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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 Tang Dynasty-Style Bactrian Camel Terra Cotta Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terra cotta tomb figure of a Bactrian camel, the main form of transport over the Silk Road, with its head tilted back and mouth open to the sky, we...
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Terracotta

Chinese Wooden Bar Cabinet with Shou Carvings
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese hardwood bar cabinet with a paneled exterior and brass-hinged top and doors that open to reveal ample storage for glassware, slide-out bottle trays, two drawers and S...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Wood

Pair of Chinese Qing Style Mint Green Glazed Globular Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese Qing Dynasty style Yongzheng period (20th century) mint green, glazed porcelain vases with globular forms influenced by West Asian cul...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Han Dynasty-Style Patinated Bronze Rectangular Vessel
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-style copy of a bronze tapered urn with a green patina, decorated with raised geometric patterns, accented with two handles and sitting atop a trapezoidal...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Rare Chinese Export Porcelain Voc Dish
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A Chinese export porcelain VOC (Dutch East India Company) dish Canton, Yongzheng period, circa 1730 Diam. 23 cm Executed in rose-pink, ...
Category

18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Han Dynasty-Style Patinated Bronze Lidded and Footed Pot
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-style copy of a patinated bronze pot carved with raised geometric patterned bands wrapping its form, sitting atop three feet, fitted with two handles and ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Metal

Chinese Off-White and Light Blue Vine Motif Porcelain Urn Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) off-white porcelain vase with an urn form decorated in a light blue, delicate vine and floral motifs and bold characters on 4 sides.  
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese Off-White Cherry Blossom Tree and Bird Motif Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese off-white urn-shaped porcelain vases depicting groups of birds perched on flowering branches of cherry blossom trees and one bird flying above, positioned between two...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese White, Blue and Orange Floral Moon Flask Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (early 20th Century) white moon flask vase decorated with a central botanical design surrounded by blue and orange flowers, and topped with two blue handles. Conditi...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Antique Chinese Court Genre Scene Design Porcelain Rouleau-Form Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Antique Chinese (late 19th-early 20th Century) porcelain rouleau-form vases with central designs of a court scene with figures in conversation surrounded by colorful geometri...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese Bogu Pattern Lobed Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese (Early 20th Century) similar off-white lobed porcelain vases with red foo dog side ornaments and a pink and green traditional bogu pattern ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Vintage Chinese Brown and Gold Tole Serving Tray with Lake Scene
Located in Queens, NY
Vintage Chinese brown and gold tole serving tray featuring a lake scene with trees, bridges, boats, and fishermen.  
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Metal

Chinese Off-White and Blue Pastoral Scene Porcelain Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) small, porcelain jar depicting a blue pastoral scene on an off-white background with an unglazed rim.   
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Antique Chinese Rouleau Shaped Potted Tree Design Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Antique Chinese (late 19th-early 20th Century) porcelain vases with rouleau forms and a design depicting potted trees with characters extending up the necks. (PRICED AS PAIR)
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Pink Floral and Bird Design Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese pink ceramic table lamp made from a baluster-shaped vase decorated with colorful birds, florals and koi on a wooden base with brass hardware. Vase is cracked near the socke...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Sancai Glazed Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style vase crafted with the traditional tri-color glaze, or Sancai, utilizing brown, green and off-white, and with a glazed ochre...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Painted Clay Buddha Statue with Red Robes
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (early 20th Century, Republic of China) clay Buddha sculpture with painted details and red and green robes. (Similar sculptures: NWL2498, ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Clay

Chinese White and Blue Village Scene Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) large white, porcelain urn depicting a blue scene of a village along the water, and finished with two dark blue scrolled handles along the neck. ...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese White Porcelain Ginger Jar Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese style (19th Century) white porcelain ginger jar form lamp with foliate & bird details mounted on a round wood base. Ships wi...
Category

19th Century Unknown Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain, Wood

Chinese Export Silver Goblet
Located in London, GB
Chinese Export Silver Goblet embossed and chased with a single dragon around the bowl and with an applied shield-shaped cartouche. The goblet dates from around 1900, was made by Bao ...
Category

Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Silver

Pair of Chinese Off-White Floral and Bamboo Design Table Lamps
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese porcelain table lamps made from off-white, urn-shaped vases decorated with a winding natural scene of flowers and bamboo growing from behind a decorative gate mounted...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

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 Rose Quartz Rooster
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese rose quartz small carved figure of a rooster (as is-repair to base) (20th Cent)
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Rose Quartz

Pair of Chinese Pale Gray Glazed Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of similar Chinese porcelain vases with globular forms in pale gray hues with glazed finishes (vases vary slightly in shape) (PRICED AS PAIR).  
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese Burgundy and White Dragon Motif Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese ceramic burgundy vases decorated with the white silhouettes of dragons wrapping around their pear-shaped forms (PRICED AS PAIR).
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Han Dynasty Style Patinated Bronze Carved Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-style copy patinaed bronze urn carved with raised geometric patterned bands wrapping its form and adorned with two small handles beneath the neck.
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Metal

Chinese Tall Black Glazed Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese black glazed porcelain vase with a tall, slim shape and a white interior.   
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

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

Chinese Gray Incised Meiping Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) gray porcelain vase in a Meiping form carved with tonal floral medallions and accented with diminutive handles at the opening. Condition: Good; W...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese Song Dynasty Style Beige Cong Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Antique Chinese Song Dynasty-style (late 19th Century) vases with traditional cong forms, beige crackle finishes, and round mouths and bases (PRICED AS PAIR). Condition: Goo...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Han Dynasty-Style Patinated Bronze Shallow Bowl
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-style copy of a patinated bronze shallow bowl carved with raised geometric patterned bands wrapping the exterior, and an inscription on the bottom of the ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Bronze

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

Chinese Pig Head Shaped Porcelain Tureen
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) export porcelain tureen in the form of an orange and pink pig head divided into lid and base at the mouth, and decorated...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Green and Botanical Hand-Made Tole Lidded Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese hand-made, light green tole urn painted with branches, fruit, and a dark green band at the base and finished with a finial atop its lid.  
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Metal

Chinese Blue and Gold Painted Lidded Porcelain Pot
Located in Queens, NY
Vintage Chinese dark blue porcelain pot decorated with a combination of intricate gold painting and raised medallions of florals, each with a beetle in the center, and a stem emergin...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Black Nature Scene Motif Lidded Vases
Located in Queens, NY
"4 Chinese similar black porcelain vases painted with natural scenes depicting ducks amid florals and lily pads and geometric patterned bands at the tops and bases with finial-topped...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

18th Century Chinese Export Famille Rose Porcelain Deep Basin
Located in Downingtown, PA
Rare Chinese export famille rose large porcelain basin, Mid-18th Century. The unusual Chinese Export famille rose deep basin is finely painted with a flowering branch design with t...
Category

Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese hardwood Long Rectangular Console Table
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese (19th Century) hardwood narrow rectangular console table with open apron featuring interlocking circular design.
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique 1800s Chinese Export Silver Three Piece Tea Service
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Chinese export silver three piece tea service; an addition to our diverse silver teaware collection This exceptional antique tea set/service, in Chinese Export Silver consists of a teapot, cream jug and covered sugar bowl. Each piece of this tea service has a circular compressed rounded form. The surface of each piece is embellished with fine and impressive applied bamboo stalk, chrysanthemum and iris designs. The upper collet style rim of each piece is plain and unembellished. The teapot and sugar bowl are fitted with the original covers surmounted with cast silver finials modelled in the form of a bamboo stalk; the cover to the teapot is hinged. Each cover is embellished with an applied splay of bamboo leaves. This Chinese silver teapot...
Category

1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Sterling Silver

Pair of Antique Chinese Botanical & 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

Pair of Chinese Yellow Gourd Shaped Double Handled Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) yellow porcelain vases with gourd forms and handles (mark on bottom, see photos) (PRICED AS PAIR). Condition: Good; Wear consistent with ...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Alum Red Taishi Shaoshi Design Porcelain Vase Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese table lamp made from a 19th century porcelain vase mounted with wood and brass hardware as a lamp, with an alum red Taishi S...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Brass

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 Beige and Charcoal Floral Porcelain Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (early 20th century) small, beige porcelain jar with a slight lip and charcoal-colored florals.        
Category

20th Century Chinese 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.      
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Wood

Chinese Style Porcelain Temple Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese style (19th/20th Cent) porcelain temple jar with blue & brown decoration on a white field.
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Terra Cotta Horse with Rider Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terra cotta tomb figure of a rider wearing robes and a red sash sitting on a horse that is painted in blue dots and a red bridle, with its head bow...
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Terracotta

Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Terra Cotta Horse with Rider Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terra cotta tomb figure of a girl wearing a red hat riding a brown horse, standing on a textured base.  
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Terracotta

3 Piece Antique Chinese Silver Tea Set
Located in London, GB
Classic Chinese export silver tea set comprising teapot, milk jug and sugar bowl made in the Liang Sheng ?? workshop. For thousands of ye...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Silver

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 White and Navy Blue Patterned Handled Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white porcelain urn painted with a blue pattern featuring urns, furniture, and florals with blue scrolled handles on the neck. Light wear."
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Han Dynasty-Style Patinated Bronze Canister with Animal Figurine Lid
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-style copy of a patinated bronze canister with a slight concave form etched in subtle patterns, sitting atop three paw-like...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Chinese White and Blue Cherry Blossom Porcelain Moon Flask Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (early 20th Century) white porcelain moon flask vase decorated with a bird perched on flowering cherry blossoms, and two handles. Condition: Good; Wear consistent wi...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Terra Cotta Huren Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terra cotta tomb figure of a Huren (northern tribesmen) man dressed in red robes and a prominent hat, with one fist raised in the air.  
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Terracotta

Chinese Teal and Red Crackle Porcelain Moon Flask Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) teal moon flask porcelain vase decorated with a red crackle overlay and topped with two stepped handles (mark on bottom, see photos). Condition: ...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese Yellow Garlic-Mouthed Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) yellow porcelain vases with garlic-mouth forms (mark on bottom, see photos) (PRICED AS PAIR).
Category

19th Century 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 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

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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