Qing Scholar s Objects
QING STYLE
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.
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Style: Qing
Chinese Yellow Glazed Brush Rest, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Set alongside the four treasures of the study - the calligraphy brush, ink, paper, and inkstone - a brush rest was an essential fixture of the Chinese scholars' desk. This 19th-centu...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Lapis Lazuli Relief Carved Snuff Bottle on Stand c.1920
Located in Richmond, CA
Antique Chinese hand carved lapis lazuli snuff bottle, relief carved with a boy figure to one side, and a flying bat to the other side, havin...
Category
1920s Chinese Vintage Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Lapis Lazuli
Qing Dynasty Red Lacquered Scroll Box with Distressed Gold Chinoiserie Décor
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Qing dynasty red lacquered lidded scroll box from the 19th century with distressed gold chinoiserie motifs. This exquisite Chinese Qing dynasty red lacquered lidded scroll ...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Wood
Chinese Carved Hardwood "Chrysanthemum" Stand, 20th century, China
Located in Austin, TX
A large and impressive Chinese carved and stained hardwood display stand in the form of a stylized chrysanthemum, mid 20th century or earlier, China.
The large display stand...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Hardwood
Antique Chinese Amber Glass Inside Painted Mounted Snuff Bottle Qing Late 19c
Located in Richmond, CA
An antique Chinese snuff bottle from the late Qing period, crafted from amber glass, showcases the mysterious and intricate art of inside ...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Glass
Straits Chinese Carved Hardwood Bamboo Inlay Display Stand, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
A remarkable straits Chinese (also known as Peranakan or Nyonya) carved hardwood and bamboo inlaid and embellished table-form stand, originally for dis...
Category
Early 20th Century Indonesian Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Lacquer, Bamboo, Hardwood
Chinese Calligraphy Brush, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Along with paper, ink, and inkstone, the brush was part of the four treasures found in a scholar’s studio. Arguably the most important tool, the brush served as a direct link to the ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Wood
Vintage Chinese Porcelain Snuff Bottle - Dragon - Jade Stopper 20th Century
Located in Richmond, CA
A vintage Chinese porcelain snuff bottle, decorated with a red and green dragon chasing a pearl in blue and pink clouds, with a jade sto...
Category
20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$224 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Chinese Porcelain Snuff Bottle Cobalt Blue Relief 5 Claw Dragons Mid-20c
Located in Richmond, CA
A vintage Chinese porcelain snuff bottle, finely decorated with two scaly slithering cobalt blue five claw dragons contesting a flaming pearl, carved in relief above a border of cras...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$488 Sale Price
24% Off
Chinese Porcelain Iron Red Dragon Snuff Bottle Jade Stopper 20th Century
Located in Richmond, CA
A Chinese porcelain snuff bottle, with a four claw dragon in clouds in iron red to each side, and two character red Qianlong mark to bottom
weight: 38 Grams
circa: early to mid 20t...
Category
20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Archaisitc Bronze Small Scholar Vase, 17th Century, China
Located in Austin, TX
A fine small archaistic scholar's vase in the form of a zun, Ming to Qing Dynasty, 17th century, circa 1650, China.
The small vessel of elegant proportions and wonderfully cast. T...
Category
Mid-17th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Bronze
A Chinese Hardwood Gnarled Root Brush Pot, Late 19th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Chinese Hardwood Gnarled Root Brush Pot, Late 19th Century
This decorative container is used to hold writing brushes and popular during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). It was revere...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Hardwood
Chinese Flora and Fauna Inkstone, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Scholarly pursuits such as painting, calligraphy, and poetry were a highly respected and revered subculture in ancient China, and demanded their own set of tools that were not only f...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Stone
Chinese Twisted Rootwood Brush Pot, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Set alongside the four treasures of the study - the calligraphy brush, ink, paper, and inkstone - a brush pot was a fixture of every traditional scholars' desk. This small wooden bru...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Burl
Antique Chinese Composite Amber Carved Beast Taotie Snuff Bottle Qing Late 19c
Located in Richmond, CA
A late Qing period Chinese snuff bottle, crafted from composite amber. This bottle is adorned with meticulously carved beast and ring taotie motifs on its shoulders, and slightly rai...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Organic Material
19th Century Dengguayi Scholar
s Lamp-Hanger Armchair with Sinuous Splat
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese antique Qing dynasty scholar's lamp-hanger armchair from the late 19th century, with sinuous pierced splat, dark patina, curving arms and side stretchers. This exquisite Ch...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Wood
Chinese Guardian
s Tail Inkstone, circa 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Scholarly pursuits such as painting, calligraphy, and poetry were a highly respected and revered subculture in ancient China, and demanded their own set of tools that were not only functional, but also beautiful. One of the "Four Treasures of the Study," inkstones such as this were used to mix dry ink with water for use in calligraphy painting.
This 19th century inkstone is guarded by a mythical fu dog, or shizi, depicted with open jaws and a long mane of flowing curls. Resembling a Buddhist fly whisk...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Stone
Chinese Ho Ho Boy Water Dropper, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This curious object is a late 19th-century Chinese water dropper, a calligraphy accessory that would have been found upon a scholar's painting ta...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Burled Hardwood Scholar Rock, Republic Period, 20th Century
Located in Austin, TX
An unusual and striking Chinese scholar rock, gongshi, of polished and lacquered burled hardwood, set into a hardwood base, mid-20th century.
The hardwood scholar "stone" meant to i...
Category
1940s Chinese Vintage Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Hardwood, Burl
Rare Antique Chinese Azurite Malachite Double Snuff Bottle 19c Qing Dynasty
Located in Richmond, CA
Discover a piece of history with this 19th-century double snuff bottle, hand carved from the captivating azurite malachite stone, renowned for its vibrant interplay of green and purp...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Malachite
Vintage Chinese Glass Overlay Snuff Bottle White Qilin on Yellow Ground mid 20c
Located in Richmond, CA
This mid 20th-century Chinese glass overlay snuff bottle is a fine example of the intricate overlay technique. The bottle, of tapered rectangular form, features a captivating design ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Glass
Qing Dynasty Burl Scroll Pot
Scholars Pot
, China
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Qing dynasty (1644-1911) burl scroll pot (Scholars Pot), China.
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Wood
Chinese Zitan Brush Pot with Soapstone Inlay, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Set alongside the four treasures of the study - the calligraphy brush, ink, paper, and inkstone - a brush pot, or bitong, was an essential fixture of the scholars' desk. This beautif...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Soapstone
Chinese Early Qing Dynasty Walnut Folding Table, 17th-18th Century, China
Located in Austin, TX
A very fine and rare Chinese Qing Dynasty walnut wood (hetao mu) kang table with folding legs, 17th to 18th century, China.
Crafted in walnut wood (hetao mu), this ingenious table...
Category
Early 18th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Walnut
Vintage Chinese Porcelain Snuff Bottle -Two Birds in Tree - Jade Stopper 20c
Located in Richmond, CA
A vintage Chinese porcelain snuff bottle, decorated in fencai with a pair of red birds in flowering tree branches, with a jade cabochon...
Category
20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Vintage Chinese Porcelain Snuff Bottle Fencai Dog in Courtyard Jade Stopper 20c
Located in Richmond, CA
A vintage Chinese porcelain snuff bottle, decorated in fencai with a dog in a garden court yard scene to each side, a three character re...
Category
20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$245 Sale Price
30% Off
Vintage Chinese Inside Painted Glass Snuff Bottle Flowers/Shanshui Jade 20c
Located in Richmond, CA
A vintage Chinese inside painted mini snuff bottle, with a jade cabochon stopper
weight: 30 Grams
circa: 20th Century
Category
20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$280 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Chinese Color Glass Overlay Snuff Bottle Bats Yellow Snowstorm Qing 19c
Located in Richmond, CA
This fine Qing period antique snuff bottle is a beautiful example of color glass overlay craftsmanship. It features a vibrant yellow snow storm gr...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Silver
$1,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Blue And White Porcelain Calligraphy Brush Washer, Late Qing Period
Located in seoul, KR
In the late Qing Dynasty, it was popular to incorporate calligraphy and poetry into ceramics. The piece has a flat, oval shape and was likely used as an inkstone, one of the essentia...
Category
20th Century East Asian Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Antique Chinese Porcelain Famille Rose Sancai Meiping Mounted Lighter mid 20c
Located in Richmond, CA
A small antique late Qing to early Republic Chinese porcelain meiping vase, ingeniously converted into a functional butane table lighter. The intricat...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Longevity Relief Scroll Cases, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Delicately carved of dense hardwood, these 19th-century scroll cases were an essential accessory for the esteemed Qing-dynasty scholar. The perfect size for a rolled-up scroll, the cases were once used to store and protect works of traditional calligraphy and landscape painting.
The matching cases are hand-carved in low relief with all-over scrollwork and borders of geometric meanders. Each case is carved with repeated Shou characters, symbols of longevity and a blessing for a long and complete life. Amid the scrollwork flourishes are ribbon-clad objects known as the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism, including the eternal knot...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Hardwood
Vintage Chinese Porcelain Famille Rose Fencai Hand Painted Snuff Bottle 20th Cen
Located in Richmond, CA
A vintage Chinese porcelain snuff bottle, hand painted with a beauty in a courtyard setting on each side, and signed “癸丑年” （"Gui Chou Nian" or 1973 according to the Chinese cyclical ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Artefacts of the Literati Pattern Plate c 1725, Qing Dynasty, Kangxi Era
Located in seoul, KR
In the center, a vase adorned with a floral pattern suggests appreciation for nature. Notably, there is an object resembling a Go board, indicative of the intellectual pursuits favor...
Category
1720s Vietnamese Antique Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Chinese Gnarled Root Brush Pot, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Set alongside the four treasures of the study - the calligraphy brush, ink, paper, and inkstone - a brush pot was a fixture of every traditional scholars' desk. This wooden brush pot...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Burl
A Finely Cast Standing Bronze Figure of Guanyin, 17th / 18th Century
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
The finely cast bronze figure of Guanyin - Bodhisattva Goddess of Compassion, Kindness & Mercy.
Shown wearing an outer robe finely modelled with cascading folds tied at her waist, h...
Category
1690s Chinese Antique Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Bronze
Qing scholar s objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Qing scholar's objects 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 scholar's objects created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include asian art and furniture, decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, stone and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Qing scholar's objects made in a specific country, there are Asia, China, and East Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 scholar's objects differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $98 and tops out at $29,500 while the average work can sell for $1,315.
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Islamic Astrolabe
Jade Brush Washer
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