landscape is decorated with two large carved stone trees...
Soapstone, Brass
$2,300Sale Price / set|20% Off
Stunning Mid-Century Chinese Pair of Verdigris Bronze Lamps, James Mont Style
By William Billy Haines, James Mont
Located in Bochum, NRW
Monumental Chinese verdigris bronze pair of table lamps, in the spirit of James Mont. Mounted on a solid wood base with a turned wood top. The brass vertical element is adjustable in...
Bronze
Chinese Famille Rose Ginger Jar Table Lamp on Bronze Base
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Chinese Famille Rose ginger jar table lamp is an antique (circa early 20th or even late 19th century) porcelain jar mounted as a lamp on ornate...
Bronze
$1,250 / set
Chinese Export Porcelain Turquoise Cats
Located in Downingtown, PA
Pair of Chinese Export Porcelain Cats with Turquoise Glaze This striking pair of Chinese porcelain figures, dating from the Early 20th Century, depicts two domesticated cats posed a...
Porcelain
Pair 20th Century Chinese Export Famille Verte Porcelain Parrots, Kangxi Style
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Chinese Export Famille Verte Porcelain Parrots, Kangxi Style, Mid-20th Century A striking pair of Chinese export porcelain parrots, modeled in the Kangxi famille verte tradi...
Porcelain
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
Chinese Chinoiserie Decorated Lacquer Panels, a Pair
Located in Bradenton, FL
Pair of stylish Chinoiserie panels in a lacquer finish, painted in gold, red & black with landscapes with village and people. The frame also decorat...
Lacquer