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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
Recognized Seller Listings
Chinese White and Blue Character and Floral Lidded Ginger Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (late 19th century) lidded ceramic ginger jar urn with blue floral designs surrounding bold, centered characters on 4 sides.        
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Han Dynasty-Style Patinated Bronze Tapered Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-style copy of a bronze tapered urn with a green and black patina, decorated with raised geometric patterns and linear, carved pieces extending outward fro...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Chinese Off-White and Blue Symbol Patterned Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) large, off-white porcelain urn painted with a blue pattern featuring Buddhist symbols and other shapes with accented blue scrolled handles.  
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Blue and Orange Fish Design Round Lidded Porcelain Jars
Located in Queens, NY
4 antique Chinese (Mid 20th Century) similar porcelain vases with orange fish swimming around blue backgrounds - some displaying sponged effects - inspired...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese White and Blue Gaming Scene Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese white and blue porcelain table lamp made from an urn-shaped vase depicting a group of figures around a game table under a tree,...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Pair of Chinese Cobalt Blue and Incised Motif Meiping Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese cobalt blue vases in Meiping shapes, covered with incised patterns of dragons and curvilinear designs, and bearing small white rectangles featuring blue characters (P...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

25 Vintage Chinese Style Blue and White Ceramic Decorative Balls
Located in Queens, NY
Set of 25 vintage Chinese style blue and white ceramic decorative balls with floral designs, varies with each. (PRICED AS Set)
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Chinese White and Blue Nature Motif Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) large white, porcelain urn with a scene of blue flora and fauna, and two dark blue scrolled handles along the neck. Light wear with some damage ...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Panel Art Depicting Birds and Branches in Raised Mother of Pearl Pieces
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese panel art featuring a raised bird perched on a flowering tree branch detailed in pieces of mother of pearl against a burgundy and brown floral bordered background in a carved...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Wood

Chinese Rust Agate Incense Burner
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese rust colored agate urn (incense burner) with pierced round cover with rings and carved monkey and dragon handles resting on a base of 4 fish. (modern base 1¬O" high).  
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Stone, Marble

Chinese Export Silver Cocktail Shaker
Located in London, GB
Chinese Export Silver Cocktail Shaker, circa 1925, embossed and chased with dragon decoration Retailed by Hung Chong, and made by Sheng (声). There is a bold single dragon, with prot...
Category

1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Silver

Pair of Chinese Olive-Colored Porcelain Meiping Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of similar antique Chinese (early 19th Century) Meiping form porcelain vases in a deep olive green teadust glaze (mark on bottom, see photos) (PRICED AS PAIR). Condition: Good;...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Wooden Lacquered Rectangular Chest with Hand Painted Figural Scenes
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese Mid-Century rectangular hinged chest with black metal latch and two side ring handles, lacquered and hand painted featuring three women and one girl in two outdoor courtyard ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Wood

Chinese Silver Plate Dragon Picture Frame
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese-style silver plate rectangular easel picture frame with dragon and horse shoe embossed frame.
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Silver

Asian Chinese Style Carved Mahogany and Bevelled Glass Dragon Wall Mirror
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese-style (19th century) carved mahogany and bevelled glass wall mirror with carved dragon and scroll design frame with a filigree pediment top.
Category

19th Century Unknown Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood, Mahogany

Chinese Green Floral Scrolling Design Ginger Jar Vases
Located in Queens, NY
3 Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) similar green ginger jars with floral scrolling designs surrounding circular, yellow, centered emblems, unglazed openings, and a hole in the ba...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Fine Chinese Export Reverse Painting on Glass
Located in San Francisco, CA
A well-executed Chinese export reverse painting on glass depicting an elaborate interior scene with many figures engaged in various domestic activities. This is a finely drawn compos...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Glass, Paint

Pair 18th Century Chinese Export 'The Hundred Antiques' Decoration Candlesticks
Located in San Francisco, CA
A tall and impressive pair of Famille Verte Chinese export pricket sticks decorated in 'The Hundred Antiques' style which became popular in the 17th century and is commonly found in...
Category

Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain, Paint

Chinese Emperor of Qin Mausoleum-Style Terracotta Warrior Statue
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese terracotta warrior figure modeled after one of the 7,000 warriors that form the Terracotta Army in the Mausoleum of the Fir...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Brass

Chinese White and Blue Natural Design Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white, porcelain urn decorated in a blue scene of a bird perched on a flowering branch above water, and accented with two light blue scrolled hand...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese Export Silver Candlesticks
Located in London, GB
A Pair of Chinese Export Silver Candlesticks, each with coiled dragon chasing a fire pearl around the plain column, with the dragons rising in opposing directions to face each other....
Category

Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Silver

Chinese Jingdezhen Tri-Color Phoenix-Tail Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) porcelain phoenix tail vase with a Jingdezhen style tri-color overglaze with a deep green, swirl-patterned ground and pale pink, yellow and blue ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Famille Rose & Bird Design Porcelain Vase Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese table lamp made from an 18th century porcelain vase mounted with wood and brass hardware as a lamp, with a multi-colored fam...
Category

18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Brass

Chinese Parade Scene Rounded Porcelain Watermelon Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) low, rounded white porcelain vase, known as a watermelon jar, depicting a spirited procession of participants holding flags and playing drums lea...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese White and Blue Floral and Character Ginger Jar Vases
Located in Queens, NY
5 Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) similar porcelain ginger jars with blue floral designs around bold, centered characters and geometric bands leading to unglazed rims (jars vary...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese White and Figurative Pastoral Scene Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white porcelain urn decorated with a detailed and lively scene of people gathering in a pastoral Setting and blue...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Hand Painted Cantonese Vase
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th century hand painted Cantonese vase in the Famille Rose style. The baluster-shaped body with brightly painted panels depicts interior sc...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Export Silver Tea and Coffee Service
By Yu Chang
Located in New Orleans, LA
This stunning and complete seven-piece Chinese export silver tea and coffee service was crafted by Yu Chang of Shanghai and Hong Kong, a firm re...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Sterling Silver

Pair of Antique Chinese Floral and Bird Patterned Porcelain Lidded Ginger Jars
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Antique Chinese (late 19th-early 20th Century) porcelain lidded ginger jars with a pattern featuring sprawling tree branches and foliage in greens, oranges, and browns, and ...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Two Chinese Qing Dynasty Porcelain Vases with Gilt Bronze Bases
Located in London, GB
These porcelain vases are exquisite pieces of antique Chinese decorative art. They were crafted in the late Qing dynasty, which lasted f...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Pair of Chinese Polychrome and Lacquer Door Panels
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Asian Chinese style (late 19th/early 20th Century) red painted doors inset with pierced & relief carved polychrome lacquered panels (PRICED AS Pair).
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Chinese Famille Rose Multi-Colored Porcelain Vase Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese table lamp made from an 18th century porcelain vase mounted with wood and brass hardware as a lamp, with a famille rose intr...
Category

18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Brass

Antique Chinese Earthenware Jar with Blue Characters
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (early 20th century) small, earthenware jar with blue characters running down the center framed by thin stripes circling the top and base.      
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Ormolu and Cloisonné Enamel Jardinière Attributed to F. Barbedienne
Located in London, GB
Monumental Chinese cloisonné enamel ormolu mounted jardinière Chinese and French, Late 19th Century Height 105cm, diameter 71cm This magnificent piece is a large ormolu mounted cloi...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Enamel, Ormolu

Chinese Export Porcelain Rococo Underglaze Blue and White Tall Candlestick
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Porcelain Underglaze Blue Rococo Candlestick, Circa 1750 The underglaze blue candlestick has a square shaped domed base with canted corners and a recessed bowl at the base o...
Category

Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Red Painted Wooden Flower Vase Base / Stand
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese carved red painted wooden flower pot base / stand with a circular surface to hold a pot or vase, resting on four bowed and carved feet with a circular stretcher.
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Wood

Chinese Export Silver Bowl
Located in London, GB
Chinese Export Silver bowl, circa 1895, with applied decoration of two peacocks on each side of the globular body, and four butterflies flying among peonies and plum blossoms. The bo...
Category

1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Silver

Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-Style Lidded Bronze Ritual Wine Vessel
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-style bulbous form verdigis bronze ritual wine vessel with an archaistic raised banded pattern, a domed lid with four zoomorphic-shaped loops, two decorat...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Chinese Langyao Emerald Green Glazed Footed Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese bulbous footed porcelain vase crafted in the Lang kiln (Langyao) in a dazzling and uniform emerald green glaze with a strong glass-like luster, shift...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese Export Canton Rose Vases Provenance: Paul Vandekar
Located in San Francisco, CA
A fine pair of Chinese export vases in the Canton Rose Medallion pattern and palette. Provenance: Earle D. Vandekar, London.
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Rare Large Chinese Export Porcelain 'Table Bay' Cape of Good Hope Dish, C. 1740
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A rare large Chinese export porcelain 'Table Bay' dish Qianlong period, circa 1735-1750 Diam. 27.5 cm This version of the ‘Table Bay’ porcelain docu...
Category

Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Bogu Pattern Tiger-Handled Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white porcelain vase painted with a pink and green bogu pattern featuring bonsai, art objects, and calligraphy, green tiger ornamentation on each ...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Vintage Chinese Tole and Iron Potted Flower Sculpture
Located in Queens, NY
Vintage Chinese tole and iron decorative potted flower sculpture with white flowers connected to a green multi-leaf stalk, mounted in a circular white and blue metal base pot. (Simil...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Iron

Chinese White and Blue Lily Pad and Floral Design Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white and blue porcelain urn decorated with a lily pad and floral motif, and accented in two navy scrolled handles along the neck.    
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese White and Orange Foo Dog Design Winter Melon Porcelain Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) white porcelain vase with an elongated, rounded winter melon form decorated in an orange foo dog on one side and ch...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Export Silver Box by Wang Hing
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Chinese export silver dragon box; an addition to our collection of boxes and cases This fine antique C...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Silver

Chinese Carved Painted Wood Dressing Table / Vanity Mirror with Gilt Highlights
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese (19/20th Century)red painted dressing table mirror with an elaborately shaped carved wood frame with openwork design and raised on a rectangular base Losses on the pinecone...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Metal

Chinese Guangzhou Dog Hunt Scene Conjoined Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) Guangzhou painted export porcelain vase with a conjoined form depicting a richly colored dog hunt scene between gold-patterned bands.  
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Aubergine and Blue Changing Glaze Bulbous Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese bulbous vase made with a glaze that transforms after being fired in the kiln, resulting in traces of blue showing through the main aubergine/purple color. Condition: Good; W...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Large Ormolu Mounted Chinese Porcelain Jardinière
Located in London, GB
A large ormolu mounted Chinese porcelain jardinière French and Chinese, Late 19th Century Height 102cm, width 80cm, depth 63cm Combining Ch...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Pair of White and Blue Pattern Lidded Porcelain Ginger Jars
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese white and blue porcelain lidded ginger jars painted with floral and vine motifs, Greek key patterned bands at the openin...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese Off-White Orange and Pink Floral Motif Porcelain Table Lamps
Located in Queens, NY
"Pair of similar Chinese porcelain table lamps made from off-white, urn-shaped vases with pink, orange and green florals, berries, leaves and snap dragons with wooden bases and brass...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Chinese Blue and Purple Glazing Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (early 20th Century) blue vase with purple and pink glazing that creates an ethereal effect across its pear-shaped form. Condition: Good; Wear consistent with age an...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese White, Green, and Pink Floral and Rooster Design Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (early 20th century) white porcelain urn incised and painted with decorations of roosters amid blooming floral branches mixed with geometric patterned bands at the bo...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Vintage Chinese Rectangular Tole Black and Gold Monestary Scene Tray
Located in Queens, NY
Vintage Chinese rectangular tole serving tray with a painted gold design of a figures in a monestary courtyard on a black background surrounded by a shallow lip with rounded corners....
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Metal

Chinese Export Silver Bowl
Located in London, GB
Chinese Export Silver Bowl circa 1895, finely decorated with chrysanthemums on a matte ground, interspersed with six butterflies in flight. It has a single vacant shield-shaped cart...
Category

1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Silver

Antique Peking Chinese Runner
Located in Closter, NJ
In the 1860s an organized carpet industry was established under imperial patronage in Peking. These carpets tended to have tighter and finer weaves than their Ningxia counterparts, o...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Antique Chinese Export Silver Three Piece Tea Service
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Chinese Export Silver Three Piece Tea Service - Antique Circa 1920 An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Chinese export silver three piece tea service; an addition to our diverse silver teaware collection This exceptional antique Chinese silver tea set...
Category

1920s Chinese Vintage 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.

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