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
China Trade Framed Pith Paper Set of Pictures of Butterflies and Plants
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Watercolours of Flowers and Butterflies on Pith Paper,
Set of Eight,
Circa 1840-60.
The superb set of Chinese watercolours of flowers and insects are painted on pith paper a...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Paper
Chinese Export Porcelain Famille Rose Sauce Tureens, Covers & Stands
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export Porcelain Famille Rose Sauce Tureens, Covers & Stands,
A Pair,
Circa 1775
The pair of Chinese Export porcelain sauce tureens are of a shaped rectangular form and are ...
Category
1770s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese White Green and Yellow Vegetal Winter Melon Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (early 20th century) winter melon-form porcelain vase decorated with an incised, white bottom half that grows into verdant abstracted vegetal and peacock shapes on th...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese White Famille Rose Pear-Shaped Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of similar Antique Chinese (early 20th Century) famille rose porcelain vases with pear-shaped forms decorated with pink and yellow florals, lily pads, cranes, and gold rims on o...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Export Kangxi Period Imari Sauceboats
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export Kangxi period imari sauce boats.
Circa 1700.
The pair of Chinese Export Imari-colored sauce boats have a shaped oval form with handles...
Category
Early 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
$4,500 / set
Mid-Century Chinese Wooden Scenic Design Carved Hinge Top Box
Located in Queens, NY
Mid-century Chinese carved wooden box featuring an elaborate scenic design with a hinged top and brass closure hardware. (Stamped HUNG HOP CHEST CO. HONG...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Antique Chinese Painted Porcelain Plate and Wood Vanity Mirror
Located in Queens, NY
Carved wooden standing vanity mirror with mirrored surface on one side, and a hand-painted porcelain plate on the reverse featuring a pastoral scene with characters in the top right ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood, Porcelain, Mirror
Chinese Export Silver Bowl
Located in London, GB
Chinese Export Silver Bowl, circa 1890, round and sitting on a plain collet foot. The bowl is applied with bamboo and prunus emerging from r...
Category
1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
Antique Chinese Export Silver Mug with Dragon Handle
Located in New York, NY
Chinese export silver mug, ca 1860. Straight and upward tapering sides with applied pictorial frieze on engraved and stippled ground: Scenes of social life with contemplative sages and chaste maidens amongst palm trees and pagodas. Pastoral exoticism enlivened with scaly, slithering dragon handle...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
Chinese Export Porcelain Blue and White Dish with Deer 18th Century Circa 1780
Located in Katonah, NY
This 18th-century Chinese export blue and white porcelain dish was hand-painted in underglaze blue, circa 1780.
The whimsical central scene depicts two stylized deer beneath a bloomi...
Category
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Export Silver Box
Located in London, GB
Chinese Export Silver Table Box of rectangular shape, embossed and chased with prunus decoration on a "cracked-ice" background and with a single oval vacant cartouche on the hinged l...
Category
1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
Chinese White and Green Vegetal Winter Melon Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) winter melon-form porcelain vase decorated with an incised, white bottom half that grows into verdant abstracted vegetal and peacock shapes on th...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Set of 4 Chinese Black Lacquer Geisha Screen Panels
Located in Queens, NY
Set of 4 Asian Chinese style (20th Century) black lacquer screen panels depicting geishas, intaglio etched with painting (PRICED AS SET).
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Paint
Chinese Blue & White Porcelain Covered Jars with Floral Decoration & Calligraphy
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese blue & white porcelain ovoid jar with calligraphic characters on the lid plus a double border, the body painted with a keyfret border surrounding the mouth, a foliate pattern...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Paint
Chinese Purple Glazed Porcelain Pear Shaped Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) purple glazed ceramic vase with a pear-shaped form, a gold rim along the mouth, foo dog ornamentation along the neck, and a bright teal blue inter...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Green Painted Faux Bamboo and Gold Design Fireplace Screen
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese green painted fireplace screen with a faux bamboo frame, accented in gold botanical and foliate designs centered on each side of the p...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood
Antique Chinese Urn Shaped Orange Foo Dog Design Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese porcelain vase with an urn-shaped form and swirling orange foo dog designs on a grayish-beige background. (Previously broken and repaired. Matching in-tact vase: NWL2688)
Co...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Guangcai Export Porcelain Orange Pattern Scalloped Centerpiece Bowl
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Guangcai (Late 19th Century) export porcelain centerpiece bowl decorated with blue and orange patterned panels around a center scene of a woman walking with a large u...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Export Porcelain Famille Rose Botanical Teapot Stand
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export Porcelain Famille Rose Botanical teapot stand,
circa 1775
The Chinese Export porcelain famille rose hexagonal teapot stand is centered...
Category
1770s Chinese Antique 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
Pair of Chinese Blue and White Floral Lidded Ginger Jar Vases
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of antique Chinese (late 19th century) similar ceramic ginger jars with blue floral designs surrounding bold, centered characters and geometric patterned bands leading to brown ...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Fluted and Scalloped Celadon Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese celadon porcelain vases with tall fluted necks and scalloped openings (PRICED AS PAIR).
Condition: Good; Wear consistent with age and use
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Style Black Iron Filigree Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese style (19/20th Century) tall black iron filigree design tiered table lamp on a round base.
Ships without a shade
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Iron, Wrought Iron
Chinese Multicolor Glazed Porcelain Pheasant Sculpture
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Mid 20th Century) porcelain sculpture of a pheasant with colorful, gold-outlined plumes perched on a rocky formation of green and brown.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Hardwood Armoire
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese (19th Century) hardwood cabinet / armoire with large bronze barrel pin closure on the front 2 doors which have 2 interior pull drawers with 2 add...
Category
19th Century Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
Chinese Export Porcelain Underglaze Blue Botanical Circular Dish
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export Porcelain Underglaze Blue Botanical Circular Dish,
Circa 1775
This Chinese Export circular dish exemplifies the underglaze blue and whit...
Category
1770s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Carved Bamboo Root Face Wall Hanging
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese wall plaque made from a bamboo root carved in the shape of a smiling face with a bamboo root fiber beard. (Companion pieces: NWL2543A-G).
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Bamboo, Wood
Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Terra Cotta Rider and Horse Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terracotta tomb figure of a girl in a red garment holding an object riding a dark brown horse, standing on a textured base.
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Terracotta
Framed Chinese Pen and Ink Ancestor in Navy Robes Portrait
Located in Queens, NY
Vintage (20th Century) Chinese pen and ink ancestor portrait capturing the honoree seated in a red chair on a patterned floor and wearing an elabor...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paper, Glass, Walnut
Chinese White and Blue Character Lidded Ginger Jar Vases
Located in Queens, NY
3 antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) similar ceramic ginger jars with blue floral designs surrounding bold, centered characters and geometric patterned bands leading to brown rustic...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Export Silver Battle Mug with Dragon Handle
Located in New York, NY
Chinese export silver mug, ca 1880. Straight and upward tapering sides with allover low-relief battle frieze depicting soldiers—spearmen, lancers, and swordsmen—with a few hapless me...
Category
Late 19th Century 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
Chinese White and Blue and Raised Rose Design Double Gourd Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese white and blue double-gourd porcelain vase decorated with bands of blue, framed iconography, and raised, pierced roses amid leaves wrapping the top and middle sections, and a...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Black and Multicolor Floral Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese black porcelain vase decorated with an abundance of flowers varying in size, shape and color and two patterned bands around the to...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Carved Wood Civil Officer Statues
Located in Queens, NY
2 Chinese carved wooden statues of civil officers wearing white robes detailed with red trim, a red broad sash above the waste, and an ornate belt below th...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood
$3,750 / item
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
Pair of Vintage Chinese Yellow and Green Tole Palm Tree Table Lamps
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Vintage Chinese tole table lamps in the shape of palm trees, painted yellow and green, resting on octagonal bases and mounted with brass hardware. (PRICED AS Pair)
Ships wit...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Brass
Chinese White and Blue Character and Floral Ginger Jar Vases
Located in Queens, NY
3 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 Porcelain Reticulated Octagonal Pink and Green Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese porcelain table lamp comprised of a porcelain vase with eight reticulated sides in green with pink porcelain edges and a motif of Chinese vases filled with flowers on each si...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Chinese Cobalt Blue and Incised Dragon Motif Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese cobalt blue vases in ginger jar shapes, covered with incised patterns of dragons and curvilinear designs, and bearing small white rectangles featuring blue characters...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese White Globular Kylin Motif Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese (late 19th Century) white, globular porcelain vase with colorful kylin beasts, symbolizing good luck, amid geometric and floral designs.
Condition: Good; Wear consistent wit...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Export Silver Walking Stick Handle
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive antique Chinese Export silver walking stick handle; an addition to our diverse range of Chinese dragon ornamented s...
Category
1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
Pair of Chinese Multi-Color Pattern Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese vases decorated with all-over swirling floral motifs intercepted by yellow patterned bands at the bottom and top of the base and striking blue designs wrapping concav...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
$21,500 / set
Pair of Chinese Red-Painted Wooden Commodes / Side Tables
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese red-painted wooden commodes / side tables with two drawers and breakfront doors with brass pulls (PRICED AS PAIR).
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Brass
Chinese Export Porcelain Armorial Crested Soup Plate
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export porcelain armorial crested soup plate,
circa 1765
The Chinese Export porcelain armorial plate has a flower festoon border at the rim and a spearhead inner border a...
Category
Mid-18th Century Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
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
Chinese Monumental Imari-Style Figurative Scene Lidded Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese monumental lidded floor vase celebrating Japanese Imari ware in both palette and design, featuring medallions with figurative scenes agains...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Terracotta Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terracotta tomb figure of a man with his fists raised, wearing a hat or a head wrap and boots, and standing on a faceted...
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Terracotta
Chinese Export Glass Picture of a Persian Warrior
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese export glass picture of a Persian warrior,
The Chinese reverse glass picture depicts a Persian warrior seated on the back of a dappled horse riding at a trot, a shield slu...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Glass
Tang Dynasty Pottery Camel
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese (Tang Dynasty) unglazed pottery camel with an open mouth and head turned with a double hump back.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
$49,000
Chinese Export Porcelain Armorial Dish with Coat of Arms with Elephant
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export Porcelain Armorial Dish,
Pseudo Continental Arms,
Motto: "Pura Placet Piteas",
After a Meissen Porcelain Original Service,
Cir...
Category
Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Urn Shaped Orange Foo Dog Design Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese (late 19th-early 20th Century) porcelain vase with an urn-shaped form and swirling orange foo dog designs on a grayish-beige background.
Condition: Good; Wear consistent wit...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Coromandel 4-Fold Screens
Located in Queens, NY
2 Asian Chinese style (20th Century) red coromandel 4 fold screens. (PRICED EACH).
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood
$4,500 / item
Chinese Celadon and Tonal Pattern Porcelain Pot
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese celadon, porcelain pot decorated with a raised, tonal botanical and dragon design wrapping the entirety of its bulbous form and accented with foo...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Yongzheng Chinese Export Porcelain Plate with Arms of Elwick of Middlesex
Located in Downingtown, PA
Rare Early 18th Century Yongzheng Period Chinese Export Porcelain Plate,
Arms of Elwick of Middlesex,
John Elwick of Mile End in Middlesex and of Cornhill in the City of London,
Circa 1730
This rare important Chinese Export armorial plate is painted with the coat of arms of Elwick of Middlesex in the center within a panel reserved against an en grisaille Chinese...
Category
1720s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Imari Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Asian Chinese Imari (18th cent) porcelain small vases with a scalloped top and scenes of figures and flowers. (small chip to 1 top) (priced as pa...
Category
18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
$3,350 / set
20th Century Chinese Carved Wooden Pedestal / Table Stand
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese (20th Century) carved wooden pedestal / table stand featuring a waisted circular top followed by a molded openwork apron in a geometric scroll pattern, standing on five curle...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood
Chinese Export Silver Card Case
Located in London, GB
Chinese Export Silver Card Case, circa 1900, embossed and chased with a dragon on both sides and a vacant shield-shaped cartouche. Retailed by Kwong Man Shing, and made by Zhuo (卓).
...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
Chinese Paper Scroll in Plexiglass Case
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese paper scroll in a plexiglass case.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Glass
Chinese Off-White and Tonal Patterned Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese off-white porcelain vase with a pear shape carved in a tonal, scrolling botanical pattern (date mark on bottom, see photos).
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
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.