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.
19th Century Monumental Carved Elmwood Chinese Altar Or Console Table
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This a late 19th century monumental carved elm wood altar / console table. It has beautiful scrolled ends and recessed legs. The size is exceptional and the wood grain is glorious.
Elm
Baker Furniture Walnut Chinoiserie Stye Altar Console Table
Located in Pasadena, TX
This console table is made in Chinese export style. It's made of solid walnut. by the Baker Furniture Comp. It's style is like an altar table.
Walnut
Vintage Chinese Oriental Fretwork Carved Hardwood Altar Console Hall Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Chinese Oriental Fretwork Carved Hardwood Altar Console Table. Item Circa Mid to Late 20th Century. Measurements: 34" H x 32" H (to surface) x 53" W x 15" D.
Hardwood
19th century Chinese Dark Wood Console/Altar Table
Located in New York, NY
A 19th century Chinese dark wood (likely Elmwood) console table. Traditionally used for ceremonial purposes, as well as functional display pieces, this table features a characterist...
Wood
Chinese Export Rosewood Carved Altar Console Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Exceptional Chinese Huali rosewood table with remarkably straight wood grain patterns and distinctive carving. The aprons are carved in an intricate lattice work of blossoms and bird...
Rosewood
Early 20th Century Carved Hardwood Chinese Console / Alter Table/ 3 drawer
Located in Buffalo, NY
Early 20th Century Carved Hardwood Chinese Console / Alter Hall Table with 3 drawers... Retains original finish / patina,,Really wonderful carvings,, Great proportions , size . Hand...
Rosewood
South East Asian Handcrafted Bone Marquetry Rosewood Console Table
Located in Germantown, MD
South East Asian Handcrafted Bone Marquetry Rosewood console table Measures 36.5" in width, 12.75" in depth c and 30" in height. Excellent vintage condition
Bone, Rosewood
$1,872Sale Price|20% Off
Rosewood Antique Chinese Export Alter Table with Hand Carving
Located in Lomita, CA
The warmth and patina of the antique rosewood and the intricate hand carving makes this altar table irresistible. The silhouette A vintage Chinese export carved rosewood altar or co...
Rosewood
$2,475 / item
Chinese Ming Style Carved Console
Located in Westwood, NJ
Console reflects timeless Eastern design, blending graceful proportions with artisanal detailing. Finished in a warm Husk tone, this piece captures the elegance of Ming-inspired furn...
Wood
Mid 20th Century Asian Elmwood Three-Drawer Altar / Console Table
Located in Germantown, MD
A Mid 20th Century Elmwood Three-Drawer Altar Table. Solid Elm, yet light weigh. Measures 37.75" in width, 19.5" in depth and 33.25" in height. Very good vintage condition.
Wood, Hardwood, Elm
South East Asian Elmwood Six-Drawer Altar / Console Table
Located in Germantown, MD
South East Asian / Korean Elmwood Five-Drawer Altar / Console Table fully Finished on all sides. Measures 35" in width, 15" in depth and 33.25" in height.Very good vintage condition.
Brass
Chinese Walnut Console Table, Hand-Carved, Ming Style, c. 1850, China
Located in New York, NY
A graceful 19th century Chinese hardwood altar table, with a carved apron. The table features for decorative carved elements, one on each side, between the top and stretcher . Table...
Walnut
Late 19th Century Elmwood Console China Export
Located in Brescia, IT
This elegant elmwood console is handcrafted and so the beautiful details under the top and to the corners, both the sides. This is a piece of glamorous timeless The top is in solid...
Elm
19th Century Chinese Elm Alter Table
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This 19th-century Chinese Elm Alter Table features dark elm wood with ornate carved legs and a distressed finish, giving it a warm, well-worn character. A classic piece with timeless...
Elm
Late 19thCentury China Export Elmwood Black Lacquered Console
Located in Brescia, IT
This console is an hand crafted piece of furniture and was made in elm wood, typical of asian countries in Late 19th Century. It was cleaned and refreshed the old black finish. This...
Elm
19th Century Chinese Console Table
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
Chinese Console Table This striking mid-19th century Chinese altar table, dating to around circa 1860, is a richly carved and visually powerful piece, showcasing the craftsmanship an...
Elm, Lacquer
Chinese Altar/Scholar's Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A large and fine Altar Table in traditional form with particularly striking exotic graining. With carved and shaped vertical ends and carved scrollwork on the apron ends. Raised on t...
Wood
Antique Shanxi Province Elmwood Altar Carved Console Table
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Shanxi Province elmwood altar carved ornate console table. Gorgeous Chinese Qing dynasty style carved altar table constructed from Elmwoo...
Elm
$4,496Sale Price / set|25% Off
Vintage Chinese Hongmu Pair of Alter or Console Tables or Center Table
Located in Topeka, KS
Stunning Early 19th to 20th Century Chinese Hongmu pair of alter or console tables or center table. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that these are vintage and not new so will ha...
Wood
Chinese Carved Wooden Altar Table / Console
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese hardwood altar / console table accented with ornately carved and pierced spandrels and recessed legs and topped with a surface bearing gently sloping sides.
Wood
Hand-Carved Dragon Motif Cypress Wood Console or Sofa Table
Located in Nantucket, MA
A very cool console or sofa table made of cypress wood. Hand-carved on both shelves and the legs in a dragon motif. Very Game of Thrones. A stylized Queen Anne leg. Mid 1900's. Asian.
Cypress
Early 20th Century China Export Elmwood Console with Carrara Marble
Located in Brescia, IT
It is not easy to find this elegant console, that has very useful dimensions and has the top made in the precious Carrara marble. This is a piece that find its origin in China, in th...
Carrara Marble
Pair of Chinese Wooden White Painted Contortionist Console Tables
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese console tables comprised of whitewashed wooden bases carved to resemble acrobatic figures supporting gray, rectangular t...
Wood
Vintage Shanxi Province Black Lacquer Wicker Rattan Altar Table
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage shanxi province black lacquer wicker rattan altar table. This vintage altar table features a single board flush floating panel with circul...
Wicker, Rattan, Wood, Lacquer
Narrow Chinese Prosperity Console Table, Late 19th Century
Located in Chicago, IL
This narrow console table from the late 19th century balances streamlined form with the rich textures of antique furniture. The shallow table has a square corner design, crafted with...
Elm
$1,775
H 28.35 in W 30.71 in D 9.45 in
Early 20th Narrow Catalan Spanish Carved Walnut Console Table with Drawer
Located in Miami, FL
Early 20th Century Catalan Spanish Carved Walnut Console Table with one drawer and turned legs
Walnut
$4,995 / set
H 34 in W 60 in D 32 in
Baker Furniture Rustic French Style Cerused Marble Top Console Tables - Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
I love the size of these! This is a pair of French style cerused or whitewashed carved console tables with attached marble tops. They are by Baker Furniture Company and date to the l...
Marble
Antique Chinese Phoenix Tail Console Table, 19th Century
Located in Chicago, IL
This impressive antique console table dates to the mid-19th century and displays the balanced proportions of classical Chinese furniture. The table's form is streamlined and simple, ...
Elm
$5,685
H 31.5 in W 66.93 in D 13 in
Early 20th Century Spanish Baroque Style Hardwood Console Table, 1920s
Located in BÉTERA, ES
Elegant Spanish console table from the early 20th century, crafted in solid wood and inspired by traditional Baroque designs. The piece features a long rectangular top and four drawe...
Wrought Iron
$2,875
H 34 in W 42 in D 28 in
Chinese Qing Dynasty 19th Century Altar Console Table with Carved Apron
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Qing Dynasty period altar console table from the 19th century, with carved apron and side stretchers. Created in China during the Qing Dynasty, this altar console table fea...
Wood
Early 20th Century Spanish Carved Walnut Console Table
Located in Miami, FL
Early 20th century Spanish carved walnut console table with two drawers and green marble top. This early 20th century Spanish Console tabl...
Marble
$2,326
H 28.75 in W 34.26 in D 13 in
Early 20th Century Catalan Spanish Carved Walnut Wood Console Table
Located in BÉTERA, ES
Early 20th century walnut console table with slab top on a frieze with two drawer fronts decorated with carved and incised floral motifs with additional decoration and two original i...
Wrought Iron
$2,795
H 29.88 in W 39 in D 17 in
Baker Furniture Historic Charleston Federal Mahogany Console or Entry Table
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Federal or Hepplewhite style console or entry table By Baker Furniture, "Historic Charleston" Collection USA, Circa 1980s Mahogany, with inlaid satinwood marquetry. Me...
Mahogany, Satinwood
$2,380
H 23.63 in W 47.25 in D 12.6 in
Early 20th Century Catalan Spanish Hand Carved Walnut Console Table
Located in Miami, FL
Late 19th century catalan spanish hand carved walnut console table with three drawers. Very good quality carved Spanish console table, circa 1800-1900. Beautifully carved in walnut w...
Walnut
19th Century Chinese Elmwood Altar Table
Located in Houston, TX
A striking 19th-century Chinese Alter table (Qiaotou'an), handcrafted from solid elmwood (Yumu) with a rich, naturally weathered patina. This piece exemplifies the refined Ming-styl...
Elm
$2,990
H 32.5 in W 40 in D 25.5 in
19th Century Qing Dynasty Altar Console Table with Distressed Lacquer
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Qing Dynasty period altar console table from the 19th century, with carved apron, humpback stretchers, straight cylindrical legs and distressed dark brown / red lacquer. Th...
Wood
19th Century Chinese Lacquered Console Table
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
Chinese Lacquered Console Table A characterful 19th century Chinese console table, finished in deep red and black lacquer, offering a striking decorative presence for a curated inter...
Elm
19th Century Chinese hardwood Alter table.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th Century Chinese hardwood Alter table, having inset panels to the top and scrolling ends, hand carved and pierced ribbon and scrolling foliate decoration to t...
Hardwood
Chinese Export Console Table Carved Antique Hardwood 1840
Located in Potters Bar, GB
You are viewing a gorgeous and collectable Chinese hand carved console table Crafted from hardwood with marble insert top - smooth and chip free Circa 1840 Top - Rectangular top with...
Hardwood
Chinese Hard Rosewood Demilune Console Table
Located in Germantown, MD
A Chinese Hard Rosewood Demilune Console Table. Measures 36" in width, 18" in depth, 30" in height.
Hardwood, Rosewood
Chinese Console Table
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
A refined and elegant Chinese hardwood console table, also known as a scroll table, dating to circa 1900. With its restrained proportions, subtle curves and finely worked details, th...
Hardwood
Sold
H 33 in W 71 in D 13 in
Mid-Century Asian Modern Chinese Export Red Lacquer Alter Style Console Table
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a mid-century Chinese console table with a red lacquer finish. It has four drawers with a Chinese brass pin locking system. The size is excellent.
Metal
Sold
H 38.39 in W 89.38 in D 15.56 in
Long Antique Altar Table, Oriental Elm, Display, Hall, Qing Dynasty, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a long antique altar table. An Oriental, Asian Elm hallway, display or serving table, dating to the early Victorian period, circa 1850. Graced with commanding proportion and ...
Elm
18th French Walnut Console Table in Chinese Style
Located in Chireno, TX
18th century French walnut console table in Chinese style, constructed circa 1780. Hand-carved in walnut wood with mortise and teno...
Steel, Iron
19th century elm Chinese console table sideboard
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century elm Chinese console table sideboard circa 1890. Good quality console table, which could be used in multiple rooms around the home such as the living room, hallway or be...
Elm
Eastern Console Table - Whitewash White
Located in Westwood, NJ
An eastern-influenced long hall table with an unusual form and whitewash finish. With winged ends and angled supports. Dimensions: 96" W x 20" D x 42" H
Wood
Eastern Console Table - Working White
Located in Westwood, NJ
An eastern-influenced long hall table with an unusual form and hand-painted working white finish. With winged ends and angled supports. Dimensions: 96" W x 20" D x 42" H
Wood
Eastern Console Table - Mink Finish
Located in Westwood, NJ
An eastern-influenced long hall table with an unusual form and natural brown classic mink finish. With winged ends and angled supports. Dimensions: 96" W x 20" D x 42" H
Wood