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Chinese Export Wall Decorations

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 Porcelain Framed Famille Rose Plaque of Long Tailed Hawk on a Rose Tree
Located in Downingtown, PA
20th Century Chinese Porcelain Plaque This 20th-century Chinese porcelain plaque features a long-tailed hawk perched on a flowering rose branch. The scene is rendered in the Famille...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Porcelain

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 Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Chinese Export Watercolor Exotic Bird Paintings on Paper
Located in Downingtown, PA
China Trade watercolor paintings of exotic birds on branches are in watercolor and gouache on Chinese paper. One picture depicts a pigeon perched on a tree branch with a landscape background. Chinese calligraphy can be seen in the top right corner. The second picture depicts two courting birds in shades of brown, both perched on a branch, also in a landscape background. Both paintings framed with a green silk mat and contemporary gilt and dark wood frame. Reference: Chinese Export...
Category

Early 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Framed Chinese Ancestor Portrait Depicting a Man in Golden Robes
Located in New York, NY
Chinese ancestor portrait depicting a man in flowing golden robes decorated with medalions featuring dragons, seated above a floor featuring additional dragon designs in a heavy rect...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paper

20th Century Bas Relief Chinese Carved Wall Plaque
Located in New York, NY
Asian Chinese style (19/20th century) stripped and carved wall plaque of figures with bull and cart.  
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood

Chinese Lacquered Carved Wall Plaques
Located in New York, NY
4 Asian Chinese style (19th century) red lacquered and gilt trimmed wall plaques with carved scenes with figures.    
Category

19th Century Antique Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood

Framed 19th Century Chinese Landscape of House by a River
Located in New York, NY
Asian Chinese landscape painting with house by a river framed in black and red lacquer (19th Century).  
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood

Chinese Lacquered Carved Wall Plaque
Located in New York, NY
Asian Chinese style (19th century) red lacquer and gilt trimmed wall carving with filigree & carved panels with scenes with figures.  
Category

19th Century Antique Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood

Framed Chinese Pen and Ink Ancestor Portrait in Red Dress
Located in New York, NY
Vintage (20th century) Chinese pen and ink ancestor portrait capturing the honoree seated and wearing an elaborate hat and red dress, on a beige ba...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood, Paper, Fiberglass

Pair of Chinese Lacquered Carved Wall Plaques
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Asian Chinese style (19th century) red lacquered and decorated carved vertical wall plaques of ladies (Priced as pair).  
Category

19th Century Antique Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood

Chinese Carved Bamboo Root Face Wall Hanging
Located in New York, 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 Wall Decorations

Materials

Bamboo, Wood

20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Genre Scene Panel
Located in New York, NY
Asian Chinese style oil painting portrait on canvas of figural chinoiserie scene of man holding bird with bowing servant framed by gold leaf painted fretwork (Similar to 058969)
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Gold

19th Century Chinese Filigree Carved Wall Plaque
Located in New York, NY
Asian Chinese style (19th century) red and gold painted filigree carved horizontal wall plaque.  
Category

19th Century Antique Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Gold

China Trade Watercolor Pictures of Junks & Sampans, Set of Five
Located in Downingtown, PA
China trade watercolor pictures of junks & sampans, Set of Five, Circa 1850 The Chinese watercolor paintings on pith paper each depict a diffe...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Framed Chinese Pen and Ink Ancestor Portrait in Navy
Located in New York, NY
Vintage (20th Century) Chinese pen and ink ancestor portrait capturing the honoree seated and wearing an elaborate hat and navy dress, on a beige b...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Glass, Wood, Walnut, Paper

Framed Vintage Chinese Pen and Ink Ancestor Portrait in Red
Located in New York, NY
Vintage (20th Century) Chinese pen and ink ancestor portrait capturing the honoree seated and wearing an elaborate hat and red dress, on a beige ba...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood, Paper

19th Century Chinese Carved Scenic Monkey Wall Plaque
Located in New York, NY
Chinese 19th century carved wall plaque with monkeys playing in trees with fruit (finished on back with bamboo trees).  
Category

19th Century Antique Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Bamboo, Mahogany

Chinese Carved Bamboo Root Face Wall Hanging
Located in New York, 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-F).       
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Bamboo, Wood

Framed Chinese Pen and Ink Ancestor in Navy Robes Portrait
Located in New York, 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 Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood, Paper, Glass, Walnut

Chinese Carved Bamboo Root Face Wall Hanging
Located in New York, 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 Wall Decorations

Materials

Bamboo, Wood

Chinese Ming Dynasty Style Paper and Silk King and Queen Portrait Hanging Scroll
Located in New York, NY
Set of 3 Ming King and Queen scroll wall hangings, shown seated with a paneled wall behind them and a brown rug with dragons underneath against a pale gold silk shantung background w...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood, Silk, Paper

Late 18th Century Chinese Glass Painted Scene of a Family Gathering Fruit
Located in New York, NY
Chinese (18th/19th century) framed glass back painting depicting a family gathering fruit beneath two trees surrounded by birds and butterflies in a wooden frame with decorative meta...
Category

Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Glass

Framed Chinese Pen and Ink Family Ancestor Portrait
Located in New York, NY
Vintage (20th Century) Chinese pen and ink family ancestor portrait capturing nine honorees seated in front of scrolls bearing text framed by curta...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Glass, Walnut, Wood, Paper

Chinese Panel Art Depicting Birds and Branches in Raised Mother of Pearl Pieces
Located in New York, 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 Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood, Mother-of-Pearl

Chinese Carved Bamboo Root Face Wall Hanging
Located in New York, 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 Wall Decorations

Materials

Bamboo, Wood

Chinese Framed Acrylic and Gold Leaf Painted Panel of a Flowering Tree
Located in New York, NY
Mid-century Chinese acrylic still life painting in white, brown and beige on a gold leaf background depicting a flowering tree growing from a rocky base with a bird and dragon fly al...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Acrylic, Wood, Giltwood

Framed Chinese Pen and Ink Ancestor Portrait in Navy Dress
Located in New York, NY
Vintage (20th Century) Chinese pen and ink ancestor portrait capturing the honoree seated in a green chair and wearing an elaborate hat and blue dr...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Glass, Wood, Walnut, Paper

Chinese Carved Wooden Wall Plaque Depicting Riders on Horseback
Located in New York, NY
Chinese carved wooden wall panel depicting two riders on horseback attempting to capture a wild horse from its herd in a rectangular wooden frame.  
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood

Chinese Carved Bamboo Root Face Wall Hanging
Located in New York, 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 Wall Decorations

Materials

Bamboo, Wood

Chinese Carved Bamboo Root Face Wall Hanging
Located in New York, 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 Wall Decorations

Materials

Bamboo, Wood

Chinese Carved Bamboo Root Face Wall Hanging
Located in New York, 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 Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood, Bamboo

Framed Pink and Green Painted Panel Depicting a Chinese Landscape
Located in New York, NY
Chinese partially distressed painted panel in green and pink against a crackle beige background depicting a landscape wtih trees ad architecture inside a floral border.  
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood, Acrylic

Chinese Porcelain Famille Rose Vase and Wood Wall Plaque
Located in New York, NY
Chinese wall plaque framing a bisected famille rose porcelain lidded vase, depicting trees and blooming florals, in wood with a decorative faux ba...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Porcelain, Wood

Late 18th Century Framed Chinese Glass Back Painted Scene of a Family
Located in New York, NY
Chinese (18th/19th century) framed glass back painting depicting a family beneath two flowering trees surrounded by birds and butterflies in a wooden frame with decorative metal top ...
Category

Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Glass

Chinese Porcelain and Wood Foo Dog Design Split Vase Wall Plaque
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) wall plaque framing a bisected porcelain lidded jar painted with orange foo dogs and characters in wood with a decorative faux bamboo edge.
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Porcelain, Wood

Chinese Porcelain Foo Dog Split Vase Wooden Wall Plaque
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) wall plaque framing a bisected porcelain lidded jar painted with orange foo dogs and characters in wood with a decorative faux bamboo edge.
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Porcelain, Wood

Chinese White Gesso Horned Goat Head Wall Plaque
Located in New York, NY
Chinese mid century hand-carved, white gesso wall plaque depicting a horned goat head emerging from an ornamental plaque.
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood

Framed Vintage Chinese Acrylic Abstract Painting of Waves and Fans
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Chinese acrylic on canvas abstract painting of black and warm toned multi-colored swirls and waves interspersed with florals, leaves, and fans in a rectangular black painted ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic, Wood

XX. th Century Chinese Silk Embroidered Whit Two Dragons and the Fireball
Located in Brescia, IT
Chinese yellow silk panel, embroidered with great quality.
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Silk

Chinese White Gesso Horned Antelope Head Wall Plaque
Located in New York, NY
Chinese mid-century hand-carved, white gesso-painted wall plaque depicting a horned antelope head emerging from a decorative oval plaque.
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood

Framed Seascape Genre Painting of Fishermen Next to a Lake
Located in New York, NY
Mid-century acrylic genre painting of two people with a small boat, fishing nets, and baskets under a copse of trees on a riverbank with a village and mountains in the background on ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Paint

China Trade Set of Six Sunqua Still Life of Fruit & Flowers Paintings
By Sunqua
Located in Downingtown, PA
China Trade set of six Gouache Still Life Paintings of Fruit & Flowers on Pith Paper, Each Signed Sunqua, mid-19th century The fine China Trade pith paper painting...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

China Trade Watercolor & Gouache Set of Twelve Paintings of Fruit & Flowers
Located in Downingtown, PA
Superb quality painting! China Trade Watercolor & Gouache on pith paper, Set of twelve paintings of fruit and flowers, Circa 1850-1860 ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

China Trade Watercolors of Exotic Fruit on Pith Paper, Mid-19th Century
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese China trade watercolors of exotic fruit on pith paper, Gilt frames, Mid-19th century The eight Chinese watercolors on pith paper are of fine quality and depict various e...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Chinese Botanical Large Watercolors on Paper, Set of Four
Located in Downingtown, PA
China Trade Botanical large watercolors on paper, Set of Four Early 19th Century. The larger than usual Chinese watercolors depict various butterflies and insects such as a drag...
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Chinese Watercolors of Exotic Fruit on Pith Paper
Located in Downingtown, PA
The Chine trade watercolors are of fine quality and depict various exotic fruits including pineapples, lychees, finger citrus and orange amongst others. Now framed with a thin gilt f...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

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 Wall Decorations

Materials

Glass

Chinese Watercolor of a Sampan on Paper, circa 1800
Located in Downingtown, PA
The large Chinese watercolor on European paper depicts a starboard view of a two-master sailing ship with one man sailing the vessel while two passengers can clearly be seen inside t...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Paintings on Mirror Glass Chinese 18th Century China
Located in New York, NY
Paintings on Mirror Glass Chinese 18th Century China. A pair of paintings made on mirrored glass. Made during the 18th century in China. Original fr...
Category

18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Wall Decorations

Materials

Mirror

Chinese Export wall decorations for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Chinese Export wall decorations for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage wall decorations created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, asian art and furniture, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Chinese Export wall decorations 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 wall decorations, popular names associated with this style include Chelsea House, Sunqua, and Totoya Hokkei. 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 wall decorations differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $95 and tops out at $76,572 while the average work can sell for $2,550.

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