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Chinese Export Sculptures

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
Vintage Asian Carved Figure of a Man with Pack and Walking Stick
Located in Queens, NY
Vintage carved figure of a man with a large backpack, beard, and walking stick on a rectangular wooden base.
Category

20th Century Unknown Chinese Export Sculptures

Pair of Chinese Polychrome Porcelain Roosters
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese export style polychrome glazed porcelain figures of roosters (20th Century)
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Chrome

Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Terra Cotta Horse and Rider Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terracotta tomb figure of a rider wearing robes sitting on a horse with a bowed head, on a square base.       
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Vintage Gilt Famille Verte Chinese Porcelain Seated Buddha/Luohan Ex-Lorin Marsh
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine vintage Chinese porcelain statue. In the form of a Luohan or Arhat with a famille verte robe and gilt body. The reverse ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Green and Red Lu Xing Wealth and Prosperity Deific Porcelain Figurine
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) glazed porcelain statue of Lu Xing, one of the deities of the three stars considered essential in Chinese astrology, each...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese Painted Ceramic Figures Depicting a Blue Robed Emperor
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese (20th Century) decorated glazed ceramic figures of an emperor in a formal blue robe with dragon medallion holding a bamboo pipe standing on an octagonal base featurin...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Bamboo

8" Soapstone Foo Dog Sculpture
Located in Pasadena, TX
This sculpture is carved from soapstone. It depicts a Foo Dog mounted on a soapstone base.
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Soapstone

19th Century Chinese Bronze Chimera Guardian Figure
Located in Stamford, CT
19th century, or possibly earlier, seated bronze chimera, cast as a ferocious scaled beast seated in a defensive crouch with its head facing forward as ...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Antique Chinese Silver Gilt and Enamel Peacock
Located in Riverdale, NY
Antique Chinese Silver Gilt and Enamel Peacock from the 1940's on hand carved wood stand. Delicately constructed of vermeil sterling with colorf...
Category

1940s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Sterling Silver, Enamel

Large Fantastic Wood Scholars Rock
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A large fantastic wood 'scholar's rock' The formation of natural knots, gnarled and twisted projections Of the variety greyish brown-toned wood, imitating a vertical scholar’s rock. Much appreciated by Chinese scholars for contemplation, artistic and poetic inspiration. Also in the west these fantastic wood formations resembling organic microcosm habitat Never stopped to inspire some surrealist artists like Max Ernst or Frantisek Muzika. Measures: 27¾" in. (70.5cm.) high. Approx. 10" in. (25.5 cm.) wide, 7" in. (17.5 cm.) deep. On soft wood stand. For comparison see Christie’s sale NY, 19 Sep 2002, lot 104 “Fine Chinese Archaic bronzes...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Other

Wooden Samourai Sculpture, Early 20th Century, Gold Color, China
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
We have a very nice wooden Samourai sculpture, With It's arms up. It dates from the early 20th century, and you can see the aging in its beautiful patina. . The work of sculpture is ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Chinese Unglazed Ceramic Kwanyin Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese molded, unglazed beige ceramic figure depicts the stylized Buddhist Goddess posed in a billowy robe with a painted floral pattern, a peaceful smiling facial expression, her l...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Chinese papier-mâché golden sphere
Located in LA CELLERA DE TER, ES
Exclusively handcrafted piece. This sphere is created using the ancient Chinese papier-mâché technique – a millennia-old craft that eventually spread worldwide. Traditionally employe...
Category

2010s Spanish Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Gold Leaf

Large Scale Chinese Export Hand Painted Sancai Ceramic Ducks, Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a pair of large scale Chinese Export ducks in very good condition. They have vivid colors in the Sancai style of painting. They are not ma...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

19th Century Bronze Buddha Hand Fragment on Walnut Stand
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Buddha Hand Fragment on Walnut Stand from a 19th Century Bronze Buddha Statue
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Chinese Carved Jade Kilim Statues - a Pair of two
Located in Pomona, CA
Look at this pair of original hand carved Jade Kilim statue. They bring Happiness and Wealthiness to you in Chinese cultural. As you can see in the pictures, They are in very good co...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Jade

Chinese Wax Candle Figure Depicting an Emperor
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese wax figure molded in a reddish-brown shade with gilt highlights depicts a robed emperor leaning slightly back, his left hand stroking his beard, right arm grasping a sheathed...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Ash

Chinese Porcelain Traditional Figures
Located in Queens, NY
7 Asian Chinese (20th Cent) porcelain figures in blue and white patterns in traditional dress (PRICED EACH).
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Asian Tropical Crain Bird in Glazed Porcelain
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful Asian Crain Bird in Glazed Porcelain with White, Black, and Red details. Add some Classic Old Palm Beach Chic to your Design Project.
Category

1950s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Asian Tropical Bird Glazed Porcelain Sculpture, 1950s, Palm Beach Chic
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fabulous Asian Glazed Porcelain Bird with great details and unusual colors. From the 1950’s , add some Old School Palm Beach Chic to your Design Project.
Category

1950s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

A pair of French hand painted cast iron foo dogs in a Chinese style, circa 1900
Located in Central England, GB
We have for sale this fantastic pair of tactile and decorative hand-painted French Foo Dogs, designed in the Chinese decorative style. They are solidly cast with great detail and have a rich hand-painted finish that represents red lacquer. Their teeth and eyes have been highlighted in white. The foo dogs are very well modelled, showing good movement and stance and a fierce expression. These heavy pair of tactile cast iron foo dogs...
Category

Early 20th Century French Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Iron

1950s Fine Antique Chinese White Jade Fish Sculpture Figurine
Located in Chula Vista, CA
an antique decorative fish sculpture made in white stone jade. unmarked Preowned Very good vintage condition unrestored. Refer to images. 5.13 D x 1 W x 2 H
Category

1950s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Jade

Hand Painted Foo Dog Kirin with Sword in Mouth
Located in Pasadena, TX
This Foo Dog was crafted in China. Its made of porcelain and is hand painted. The Foo Dog has a sword in it s mouth. It has gold accents.
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Patinated Wooden Sculpture, Representing Buddha, China Early 20th Century
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
We have a very nice wooden Buddha sculpture. It dates from the early 20th century, and you can see the aging in its beautiful patina. The work ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Fruitwood

Old Japanese Kutani Hotei Colorful Laughing Buddha Porcelain
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, an old Japanese Kutani Moriage hotei porcelain statue Charming and colorful laughing buddha figurine. Hand embellished. Stamped Japan. Dimensions: 5.25" W x...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Brass Buddha with child Incense 1940s China
Located in Den Haag, NL
Chinese Buddha with child . The child is a insert ,can be removed . The holes are for incense ,i think . strange combination .Do you now more than me . Solid Brass .
Category

1940s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Pair of Chinese Gilt Foo Dogs
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Asian Chinese style gilt carved foo dog figures holding a open design ball
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Giltwood

Neolithic Chinese Red Soapstone Bi Disc Carving on Iron Base
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite red soapstone Bi disc is a remarkable artifact from Neolithic China, dating back to the 3rd millennium BC. Set on a modern iron base, the disc reflects the timeless be...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Soapstone, Iron

Pair of Soapstone Buddhist Lions
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A pair of soapstone Buddhist lions Each finely carved seated on its haunches with a fierce expression, modelled in mirror image seated on a rectangu...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Soapstone

Large Soapstone Sculpture of Confucius
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a relatively large size sculpture. Carved from a Jade Soapstone it depicts Confucius with a scroll in his hand. The sculpture is finely carved with strict attention to detail.
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Soapstone

Tang Style Sancai-Glazed Figure of a Court Lady
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A Tang style Sancai-glazed Figure of a Court Lady, 20th century. Standing figure with the long amber and green-glazed robe and green-glazed shoes, the delicate features ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Pottery

Antique Chinese Carved Wood and Parcel Gilt Swans
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Striking pair of 19th century Chinese swan garnitures or sculptures hand carved in hardwood with an ebonized and gilt finish.
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Hardwood

Early 20th-Century Hand-crafted Chinese Wooden Tang Horse
Located in Pomona, CA
This gorgeous item in the image is the famous Chinese Tang Horse sculpture. Many Chinese artists reached the pinnacle of their careers during the Tang Dynasty. Horse figurines from t...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Bronze Sculpture Japanese Scholar Scroll Fukurokuju Inlay
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Well done, very sharp detailed cast bronze figure with inlay of silver metal on scroll, 1920s- 1930s. Beautiful golden patina on head and bottom from years of handling. 8.3 lbs.   
Category

1920s Japanese Vintage Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Tibetan Bronze Standing Gilt Bronze Buddha Offering Protection
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Tibetan bronze standing gilt bronze buddha offering protection China, 20th century A fine example, the Buddha standing on lotus base with the "no fear" abhaya mudra, the figure is ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Carved Wood and Gilt Finished Chinese Foo Dog Figurines or Sculptures
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This pair of intricately hand carved and hand painted Foo dogs are believed to have made in the mid-20th century in the Imperial style. The dogs are composed of a softwood which have...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Softwood

Pair of Chinese Export Hardstone Horses and Stands
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Chinese export hardstone horses and stands, each one finely carved of a standing horse with one leg up, facing left and right. Removable from the associated lacquered stands....
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Precious Stone, Lacquer

15" Chinese Monk Stone Sculpture
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a stone sculpture depicting a pious Monk. The base is formed out of stone also.
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Stone

9" tall Bronze Foo Dog w/ patina
Located in Pasadena, TX
This Foo Dog casting was made in Asia. Its a bronze depicting a Foo Dog. Has lots of nice patina.
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

19thC Chinese Root Wood Carving
Located in Altrincham, GB
19thC Chinese Root Wood Carving of a sacred water buffalo with children climbing on it's back - 23"w x 11"d x 10"h
Category

1880s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Bog Wood

12" Vintage Soapstone Sculpture of a Woman
Located in Pasadena, TX
This sculpture is made of a jade color soapstone. It depicts a Guan Yin woman figure standing on a stone base. The woman is adorned and draped in a beautiful kimono.
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Soapstone

SEATED BUDDHA KUAN YIN/GUANYIN 19th-century
Located in Madrid, ES
SEATED BUDDHA KUAN YIN/GUANYIN 19th-century Chinese sculpture in polychrome and gilded wood. Rests on a later painted wood base. Signs of wear. Height: (sculpture) 82 cm; (total) 17...
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Vintage Shanghai Wicker Dog Basket or Box
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Charming mid century lidded dog box ambitiously handcrafted in wicker and wood with an uncanny essence of dog. From the famed Shanghai Collection.
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Wicker

Early 20th-C. Asian Bronze Food Dogs or Lions Figurines, Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
These are a pair of early 20th century Chinese bronze foo dogs. They are a heavy casting and in very good condition.
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Carved Soapstone Buddha
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This a heavy carved light yellow-green soapstone Buddha seated over an oval stone base with bracket feet.
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Soapstone

Carved Soapstone Buddha
Carved Soapstone Buddha
$220 Sale Price
20% Off
Chinese Wicker Elephant Box from the Shanghai Collection
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage Chinese elephant sculpture ambitiously hand crafted in woven wicker with rattan and wood highlights, having a removable head as a lid. From the famed Shanghai collection.
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Wicker

Antique Chinese Emperor and Empress Wooden Statues
Located in Pomona, CA
This pair of Antique Chinese Emperor and Empress Statues are 100% hand made and hand carved with paint and gilt on them. Some of the paint and gilt has been worn off but overall they are in good condition. Look at the pictures, you can see that they are in many years history with some age wear. Now you can have them on your collection shelf. Size: 6in H x 2 3/4in W x 2in D each Origin: China Circa: Late Qing era Material: Wood Condition: Hand made, hand painted, normal age wear. Disclaimer: Due to differences in monitor/screen settings, product colors may differ slightly between product photos...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Wood

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 Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Chinese Carved Hardstone Rhodonite Frog Toad Sculpture Figure Model Wood Base
Located in London, GB
Chinese Carved Hardstone Rhodonite Frog Toad Sculpture Figure Model Wood Base Chinese, 20th Century Height 10cm, width 20cm, depth 13cm This delicate 20th century Chinese carving h...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Stone

Small Vintage Carved Oriental Figure, Chinese, Hand Carved, Black Onyx, Art Deco
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a small vintage carved Oriental figure. A Chinese, hand-carved black onyx traditional travelling man statue, dating to the late Art Deco period, ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Onyx

Massive Chinese Guanyin Statue in Jade-Like Green Hardstone
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Massive 37 1/2"- inch high Chinese Guanyin statue in Green Jade-like hardstone Late 20th century, The reclining deity adorned with a crown emulating ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Other

Pair of Chinese Carved Stone Foo Dogs on Rectangular Plinths, 20th Century
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of Chinese hand carved stone Foo dogs resting on rectangular decorative carved plinths. 20th Century
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Stone

Pair of Glazed Polychrome Roosters Chinese Porcelain 34cm
Located in Poperinge, BE
Rare pair of rooster figurines, made of polychrome glazed Chinese porcelain, circa mid-20th century. One rooster is numbered on the bottom. These are based on an antique example. Th...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Pair Chinese Export Famille Rose Figures of Immortals, 18th Century, China
Located in Austin, TX
A near pair of Chinese export porcelain figures of the Taoist immortal Li Tieguai, Qing Dynasty, late 18th century, China. The Daoist Immortal Li Tieguai, on of the Eight Immortals...
Category

Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Two Chinese Wood Lion Foo Dogs Incense Holder
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Two Chinese wood Foo Dogs Incense holder burners. Featuring a pair of highly detailed lion foo dogs, one male and one female which were thought to protect the home from harmful spiritual influences and harmful people that might be a threat. The Foo Dogs...
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Chinese Rose Quartz Reclining Lady
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese rose quartz carved reclining lady on an oval wood base (20th Cent)
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Silver Figures of Eight Immortals Yangqinghe Jiuji Marks, Late Qing Dynasty
Located in New York, NY
Important and rare silver figures of eight immortals Yangqinghe Jiuji marks, Late Qing dynasty. Each hollow figure portraying one of the immortals in an animated pose, with highly detailed facial features, four pierced with apertures for the insertion of facial hair, clad in finely chased robes, all but two with their characteristic attributes, their bases bearing either two seal marks reading Yangqinghe Jiuji gongyibu and Zhe'ning Hu Qiusheng zao, or three marks in regular script reading Yangqinghe Jiuji gongyibu, Shang and Sheng zuo, original hand-carved wood stands. Measures: 11 1/4in (28.5cm) high (tallest one). The earliest records of the silver atelier known as Yangqinghe date to 1775 in Shanghai...
Category

1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Silver

Mid-20th Century Chinese Wooden Carved Jiang Taigong Fishing Statue
Located in Pomona, CA
This is a Chinese hand-carved wooden statue, depicting the legendary figure Jiang Ziya (also known as Jiang Taigong), a famous general and strategist from ancient China. In Chinese ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Boxwood

Pair of Chinese Painted Ceramic Figures Depicting a Yellow Robed Emperor
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese (20th Century) painted ceramic identical figures in a matte glaze, depicting an emperor in a formal elaborate yellow robe cradling a lingzhi ruyi, standing on an octa...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of Chinese Carved Foo Dogs
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Asian Chinese style (19/20th Cent) carved and painted monumental seated foo dogs with colored glass trim
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Sculptures

Materials

Glass

Chinese Export sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Chinese Export sculptures 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 sculptures created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, asian art and furniture, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Chinese Export sculptures 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 sculptures, popular names associated with this style include and Europa Antiques. 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 sculptures differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $195 and tops out at $98,000 while the average work can sell for $1,895.