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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
Chinese Yellow and Cherry Blossom Design Porcelain Sleeve Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese yellow porcelain sleeve vase with cherry blossom branches and birds in a pale neutral palette, wrapping all four sides and growing up t...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Export Silver Dragon Bowl on Stand
Located in Stamford, CT
19th century Chinese export silver bowl. Decorated in a bold repoussè dragon motif with two dragons contending for a center flaming pearl of wisdom amongst clouds and chased ground. Marked on the underside KHL. Carved wooden stand...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Silver

China Republic 1912-1960 Inside Paint Carved Rock Crystal Vase Silver Enamel
Located in Miami, FL
An impressive China inside-painted vase in rock crystal. Beautiful and one-of-a-kind art-piece. created in China during the first years of the China-republic, circa 1912-1949. Thi...
Category

1940s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Multi-gemstone, Rock Crystal, Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Chinese Blue and White Peacock Motif Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) large off-white, porcelain urn with a blue peacock amid florals and two blue scrolled handles along the neck. Light wear."
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Three Tiered Black Gold Lacquer Wedding Basket, 19Th Century
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Just in, this Chinese Three Tiered Black & Gold Lacquer Wedding Basket, 19Th Century This Chinese or Japanese three tiered lacquerware container, possibly a wedding basket or a stor...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Pair 19th Century Rose Medallion Vases / Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of 19th Century Chinese Cantonese vases / lamps. Each with classical green ground, wonderful exotic floral decoration, butterflies and birds. The vases can be co...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Famille Rose Bowl with Offering Fruits, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
During the 18th century, Europeans provided an eager market for Chinese export porcelain, especially the colorful and fanciful ware known as “famille rose.” Named for a palette of opaque overglaze enamels that favored roses and pinks, famille rose porcelain ware was crafted with the same technical virtuosity as imperial porcelain but designed for Western tastes. This famille rose bowl...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Wicker Rooster
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Chinese rooster expertly crafted with an ambitious weaving technique using bamboo and bamboo wicker with carved wood highlights, from the noted Shanghai ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wicker

Chinese Sancai Glazed Tang Dynasty-Style Horse Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terra cotta figure of a horse commonly used as a tomb figure for wealthy burials in the 7-8th centuries, and crafted with its traditional tri-color...
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Terracotta

Chinoiserie Decorated Mantel Clock circa 1920s
Located in Dereham, GB
Chinoiserie Decorated Mantel Clock circa 1920s Black Background with gilt decoration Dome shaped top , with gilt brass columns each side. Cream ena...
Category

1920s British Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Lacquer

Pair of Chinese Mid-Century White Porcelain Chickens
Located in Queens, NY
"Pair of Antique Chinese (Mid 20th Century) white porcelain chickens, detailed with tonal feathers and red features and sculpted perched on rocks (P...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

A Pair Of Hand-Painted Chinese Porcelain Vases
Located in Bradenton, FL
Lovely pair of early 20th Century Chinese Cylindrical Porcelain Vases with scenes from traditional Chinese motifs. Vases feature mirror images of two women in robes of the era sittin...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Fine Antique Collectable Chinese Table Top Cabinet Jewellery Collectors Storage
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage circa 1920's hand painted and lacquered oriental Chinese table chest or jewellery box. A very good looking and well made pie...
Category

1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Hardwood

Chinese Navy Blue Ginger Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) ceramic ginger jar vase in navy blue with a brown earthenware opening.  
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of Antique Chinese Beige and Orange Foo Dog Patterned Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Antique Chinese (late 19th-early 20th Century) porcelain urn-form vases with a pattern featuring swirling orange foo dogs against a gray-beige background. (PRICED AS PAIR) C...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Export Porcelain Famille Rose Snuff Box- European subjects
Located in Downingtown, PA
East Meets West: Rare Chinese Export "European Subject" Porcelain Snuff Box Circa 1750–1760 A superb mid-18th century Chinese Export porcelain snuff box, finely painted in famille rose and puce enamels, featuring rare "European Subject" decoration. The rectangular box, after a European silver form, features a slightly domed cover and is fitted with its contemporary chased gilt-metal (ormolu) mounts and hinge. The exterior walls are painted with a continuous frieze of European figures—gentlemen in 18th-century frock coats...
Category

Mid-18th Century Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese White and Navy Blue Patterned Handled Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white porcelain urn painted with a blue pattern featuring urns, furniture, and florals with blue scrolled handles on the neck. Light wear."
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Mid 20th-Century Chinese Jun Ware Fambe Glaze Landscaping Porcelain Vase
Located in Pomona, CA
Look at this magnificent Chinese Jun porcelain vase. It was hand made and hand paint from famous Chinese Jun Porcelain. It shows the natural fambe glaze ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Hand-Carved Sculpture of a Buddhist Monk, 21st Century
Located in Greding, DE
Sculpture of a Buddhist monk made of natural stone, masterfully hand-carved. The calm posture, finely folded robes, and engraved dedication give the figure a distinctive spiritual an...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Stone

Pair of Antique Samson "Chinese Export" Armorial Porcelain Covered Vases
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Highly decorative pair of Famille Rose vases that are painted in typical palette with leaves, flowers with blue "cracked ice" at top and bottom and with a coat of arms. They are hard...
Category

1920s French Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

1950s Mid-Century Chinese Rosewood+Brass Turtle Hinged Jewelry Box Chinoiserie
Located in Hyattsville, MD
An older mid-century Chinese export/souvenir Jewelry Box. Inside it has two removable separators, outside is has brass decorations, hinges, and a wond...
Category

1950s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Chinese Blue and White Hexagonal Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) blue and white hexagonal-shaped porcelain vase depicting a village scene and surrounding nature and accented with blue scroll handles at the neck...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Large Asian Bronze Foo Dogs
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Large Asian Bronze Foo Dogs or Kylin Dragon, probably Chinese, circa 1950s or earlier. They retain their warm original patina. These were purch...
Category

1950s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Chinese Rose Quartz Rooster
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese rose quartz small carved figure of a rooster (as is-repair to base) (20th Cent)
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Rose Quartz

Carved Hardstone Eagle in Smoky Quartz
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This majestic eagle is hand carved from quality smoky quartz. The eagle is standing on a decorative geometric base that has been custom made for this purpose. With faux glass eyes, t...
Category

1930s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Quartz

Chinese Monumental Imari-Style Lidded Light Orange Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese monumental, lidded porcelain floor vase celebrating Japanese Imari ware in both palette and design, featuring natural scenes of birds and flowering trees set against a light-...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese White and Navy Blue Botanical Design Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white, porcelain urn decorated with a blue botanical scene of an oversized peony emerging from a marsh under a bird...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Export Silver Dragon Card Case
Located in New York, NY
Chinese export silver card case, ca 1910. Rectangular. Chased ornament on stippled ground. On recto, a blossoming prunus branch with armorial cartouche (vacant). On verso, a fanged a...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Silver

Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Sancai Glazed Terra Cotta Camel Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terra cotta tomb figure of a Bactrian camel, the main form of transport over the Silk Road, with its head tilted back and mouth open to the sky, we...
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Terracotta

Pair of Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Double Gourd Vases
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout pair of Chinese blue and white porcelain vases having a double gourd form, hand decorated with pagoda landscapes.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Oxblood Red Glazed Chinese Melon Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
The melon shape is respected by the Chinese not only as a form but as a symbol for proliferation. These contemporary ceramics call back to the Song Dynasty (960 to 1279) when artisan...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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

Small Handcarved Chinese Chest
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A hand carved Chinese large table box with hinged lid. Intricately carved all-over with Asian carvings resting of four paw feet. Bronze lock plate on front.
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Hardwood

Antique Chinese Export Silver Blossom Butterfly Bowl
Located in New York, NY
Chinese export silver bowl, ca 1910. Curved and tapering with molded ogee rim; raised and spread foot. Applied blossoming prunus branch as well as magnolias and lilies with butterfly...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Silver

Splendid Impressively Large Life Size Chinese Guan Yin Marble Figure
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Amazing life size beautiful white marble Guan Yin sculpture having meticulous detail and beautiful peaceful expression. Appropriate for display indoors or in the garden. In Chinese ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble

Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-Style Bronze Fluted Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-style copy of a patinaed bronze urn with ram head ornamentation below the fluted mouth, raised geometric patterns wrapping the body and a tapered circular...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Antique Early Chinese Republic Era Stacking Lacquered Box Set with Dragon Motif
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique lacquered stacking box set is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from China during the Early Republic period of approximately 1920 and done in a period Chinese Ex...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Softwood

Pair of Chinese Teal Nine-Peach Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Chinese (Mid-20th Century) teal porcelain vases depicting a playful figurative scene of children at play in and around a peach tree and nine ripe peaches in total, symbolizin...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Silvered Metal Manjushri, Sino, Tibetan Buddhist Deity
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
A silvered figure of Manjusri seated in dhyanasana on a Pala style Indian base, wearing an ornate crown and wearing body jewelry, Manjushri holds the sword of wisdom in his right hand and above his left shoulder is a lotus flower upon which rests a volume of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras. Manjushri - Tibetan Buddhist Deity...
Category

Mid-20th Century Tibetan Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

Large Ormolu Mounted Chinese Porcelain Jardinière
Located in London, GB
A large ormolu mounted Chinese porcelain jardinière French and Chinese, Late 19th Century Height 102cm, width 80cm, depth 63cm Combining Ch...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ormolu

Antique Chinese Urn Shaped Orange Foo Dog Design Porcelain Vases
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese porcelain vase with an urn-shaped form and swirling orange foo dog designs on a grayish-beige background. (Previously broken and repaired. Matching in-tact vase: NWL2688) Co...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

20th Century Chinese Antique Cloisonne Figurine with Musical Instrument
Located in Pomona, CA
Look at this magnificent Chinese Antique Cloisonne Beauty Figurine. It was hand made from gold copper cloisonne. This stand Beauty has very d...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

Blue White Trailing Vines Ginger Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
This round, porcelain ginger jar is brightly glazed in the blue-and-white manner. A combination of stenciled linework and hand-brushed shading, the sides and lid are enlivened with a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Celadon Glazed Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese glazed porcelain vase in a celadon color with a bulbous form (date mark on bottom, see photos).    
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Porcelain Light Green and White Cartouche Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) bulbous porcelain urn with a large white cartouche depicting a basket of botanicals on each side against a light green background patterned with...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Vintage Chinese Export Porcelain Vase, Chine, 20th century
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Vintage Chinese porcelain vase with koi fish decoration in famille rose style. The red seal mark is a decorative imitation of a Qianlong mark and does not indicate age. 20th century ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair Louis XVI Style Chinese-Export Ormolu Mounted Famille Rose Porcelain Vases
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine pair of Louis XVI style chinoiserie gilt-bronze mounted Chinese export famille rose porcelain vases. The ovoid hand painted porcelain body with dual scenes of a sword presenta...
Category

Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ormolu

20th Century Vintage Chinese Bronze Incense Burner
Located in Pomona, CA
This magnificent Chinese Antique Carved Bronze incense burner has very detailed hand craft works around the body, elephants trunk as legs and handle and lotus bud on the lid of incen...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Large Decorated Chinese Vase from Ignoto, 1960
Located in Charleston, SC
Ceramic vase made in China, finely decorated in Satsuma style. The entire body is hand enameled with intricate garden and family vignettes accented in gold. Striking Chinese export ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Asian Brass Mounted Rosewood and Felt Lined Jewelry Box
Located in Germantown, MD
This is a Chinese jewelry box that is made out of rosewood with beautiful Chinoiserie brass trim. It is a nice heavy box that measures 12”W x 8”L x 6”H. The top layer inside holds 5 ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Hong Kong Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Chinese Blue White Double Happiness Spice Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
The symbol for double happiness adorns this round tea leaf jar with best wishes for love, companionship and marital bliss. Glazed in the classic blue and white manner, the porcelain jar has a rounded form with a slight taper and is topped by a flat lid, a traditional shape for jars used to hold Chinese...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Export Silver Picture Frame
Located in New York, NY
Turn-of-the-century Chinese export silver picture frame. Oval window in shaped surround with scrolls and flower heads at top, and leaves, stars, flowers, and heart cartouche vacant o...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Silver

Chinese Black and White Cherry Blossom Tree Motif Porcelain Jar
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese black porcelain jar with red and white cherry blossom trees growing from a green pastoral scene at the base. Condition: Good; Wear consistent with age and use
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Bactrian Camel Terra Cotta Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terra cotta tomb figure of a Bactrian camel, the main form of transport over the Silk Road, with its head tilted back and mouth open to the sky, we...
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Terracotta

Pair of Asian Rooster Finial Lidded Red Urns
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Asian Rooster Finial Lidded Red Urns
Category

20th Century Asian Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-20th Century Chinese Porcelain Hat Stand/Brush Pot
Located in Pomona, CA
Collected from China, this beautiful Qing Dynasty style famille rose vase features detailed Chinese ink painting style landscape and fisherman, boat painting with marks on the bottom...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of 19th Century Blue and White Lidded Temple Jars/Urns
Located in Manhasset, NY
Pair of 19th century blue and white temple jars, Chinese or Urns. Each 19 inch large and impressive Urn with a full original lid, measures 15 in High without the lid. The pair signed...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain, Pottery

Chinese White and Blue Character Lidded Ginger Jar Vases
Located in Queens, NY
3 antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) similar ceramic ginger jars with blue floral designs surrounding bold, centered characters and geometric patterned bands leading to brown rustic...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Carved Wooden Gold and Red Decorative Box
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese circular wooden box with carved top character design and carved geometric foot, painted in gold and red with a fitted lid and fine black painted border pattern.    
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Chinese Off-White and Light Blue Vine Pattern Lidded Porcelain Ginger Jars
Located in Queens, NY
"4 Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) lidded porcelain ginger jars with a swirling light blue dense vines and spaced floral motifs against off-white back...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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.