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.
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Style: Chinese Export
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Tole Tea Cannister With Lid
Located in Bradenton, FL
Late 20th Century Chinese Export toleware tea cannister with lid. This tea tin features Chinese characters and is hand painted gold, black and green on a red background. Can be used ...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Metal
Chinese Export Silver Centrepiece
Located in London, GB
This impressive Chinese Export Silver Centrepiece, consists of a large central dish, pierced with bamboo decoration, supported by five shoots of bamboo also with bamboo leaf decorat...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
Kitchen Drinks Cabinet Cupboard
Located in Cranbrook, Kent
Oriental Kitchen Drinks Cabinet Cupboard
A good sized useful part slatted cabinet made in pine timber; set on splay feet and restored to a natural fini...
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Pine
MId-20th Century Chinese Carved Rosewood Siver Chest Cabinet
Located in Germantown, MD
An exceptional Mid-20th Century Chinese Carved Rosewood Siver Chest and Cabinet in great vintage condition.
Features a flip top that open to reveal two flatware storage trays all fel...
Category
Mid-20th Century Hong Kong Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Felt, Rosewood
$2,996 Sale Price
25% Off
Chinese Blue Glazed Tripod Censer
Located in Chicago, IL
Censers have been used for thousands of years in Chinese culture as an element of prayer, ritual, and funerary rites. Placed within a shrine and filled with burning incense, the censer issues fragrant smoke that the duration of the ritual and acts as an offering to one's ancestors or religious deities. This round ceramic incense burner...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Antique Shanxi Province Hand Carved Elm Child Chair
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Shanxi province hand carved elm child chair.
This elm child's chair from the Shanxi Province of China is hand carved and an extremely rare piece. All natural patina.
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood, Elm
Pair Chinese Blue and White crackleware vases / lamps, 19th Century.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of late 19th Century Chinese blue and White crackleware vases / lamps. Each with bronzed scrolling impressed boaders and handles. The crackleware ground with scro...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Side Table
Located in London, GB
An elegant Chinese side table with ornate open carving flanking two front drawers, 19th century.
Dimensions: H90 x W101.5 x D62.5 cm.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood
Vintage Shanxi Province Elmwood Long Narrow Coffee Table
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Shanxi province elmwood long narrow coffee table
This vintage Chinese elm carved coffee table has carved curved legs and stretchers. ...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood, Elm
Chinese Famille Rose Buddha Budai And Boys Group 20th Century
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A CHINESE FAMILLE ROSE BUDDHA
BUDAI AND BOYS GROUP
20th Century
Modelled as Budai seated with five children
climbing on his arms and leg,
two boys are holding a lotus leaf
and one h...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Pottery
Vintage Chinese Floral Kilim Rug with English Country Cottage Style
Located in Dallas, TX
78026 vintage Chinese Floral Kilim rug with English Country Cottage style 04'01 x 06'03?. Cleverly composed and distinctively well-balanced, this hand-woven wool vintage Chinse flora...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wool
$1,279 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Chinese Platter
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very large. Very detailed. Very colorful with birds and butterflies. Possibly late 19th Century to 1900s. Excellent condition for its age.
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain, Paint
Chinese White and Floral Pattern Porcelain Jars
Located in Queens, NY
5 Chinese white porcelain, open-mouthed jars decorated in an all-over pattern of florals and foliage in purple, orange and green, accented with gold lotus flowers (Priced each).
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese White Peacock and Floral Design Urn-Shaped Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese white porcelain vases with urn-shaped forms decorated in large scale dark blue leaves outlined in gold, amid green, yellow and pink foliage and flora topped with blue...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Large Chinese Style Lacquered Dining Table, France, 19th Century
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Large dining or center table in black lacquered wood with gold-painted decorations on the apron and legs. Elaborately decorated table top, in slight relief.
A thick glass top protec...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Bronze Sculpture, Late 19th Century, Asia
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bronze sculpture, late 19th century, Asia
Measures: H 19cm, W 15cm, W 8cm.
Category
1880s Asian Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Mid-Century Chinese Export Style Green Pottery and Blossom Vases, S/2
Located in Kennesaw, GA
These is set of two Chinese Export style vases or ewers. They are a vivid green majolica glaze with a spraying of white blossoms. Measures: Small ; 5.25”H x 8.5”H.
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Pottery
Lámpara oriental
Located in VALÈNCIA, ES
Lámpara oriental Circa 1.960, realizada en cerámica esmaltada policromada, con incrustaciones decorativas, con tapa y base de madera.
Category
1960s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Wood
$429 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Asian Modern Pagoda Style Chinese Rosewood Altar Storage Chest
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Asian Modern Pagoda Style Chinese rosewood altar storage chest
Gorgeous Asian Modern pagoda style Chinese rosewood single lined top dra...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Brass
19th Century Tall Chinese Carved Hardwood Flower Stands Table Marble-Top Insert
Located in Brea, CA
A 19th century antique tall Chinese heavily carved hardwood circular stand table with rouge marble top insert, the inset marble top over carved hardwood apron with beaded trim, fancy...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
Pair Yellow Porcelain Dragon Table Lamps
Located in Houston, TX
Pair carved porcelain gourd lamps with white shades. Intricately incised porcelain detailed with bold multi colored auspicious dragons, clouds and greek key over a bold yellow backgr...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
$6,400 / set
19th Century antique Chinese Tea Table Lacquered with Porcelain inclusions
Located in BILBAO, ES
Chinese black lacquerd tea table with gilt highlights, circa 1930's.
Needs restauration in left side, but the design and style is precious because it reunites black lacquered with a...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Bentwood
Japanese Imari Porcelain Trumpet Neck Floor Vase, 1930, Samourai
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Japanese Imari floor vase offer porcelain construction with each vessel having ruffled rim, hand painted allover floral enamel decoration and...
Category
1930s Japanese Vintage Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
$1,528 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Cleric's Swing Out Case, Chinese, Travelling Box, Qing, Victorian, 1890
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique cleric's swing-out case. A Chinese, hardwood travelling box, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1890.
Charmingly provincial box, presented in original tim...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
A 20th Century Chinese Porcelain Table Lantern (SINGLE ITEM)
Located in San Francisco, CA
Pair of very fine Chinese butterfly decorated table lanterns, 20th century.
In the tradition of marriage lanterns.
Composed of four parts each. Finely enameled decorated borders wi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Enamel
$565 Sale Price / set
67% Off
Importance Chinese Lamp from the Beginning of the 20th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Importance Chinese lamp from the beginning of the 20th century mounted on gold gilt bronze.
H: 116cm, D: 60cm
Category
Early 20th Century Asian Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair 19th Century Chinese Rose medallion porcelain garden seats.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A wonderful quality pair of 19th Century Chinese Rose medallion / Cantonese porcelain garden seats. Each with beautiful bold classical green and pink colouring. Depicting scenes of v...
Category
1860s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Shanxi Province Elm 2 Door Cabinet with Original Patina and Lacquer
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Shanxi province elm 2 door cabinet with original patina and clear lacquer
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Elm, Lacquer
Antique Shanxi Province Hallway Bench Altar Console Table
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Shanxi Province Hallway Bench Altar console table
The table features a rectangular top with scrolling patterns. On straight supports this long ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century, Chinese Export Stormy Maritime JunkBoat Painting
Located in Atlanta, GA
This 19th-century Chinese Export gouache painting depicts a sailing vessel navigating turbulent seas, executed in the refined style characteristic of Cantonese (Guangzhou) workshops ...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Giltwood, Paint
Pair Early 20th Century Chinese Peking Glass Bowls Carved Red Glass Overlay
Located in Miami, FL
Offering a pair of Peking glass bowls with original stands, circa 1940s. These lovely bowls are made of white translucent glass and have carved red overlay designs and are from the C...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Art Glass
19TH century Chinese terracotta storage pot.
Located in London, GB
A C19th Chinese terracotta storage pot in a warm darkish colour.
In a lovely weathered condition and possibly originally for water storage.
This could be used both for indoors and ou...
Category
1870s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Terracotta
Antique Shanxi Province Red Lacquered Elmwood Storage Cabinet
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Shanxi Province Red Lacquered Elmwood storage cabinet
The storage cabinet has 6 drawers and 2 shelves.
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Elm, Lacquer
FiVE CHINESE CH'IEN LUNG PERIOD 1736-1796 WATERCOLOUR BIRD PIANTINGS FRAMED
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely suite of five original Watercolour paintings dating to the Ch'ien Lung Period 1736-1796 publishe...
Category
1960s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Paper
Chinese Large Ceramic Vases 1980´s
Located in BILBAO, ES
Chinese Ceramic vases
Beautiful pieces for decor of living room or main reception area.
Beautiful Coral and green design and flowers and fishes .
Sizes 40x36 cm / 15.74 x 14.17 inc...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
$3,193 / set
Set of Nine Chinese Export Gouache Paintings
Located in London, by appointment only
A set of nine Chinese export gouaches of local idealised landscapes, each depicting waterside architectural settings each mounted in a Gothic pa...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
$13,692 / set
Antique Chinese Hand Carved Wood Gilt Dragon in Shadow Box.
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Antique Chinese Hand Carved Wood Gilt Dragon in Shadow Box.
Chinese shadow box features a hand carved wood and gilded Dragon from the Qing Dynasty. It is mounted in a massive and de...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood
Chinese Export Silver Bowl
Located in London, GB
Chinese Export Silver Bowl with applied decoration depicting various plants and birds, and with three dragon handles. The retailer's mark is...
Category
1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
Framed Antique Embroidery Chinese Textile Qing Dynasty Provenance
Located in Atlanta, GA
A piece of beautiful antique textile fragments from China, circa 19th century Qing dynasty, artistically displayed in a giltwood frame with co...
Category
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silk, Giltwood
Canton Famille Rose Large Baluster Vase, Qing Dynasty, Ca. 1840
Located in Banner Elk, NC
A large Canton Famille rose baluster vase, of baluster form, with a tall waisted neck, an everted scalloped rim, the neck and shoulders with applied paired confronting Foo lions and ...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Five Extremely Rare Chinese Drawings of Foreigners, 18th Century, Colonial
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Five Chinese paintings of western people by an unknown artist
China, circa 1760, captions later
All in giltwood frames.
“A woman with Portuguese hairdo, with gold, silver and gemstone necklace, a skirt under a vest, a koi on her back, called a cloak, a woman customarily inherited the family business, the male humble, to the threshold (Qianlong year, circa 1735).”
Gouache on silk, measures: 32 x 25.4 cm
“He is a Westerner who had a white skin. He does not have a heavy beard but plaits his hair. He wears a triangular black hat, short jacket, leather shoes and long stockings...
Category
Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Paper
Vintage Pair of 'Blanc De Chine' Porcelain Guanyin Statues, China, circa 1950
Located in Chatham, ON
Fine vintage pair of 'Blanc de Chine' porcelain Guanyin statues - each figure holding an applied flower and standing on a lotus leaf and decorative stan...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Large Chinese Famille Verte Headrest with Courtyard Scenes
Located in Chicago, IL
This large porcelain block is an oversized version of the headrests once used by well-to-do women to keep their elaborate hairstyles intact while sleeping. Its exaggerated scale and ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Export Porcelain Dish with Dutch Decoration of a Voc Ship
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A Chinese export porcelain dish with Dutch decoration of a VOC ship
Circa 1700-1710, the Dutch decoration circa 1720-1730
Diam. 21.5 cm
?
Originally l...
Category
Early 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Enameled Teapot with Mythical Qilin, c. 1920s
Located in Chicago, IL
Tea drinking has been an integral part of Chinese culture for centuries, resulting in a wide range of social customs and material traditions. In addition to tea leaves, water, and he...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Large Antique Oriental Ceramic Table Lamp
Located in London, GB
A stunning and very impressive large antique oriental ceramic table lamp. We can’t work out if it’s Chinese or Japanese. It dates from the late 19th century and was likely converted ...
Category
1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Wood
Set Of Twelve Chinese Framed Pith Paper Watercolors
Located in Essex, MA
Set of twelve with cream colored faux bamboo frames. Each depicting Chinese furniture and interiors.
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paper
Chinese Porcelain Hand Painted Porcelain Lamp
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A hand painted Chinese porcelain lamps with an imperial yellow background. The white porcelain with cartouches of aristocratic women in a floral background with intricately detailed ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
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...
Category
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
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....
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Copper
Vintage Watercolor Painting on Paper - Signed - Unframed - China - 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage watercolor painting on paper - good quality and composition - signed with a multi character stamp in red - mounted with adhesive tape to a two color/double bevel edged matte ...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Paint, Paper
Large Chinese Export Carved Soapstone Foo Dog Scholars Seal
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large Chinese export carved soapstone foo dog scholars seal, nicely carved, in two color soapstone, with large seal at base.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Soapstone
$380 Sale Price
20% Off
Large Antique Chinese Cloisonnae Imperial Dragon Decorated Bowl
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large and very well executed cloisonnae bowl is signed by and unknown artist and originates from China in approximately 1900 in the period Chinese Export style. The bowl is done with black as the predominant color and decorated with Imperial Dragons...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Metal
19th Century English Bamboo Square Occasional Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Century. English. Bird and flower lacquered panel. Hand painted.
Category
19th Century English Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Bamboo, Wood, Paint
Monumental Fish and Flora Blue and White Gooseneck Vase
Located in Chicago, IL
Revered for centuries for its elegant designs and rich cobalt blue and pure white colors, traditional Chinese blue-and-white porcelain lives on in this hand-painted bottleneck vase. Delicately rendered with fish and flora beneath fanciful waves, the vase's whimsical motif draws from these traditional Chinese symbols...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Large Pair of Chinese Cloisonné Enamel Lanterns
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Lanterns such as these were widely produced during the Shang Dynasty. They were mainly used for various ceremonial purposes and featured high quality craftsmanship and ornate details...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Pair of Ormolu Mounted Chinese Porcelain Tazze
Located in London, GB
Pair of ormolu mounted Chinese porcelain tazze
Chinese & French, Late 19th Century
Height 18cm, width 31cm, depth 21cm
These very fine decorative pieces are a pair of tazze (from the Italian tazza...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
$6,223 / set
Late 19th Century Chinese Silver Kiddush Goblet
Located in New York, NY
Chinese export silver covered Kiddush goblet, 19th century.
Round cup on a stem mounted to a flat circular foot. Stepped domed cover with bird finial. ...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
$3,040 Sale Price
20% Off
Large Blue and White Celestial Ball Vase with Fu Dogs
Located in Chicago, IL
Beautifully rendered with expressive brushwork, the painted decoration on this monumental globular jar demonstrates the exceptional artistry of Chinese blue-and-white porcelain. Guar...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Export Silver Jardiniere with Dragons and Figures
Located in London, GB
A Chinese Export Silver Jardiniere circa 1890, of rectangular form and variously pierced to all four sides. The side with the vacant cartouche has two opposing dragons separated by a...
Category
1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
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.