Qing Wall Decorations
The last imperial dynasty from 1644 to 1912 was a time of change in China, beginning with the invasion by Manchurian forces that ended the Ming dynasty and established the Shunzhi Emperor. The expansion of exportation and trade that had bolstered the arts during the Ming era continued, as Qing dynasty furniture involved the same attention to craftsmanship with expert construction techniques in hardwood pieces that were assembled with mortise and tenon joints rather than nails or glue. Together, these eras comprise a golden age of Chinese furniture design.
Ming-style furniture is simple and elegant with clean lines. Chairs of the period and other Ming furniture made an impression on Scandinavian modernist Hans Wegner and his streamlined seating, for example. Whereas Qing-style furniture is elaborate, with an increasing influence from the West leading to lavish carving inspired by the European Baroque and Rococo styles. And while many of the forms that define examples of the latter are common within classical Chinese furniture, such as curving and folding chairs as well as large screens, Qing designs are laden with ornamentation. Frequently, the carved motifs and inlaid designs in mother-of-pearl were auspicious, such as peonies for wealth or dragons for luck. Bats were symbols of happiness in the design of Qing furniture, with one of the characters in the word for bat, bianfu, being a homophone for fu, or “fortune.”
While several types of wood were used in the construction of Qing beds, tables, storage pieces and seating, today’s collectors know that the most prized were the rare rosewoods zitan and huanghuali. They were both sourced from Hainan, China’s largest island, and are marked by a rich luster that occurs naturally, without the application of lacquer or other decorative materials. Many of the most popular woods were imported from southeast Asia, adding to their value. Red sandalwood was also sought after for its durability and connection with Chinese medicine, with some chairs being made for health benefits.
Find a collection of antique Qing tea tables, stools, benches, decorative objects and more furniture on 1stDibs.
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Linen
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Elm
18th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Porcelain
1890s Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Silk
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Linen, Silk, Plexiglass, Wood, Lacquer, Paper
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Paper
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Paint, Paper
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Silk
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Silk, Bamboo, Glass, Wood, Paint, Paper
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Wall Decorations
Wood, Glass
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Plexiglass, Wood, Parchment Paper
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Wall Decorations
Glass
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Silk
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Porcelain
20th Century Chinese Qing Wall Decorations
Brass
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Wood
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Plexiglass, Wood, Parchment Paper
17th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Quartz
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Silk
1890s Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Paper
20th Century Chinese Qing Wall Decorations
Jade
20th Century Chinese Qing Wall Decorations
Wood, Paper
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Linen
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Silk
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Paper
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Wall Decorations
Paper, Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Wall Decorations
Silk
18th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Porcelain
17th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Quartz
20th Century Chinese Qing Wall Decorations
Wood, Elm, Lacquer
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Wall Decorations
Bone
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Porcelain
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Elm
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Silk
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Wood
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Wall Decorations
Glass, Wood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Chinese Qing Wall Decorations
Glass, Hardwood
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Porcelain
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Paper
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Silk, Giltwood
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Composition
17th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Silk, Glass, Giltwood, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Qing Wall Decorations
Silk, Wood, Paper
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Composition
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Silk, Paper
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Porcelain
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Silk
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Silk
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Wood
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Elm
1890s Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Silk
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Silk
20th Century Chinese Qing Wall Decorations
Paper
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Wall Decorations
Pine
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Paper
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Wood
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Plexiglass, Wood, Paper, Fabric
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Paper
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Silk
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Pine
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Silk
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Wall Decorations
Pine, Paint
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Paper
1890s Chinese Antique Qing Wall Decorations
Fabric, Silk