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Chinese Export Decorative Objects

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
Pair of Gu-Form Pink Porcelain Family Vases, Late 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Small gu-form porcelain vases decorated with pink family enamels on a yellow background with green interlaces. Decoration of white background cartouches with pink dahlias. Geometric...
Category

Late 19th Century Asian Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Chinese Bronze Incense Vessel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautifully chased 19th century bronze. In three parts. Great as just a table sculpture.
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

China Mid-18th Century Wood Hand-Carved Architectural Sculpture
Located in Brescia, IT
This charming Mid-19th Century fragment of wood, is a detail of an hand-carved wood column and it has its country of origin in the Oriental part of Indo-China. This is an elegant object that can be used as a paperweight or it can be a decorative object simply, to appreciate for its charming shape and for the beauty of the detailed engraving in the wood. It is only a little piece, but trought it, is possible to understand the beauty and quality of design of the building from which it is coming out. This beautiful piece can be useful as bookend also. The photos shown this antique wood fragment...
Category

Late 18th Century Indonesian Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Chinese Woven Willow Basket with Handle Large
Located in West Palm Beach, US
**Title:** Large 20th Century Chinese Woven Willow Basket **Description:** This large Chinese woven basket, crafted from willow, features a sturdy handle and is in great condition. ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Willow

Asian Hunting Scene in Gilt Bronze 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Asian hunting scene In gold bronze Chinese warrior bear hunting 19th century Measures: 20 x 18 x 9 cm.
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Early 20th Century Chinese Red Lacquer Decorated Box
Located in San Francisco, CA
Early 20th century Chinese Red Lacquer decorated box. Relief carved top panel of an attendant and scholar. Fine finger joints on the box and lid. Inside top of the lid having Chinese...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

STUNNING CHINESE EXPORT HAND CARVED WOOD DRAGON MANTLE CLOCK CANDLESTiCKS
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning circa 1880-1920 Chinese Export hand carved dragon mantle clock with matching candlesticks A good looking and expertly carved suite...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Two Famille Rose Cosmetic Boxes, Qing Dynasty, Yongzheng Period
Located in seoul, KR
Circular form with flattened doomed covers, the covers with a medallion of flower with full bloom, the bowls with two round borders. Period : Qing Dynasty, Kangxi-Yongzheng Period P...
Category

17th Century Vietnamese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

Pair of 19th Century Chinese Crackelware Vases / Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of late 19th century Chinese crackleware vases / lamps. Each with oriental style ormolu mounts to the top and bottom. Cla...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ormolu

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Gold Leaf

19th Century Chinese Rose Medallion Lidded Vase
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A wonderful late 19th century Chinese Cantonese (Rose Medallion) lidded vase, having bold classical colors, figural handles on either side and to the lids, inset hand painted panels ...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Sculpture of Guan Yu 关羽
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th Century sculpture of Guan Yu (??), a guardian deity. Guan Yu (d. A.D. 219), a warrior of the late Han dynasty (206 B.C.–A.D. 220) renowned for his valo...
Category

19th Century Irish Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

19th Century Chinese Famille Rose Crackleware Vase / Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive and decorative 19th Century Chinese Famille Rose crackelware vase / lamp. Having classical motif bronzed decoration, leaf and berry handles. Hand painted scenes dep...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Aubergine and Blue Changing Glaze Bulbous Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese bulbous vase made with a glaze that transforms after being fired in the kiln, resulting in traces of blue showing through the main aubergine/purple color. Condition: Good; W...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Chinese Carved Soapstone Lamp
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A carved soapstone lamp base, unusual because of the color of the stone; reddish, brown and black. The carving is in the shape of a vase which i...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Sandstone

Vintage Papier Mâché Parcel-Gilt Buddha
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Large, decorative and unusual papier mâché gilded Buddha.
Category

19th Century Asian Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Paper

19th Century Chinese Silver and Jade Magnifying Glass, circa 1880
Located in Central England, GB
A Rare 19th century chinese silver and jade magnifying glass. This finely worked and intricately designed hand magnifying glass dates to circa...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Silver

Pair of Chinese hand painted blue and white vases, Circa 1930
Located in Central England, GB
Pair of Chinese Hand Painted Blue and White Vases, Circa 1930 An impressive and unusual pair of Chinese porcelain vases made to a traditional shape with a raised foot and bulbous shaped body narrowing to a flared neck. The vases have four panels of different decoration separated by three pairs of circular raised mouldings which run around their circumference. The blue and white hand painted decoration has been very well done. Around the neck there is a continuous painted leaf boarder, below the two central panels have a trailing leaf and flower design and around the lower section there is a water and...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Two Pairs, 18th Century Mandarin Pallet Chinese Export Vases
Located in Dallas, TX
On left: Pair of early 18th century mandarin pallet Chinese vases decorated with various scenes and gilt handles (on neck), orange ground with blue borders around scenes, visible rep...
Category

Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Rare Chinese Tonkin Ware Shakudo Sawasa Erotic Tobacco Box
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A ruyi-shaped Shakudo-style erotic tobacco or snuff box, relief-decorated with silvered applied figures Possibly Jakarta (Batavia), first half 18th century Measures: H. 2.2 x L. 12.1 x W. 8 cm This box is very much in the Dutch taste, for the illustration is after a print with a legend reading “L’oiseau sans cage. Prenez, belle, mon oiseau. C’est le plus doux présent que je puisse vous faire. Pour les autres oiseaux, la cage d’ordinaire est une espèce de tombeau. Mais le mien semble prendre une nouvelle vie, Lorsqu’il sera dans la cage de mon aimable Silvie.” The erotic message is as clear as can be. In Dutch culture the verb ‘vogelen’ (catching a bird) is another word for having sex and a bird escaping from his cage indicates loss of chastity. The lady with the bare breasts, while making the sign of sealed lips to the lady behind her, who is pointing towards heaven, seems to be caressing the bird held in the sleeping man’s groin. 17th century Dutch pictures...
Category

Early 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Gold, Silver, Bronze

Chinese Brown and Pink Rope Design Trim Handled Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese handled vase with a pale pink base and a burnished tan body showing highs and lows in the finish, wrapped in two ribboned r...
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese White and Floral Pattern Porcelain Jars
Located in Queens, NY
5 Chinese white porcelain, open-mouthed jars decorated in an all-over pattern of florals and foliage in purple, orange and green, accented with gold lotus flowers (Priced each).  
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese Guangzhou Dog Hunt Scene Moonflask Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) Guangzhou painted export porcelain moonflask vases depicting richly colored dog hunt scenes on the bodies and gold patterned sides surrou...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese White and Blue Foo Dog and Serpent Design Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white porcelain urn decorated with blue foo dogs, clouds, and serpents, and accented in two pale blue scrolled handl...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese High-Gloss Black Lidded Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
4 Chinese black porcelain vases with high-gloss finishes and finial-topped lids (priced each).        
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese White and Maroon Floral Motif Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
"Pair of Chinese white porcelain vases decorated with dark maroon and pink floral motifs wrapping the bulbous forms, accented in blue, pink and brown patterned bands around the tops ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese Black and Gold Tole Scroll Handle Vessel Planters
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese black and gold tole vessels with scrolled handles and a painted fold design of figures sitting amongst a variety of florals on a r...
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

Monumental Blue and White Floor Vase or Dramatic Center Piece
Located in Buchanan, MI
Monumental blue and white floor vase or dramatic center piece 30" tall, 12" wide. We also have a large evolving collection of blue and white. Great ce...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Ormolu and Cloisonné Enamel Vase for the Islamic Market
Located in London, GB
Chinese Ormolu and cloisonné enamel vase for the Islamic Market Chinese, early 20th century Dimensions: Height 18cm, diameter 25cm Crafted in China...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu

Chinese 19th Century Blue and White crackleware vases / lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of late 19th Century Chinese export Blue and White crackleware vases / lamps. Each with faux bronze mounts above and below the central blue and white hand painted scenes of birds perched on the branches of exotic flowers, boarders of scrolling foliate and floral decoration. We can convert this pair of vases to lamps...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese 19th Century Crackel Ware Vases / lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A stylish pair of Chinese 19th century crackle ware vases / lamps, each with fretted handles and gilded ormolu bases and rims. We can convert to lamps if required. G7560/15 CEKZ
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Canton Chinese Export Porcelain Chestnut Bowl
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th Century Canton Chinese Export Rose Medallion porcelain chestnut bowl with lid featuring painted interior scenes of figures, birds and flowers with gi...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Bronze-Mounted Rose Medallion Center Piece
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dore bronze mounts. Nicely cast. Bowl has no breaks, cracks or damages.
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Pair of Chinese Hardwood Buffalo Boys with Bone Flutes
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th Century pair of dark hardwood water buffalo with inset glass eyes. These finely carved and highly detailed figures have carved boy figures sitting on their backs holding bone flutes...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Hardwood

Early 19th Century Export Chinoiserie Lacquer Box on Carved Feet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This exquisite early 19th-century chinoiserie box, adorned with lacquered surfaces and ornate gold-toned detailing, showcases the superb craftsmanship of English artisans influenced ...
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Lacquer

Antique Chinese Ormolu and Cloisonné Enamel Vase for the Islamic Market
Located in London, GB
Antique Chinese ormolu and cloisonné enamel vase for the Islamic Market Chinese, early 20th century Dimensions: Height 10cm...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu, Enamel

19th Century Famille Rose Beaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very finely detailed large Chinese beaker with flower and bird motif. No cracks, breaks or repairs.
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain, Paint

Pair of 1930s Vintage Bronze Jug Vase Urns with Little Cherub Angles Nice Find
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely original pair of 1930s bronze jug vases with cherubs A good looking and well made pair, the Cherubs have t...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Early 20th Century Cinnabar Chinese Covered Jar
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand carved. Early 1900s. Enameled.
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Enamel

Antique pair of Homunculus Sculptures
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Unique and charming set of homunculus type figures on wooden base. Unknown origin and date but probably early 20th century. See pics
Category

20th Century Unknown Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Pair of 19th Century Chinese Export Petite Bowls
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand painted, late 19th century.
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Ormolu and Cloisonné Enamel Vase for the Islamic Market
Located in London, GB
Chinese ormolu and cloisonné enamel vase for the Islamic Market Chinese, early 20th century Dimensions: Height 20cm, diameter 23cm Crafted in China...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu, Enamel

Antique Chinese Blanc de Chene Lidded Vase
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A beautiful early 19th century Chinese Blan de Chene lidded vase with mythical dragons in re-leaf. Having wonderful Rococo influenced gilded ormolu mounts.
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ormolu

Chinese Export decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Chinese Export decorative 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 decorative objects created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, asian art and furniture, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, porcelain and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Chinese Export decorative objects 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 decorative objects, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, Hung Chong Co., Mottahedeh, and Samson Cie. 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 decorative objects differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $68 and tops out at $216,780 while the average work can sell for $1,500.

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