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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
Early 20th Century Antique Tibetan Silver Turquoise Ghau Prayer Box
Located in Pomona, CA
Ghau is a small prayer box worn as pendant by Buddhists as portable shrines which can be pray by prayer during their travel. This Ghau prayer box (travel Buddha...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Silver

Asian Gilt Guan Yin Buddha
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese Asian style gilt carved figure of seated Guan Yin Buddha on a lotus base (20th Cent)
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Giltwood

Antique Chinese Celadon Blue And White Vase
Located in Norwood, NJ
A large antique 19th century Chinese floor vase having a celadon ground and blue and white underglaze decoration to the body. The underglaze decoration is of a large Foo lion above ...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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

Vintage Japanese Takenaka Copper Vase
Located in Pomona, CA
This beautiful Copper vase was made by famous metal ware company Takenaka Bronze Works. I was hand made of bronze with detailed carving works on it and has ma...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Mid-20th Century Chinese Carved Landscape Sculpture, Scholar art
Located in Pomona, CA
This sculpture has exquisite carved landscaping and buildings, etc. Detailed hand carving works on a piece of Boxwood. It was used as paper weigh - a scholar arts on the desk. Look a...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Boxwood

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Sterling Silver, Enamel

Chinese Blue White Dragon Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
This large porcelain jar is beautifully glazed in the classic blue-and-white manner, with hand-painted cobalt-blue decoration against a crisp whit...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Export Famille Rose Porcelain Punch Bowl
Located in Astoria, NY
Chinese Export Famille Rose Porcelain Large Punch Bowl, with hand-painted floral motif and carved wood stand. Bowl: 6.25" H x 14.5" Diameter. Provenance: Lynda Willauer Antiques, Nan...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Early 20th Century Antique Chinese Carved Stone Buddha Head Sculpture
Located in Pomona, CA
Look at this magnificent Chinese Antique Carved Stone Buddha Head. It was dated back to 1920s and shows very detailed hand carving works on it. You can see from the pictures that It ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Stone

A Pair of Tall Chinese Export Porcelain Figural Vases with Birds and Flowers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Pair of Tall Chinese export porcelain figural vases. The ovoid porcelain bodies decorated with colorful flowers, tropical birds, tree...
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Mid 20th Century Modern Chinese Decorative Bucket Bronze Handles
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Planter Pot Bucket Large Antique Chinese Bucket Planter Pot in Bronze 13 tall x 13.85 diameter x 14.25 w Large bucket with oriental-Chinese dec...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Large Chinese Dragon Vase in Patinated Bronze, Late 19th Century
Located in København, Copenhagen
Large Chinese dragon vase in patinated bronze. Late 19th century. In very good condition. Stamped. Measures: 39 x 20 cm.
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Antique Chinese Branches Birds Patterned Porcelain Rouleau Form Vases
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Antique Chinese (late 19th-early 20th Century) porcelain rouleau-form vases with a pattern featuring sprawling tree branches and foliage in greens, pinks, and browns, and bir...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Early 20th Century Chinese Hand-Painted Wooden Box
Located in Pomona, CA
This is a traditional style of Chinese painted wooden Box from Shan Xi, China. It has about 100 years history. Normally it was used to store jewelry and valuable accessories as well ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Chinese White and Blue Nature Motif Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) large white, porcelain urn with a scene of blue flora and fauna, and two dark blue scrolled handles along the neck. Light wear with some damage ...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique 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

Pair of Ormolu Mounted Chinese Porcelain Tazze
Located in London, GB
Pair of ormolu mounted Chinese porcelain tazze Chinese & French, Late 19th Century Height 18cm, width 31cm, depth 21cm These very fine decorative pieces are a pair of tazze (from the Italian tazza...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ormolu

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

Pair of Chinese Canton / Rose Medallion Vases / Lamps, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality pair of 19th century Chinese rose medallion vases, each with wonderful bold pinks, blues and green coloring, exotic bird handles on either side, lizards circling ...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Antique Chinese Café Au Lait Porcelain and Ormolu Vases
Located in London, GB
Pair of antique Chinese café au leit porcelain and ormolu vases Porcelain: Chinese, 18th Century Ormolu: French, Late 19th Century Height 33cm, width 23cm, depth 18cm The porcela...
Category

18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ormolu

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

19th Century Chinese Hand Carved Meal Delivery and Lunch Box
Located in Pomona, CA
This Antique lacquered lunch box from Shan Xi, China has over 140 years history and still maintained very good condition. There are some traditional carving works on the two sides handle and shows the traditional style of Northern China's cultural. This antique lunch box...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

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

Pair of Chinese Blue and White Floral Lidded Ginger Jar Vases
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of antique Chinese (late 19th century) similar ceramic ginger jars with blue floral designs surrounding bold, centered characters and geometric patterned bands leading to brown ...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Porcelain Qing Emperor Decorative Figure
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Elevate your collection with this exquisite Chinese porcelain figurine inspired by the illustrious Qing dynasty. Crafted in a stunning wucai style, the figurine depicts a distinguish...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain, Paint

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 Tang Dynasty-Style Camel with Rider Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terracotta tomb figure of a bearded rider dressed in a gray coat and brown boots riding a yellow Bactrian camel standin...
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Terracotta

Massive Rose Canton Porcelain Punch Bowl, Edmé Samson et Cie, Paris
Located in Downingtown, PA
Massive Rose Canton Porcelain Punch bowl, Edme Samson et Cie, Paris, circa 1880 The massive beautiful bowl with unusual steep sides is...
Category

19th Century Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Mid-20th Century Chinese Cloisonne Vase
Located in Pomona, CA
This Chinese Antique Cloisonne Vase was hand made from gold copper with cloisonne. It has detailed cloisonne works of Peony, Magpie and floral a...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal, Copper

19th Century Chinese Canton / Rose Medallion Garden Seat
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th Century Chinese Canton / Rose medallion hexagonal porcelain garden seat. The top and sides having pierced decoration to the centres, two rows gilded buttons aroun...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese White and Pink Cherry Blossom Tree Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese white porcelain urn decorated with dark pink cherry blossom branches growing up its form, and accented with white foo dog doorknocker ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Early 20th Century Chinese Cloisonne Enameled Tripod Censor/Incense Burner
Located in Pomona, CA
Museum Quality Chinese Champleve Cloisonné Incense burner of monumental size standing on a wonderful carved hardwood base. Gilt brass with enamel decoration, reclining elephant with ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Chinese Blue and White Fu Lion Headrest
Located in Chicago, IL
This small ceramic block is actually a form of Chinese headrest or neck pillow. Popular during the Qing dynasty, rigid headrests such as this were used by upper-class women to protec...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Teal and Red Crackle Porcelain Moon Flask Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) teal moon flask porcelain vase decorated with a red crackle overlay and topped with two stepped handles (mark on bottom, see photos). Condition: ...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Painted Clay Buddha Statue with Red Robes
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (early 20th Century, Republic of China) clay Buddha sculpture with painted details and red and green robes. (Similar sculptures: NWL2498, ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Clay

Monumental Cracked Chinese Oil Jar with Repairs
Located in Dallas, TX
The Brendan Bass Estate Collection is an homage to the beauty of vintage and antique pieces, each artfully concealing endless stories collected through the generations in which they...
Category

19th Century Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Pottery

Chinese Wooden Small Rectangular Chest with Hand Painted Exotic Birds
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese Mid-Century small rectangular hinged chest with metal latch and two side ring handles, hand painted featuring two exotic birds (depicted on the top and front), pine, berries,...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

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

Vintage Set of Chinese Jade Carved Horse Drawn Carriage Statue
Located in Pomona, CA
This set of Chinese Jade carved horse drawn carriage are hand crafted with exquisite detail. They were carved with a "thallium tool" and jade-resolving sand by skilled craftsmen in t...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Jade

Spode “Tabacco Leaf” Punch Bowl after Chinese Export Design, England, ca. 1820
Located in Atlanta, GA
Spode “Tabacco Leaf” Punch bowl after Chinese Export design, England ca. 1820.
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Handpainted Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Bowl
Located in Brea, CA
an antique handpainted red Chinese porcelain big bowl, there is a pattern in the bottom of the bowl, mark hand painted. , Measures: 10” x 4.5 ''bow...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

20th Century Blue Chinese Antique Famille Rose Porcelain Vases
Located in Pomona, CA
Look at this magnificent Chinese antique Famille Rose porcelain vases. It was hand made and hand paint from famous Chinese Porcelain. Ea...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Blue and White Perpetual Harmony Baluster Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
This contemporary lidded baluster jar continues the centuries-old tradition of Chinese blue-and-white porcelain ware. Painted with cobalt pigments for a brilliant blue finish, the ja...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Large Chinese Blue and White Baluster Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
This blue and white baluster jar was made in the Jiangxi region of China. The landscape scenes hand painted by feathery brushstrokes are richly evocative and bring to mind ancient Ch...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Squared Famille Rose Ginger Jar with Ritual Vessels, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Beautifully commemorated on this squared ginger jar, tripod censers and bronze ritual vessels have been used for thousands of years in Chinese cultur...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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

Chinese Porcelain Qing Emperor Decorative Figure
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Elevate your collection with this exquisite Chinese porcelain figurine inspired by the illustrious Qing dynasty. Crafted in a stunning wucai style, the figurine depicts a distinguish...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain, Paint

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 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 of Chinese Oxblood Red Fluted Vases
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese oxblood red vases with fluted necks, accentuated by figurative ears holding wooden rings, leading to bulbous lower halves, atop a small, round foot (priced as pair). ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Vintage Goat Figurine in Jade Stone - The Devils Pet
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A small hand-carved/tooled figurine or paperweight of a goat. The devils Pet executed in pale light green jade gemstone. Made in Asia during the 1970s or earlier. Measurements: 6.5...
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Jade

Pair Of Chinese Hardstone Guardian Lions
Located in Norwood, NJ
Pair of hand carved Chinese Jade hardstone Foo Lions or Fu Dogs. This pair of Chinese spinach jade appears to be a nephrite, covered vases having a figural foo lion design with raise...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Jade

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

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Chinese Celadon-Glazed Molded Fish Brush Pot
Located in New York, NY
The cylindrical body molded with overlapping waves and applied with leaping carp; the underside bearing a molded apocryphal Daoguang seal mark.
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Celadon, Porcelain

Chinese Famille Rose Bowl with Pheasant and Chrysanthemums, 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 op...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Monumental Cracked Chinese Oil Jar with Repairs
Located in Dallas, TX
The Brendan Bass Estate Collection is an homage to the beauty of vintage and antique pieces, each artfully concealing endless stories collected through the generations in which they...
Category

19th Century Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Pottery

Large Chinese Export Punchbowl with Staple Repairs, 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A remarkable large Chinese export blue and white punchbowl painted with a floral and brocade design, and featuring a stunning staple repair, 18th century...
Category

Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron

Polychrome Chinese Hunting Scene Large Porcelain Vase Rose Family, 1960s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Large Cantonese baluster vase. Features decorated hand-painted polychrome Family Rose palette with cartouche panels of figures in a hunting scene motif with exotic animals. Made in C...
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.

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