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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
Larger Than Life Terracotta Buddha Bust of Guanyin, Early 20th Century, China
Located in Antwerp, BE
Monumental Terracotta Bust of Guanyin — China, Early 20th Century A striking, larger-than-life terracotta bust of Guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion, originating from China and ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Terracotta

Antique Chinese Export Silver Box by Wang Hing
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Chinese export silver dragon box; an addition to our collection of boxes and cases This fine antique C...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Silver

Pair of Early Chinese Republic Era Cloisonne Vases with Stylized Floral Motif
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This pair of antique cloisonne vases originate from China during the Early Republic period and done in the Chinese Export style. These vases are...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Chinese Rust Agate Vessel
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese rust agate (vessel) urn with a carving in relief and ring sides holding a loop handle with a cover having carved bats. (modern hanging stand 8½"w x 11¾"h)
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble

20th Century Chinese Ceramic Tang SanCai (tri color)Horse
Located in Pomona, CA
A large vintage Tang style Sancai glazed terracotta horse. This exquisite piece features a striking green and brown color glazed finish, infusing it with a touch of classic allure. T...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Early 20th Century Chinese Black Glaze Pottery Vase
Located in Pomona, CA
Our wonderful collection of handmade old vintage Chinese hand made glazed pottery vase will make great accent pieces for any room of your house. It has some imperfection signs of age...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

18th Century Rose Medallion Large Vase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18th Century Rose Medallion Large Vase sourced from our Paris Offices at Chateau de Vitray. This is a larger early Rose Medallion Vase with early repairs. See photos. very good old r...
Category

Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Late 19th Century Antique Chinese Large Royal Gold Plated Cloisonne Bull Statue
Located in Pomona, CA
This magnificent antique Chinese Cloisonne bull statue is made from gold plated bronze/copper and shows very detailed hand craft works of Cloisonne art - a lot of Chinese traditional folks art like Buddhas flower...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Pair of Chinese Marble Lions from the 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of Chinese Marble Lions from the XIX century Elegant lions of the Quing Dynasty carved in white marble with chisel. They are in good conditio...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble

Pair of Early 20th Century Chinese Multi-Colored Cloisonne Rooster Sculptures
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of early 20th century Chinese cloisonne rooster sculptures with red, white, blue, green, and yellow enamels standing on circular cloisonne bases...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Enamel

Chinese Famille Verte Hat Stand with Ancient Censers, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Dated to the late 19th century, this porcelain hat stand was once used by a Qing-dynasty gentleman to display his cap while it wasn't being worn. The hat stand is decorated in the fa...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese 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

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 ha...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Chinese White and Blue Village Scene Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) large white, porcelain urn depicting a blue scene of a village along the water, and finished with two dark blue scrolled handles along the neck. ...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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 Mustard Colored and Tonal Patterned Meiping Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese, mustard-colored porcelain Meiping form vase carved in raised, tonal florals, with patterned bands around the top and base. Crackling in glaze.
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese Famille Rose Plates with Garden Scenes, 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 pair of fine porcelain dishes is a beautiful example of famille rose, decorated with pastel enamels in a palette of purple, turquoise, and pink. The center of each plate is decorated with a calm scene of a woman and a young boy in a garden, surrounded by flowering plum branches and lingzhi fungi of immortality. The scene is bordered by an all-over purple fish...
Category

Early 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

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

Chinese White and Blue Chrysanthemum and Bird Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white and blue porcelain urn decorated with a bird amid flowering chrysanthemums, and accented with two navy scrolled handles along the neck. Sl...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Blue and White Porcelain Vases with Water Lillies
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Chinese blue and white vases with classic form and hand decorated in an unusual modern style with a waterlily motif all around.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese White Green and Yellow Vegetal Winter Melon Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (early 20th century) winter melon-form porcelain vase decorated with an incised, white bottom half that grows into verdant abstracted vegetal and peacock shapes on th...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Export Dragon Motif Silver Picture Frame
Located in Stamford, CT
Chinese export dragon motif silver plate picture frame. Newly replaced. New low glare clear glass. Original burgundy leather easel back. Opening ...
Category

1930s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Silver Plate

Post Qing Dynasty Cinnabar Ginger Jar Stand
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Post Qing Dynasty Cinnabar ginger jar & stand Exquisite high relief carved continuous landscape motif, complete with hardwood stand. Unmarked. T...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Hardwood, Lacquer

Pair Of Louis Philippe Tole Potpourri In The Chinese Export Style
Located in Essex, MA
An unusual pair copying what was being exported from Canton China in the early to late 19th century. With swan handles and removable lids with vent on top for scent to escape.
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Tin

Pair of Chinese Pale Green and Pink Blossom Lidded Jars
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Chinese pale green lidded jars decorated with lily pads and pink lotus blossoms on one side of their round forms and extending up to the lids,...
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese White and Navy Blue Symbol Patterned Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) large, off-white porcelain urn painted with a navy blue pattern featuring Buddhist symbols and other shapes with accented blue scrolled handles. ...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Style Stoneware Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese style (20th cent) stoneware vase with multi-colored glaze and 3 figures in high relief.      
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Rectangular Brass and Bronze Wood Jewelry Box, 1950 s
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Sturdy rectangular hinged trinket box for display or functional for jewelry. Wonderful piece to add to existing collection. Marked on the bottom, China
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal, Brass, Bronze

Chinese Bloodstone Carved Seal
Located in Norwood, NJ
Nicely carved red/orange Chinese hardstone seal. Bloodstone or "chicken blood" soapstone hand carved village scene with figures and trees. Signed.
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Soapstone

Chinese Bloodstone Carved Seal
Chinese Bloodstone Carved Seal
$1,020 Sale Price
20% Off
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

Pair of Chinese White and Cherry Blossom Branch Porcelain Urns
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of similar Chinese white porcelain urns depicting small yellow birds in cherry blossom branches on the fronts, and characters on the rever...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Early 20 Century Vintage Chinese Dark Green Glaze Pottery Vase/Liquor Bottle
Located in Pomona, CA
Our wonderful collection of handmade old vintage Chinese hand made glazed pottery vase/liquor bottle will make great accent pieces for any room of your house. It has some imperfection signs of age and usage on the mouth of vase and distressed patina. Take a close look at the pictures, there are some Buddha symbols...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

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

Pair of Chinese Cloisonne Enamel Vases
Located in Germantown, MD
A Pair of Mid Century Chinese Cloisonne Enamel Vases Measures 5.5" in width, 5.5" in depth and 9" in height.
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass, Enamel

Palace Size Rose Medallion Fish Bowl Pot
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gorgeous Palace Size Rose Medallion Fish Bowl Pot with unusual light soft colors for Rose Medallion. Very large scale perfect for larger plants. Add some Asian influence to your Desi...
Category

1980s Chinese Vintage 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

19th Century Rare Chinese Export Solid Silver Enamel Bowl, Wo Kwong circa 1890
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique late 19th century extremely rare Chinese export solid silver and enamel bowl, the sides are applied with shaded enamels, depicting bloomin...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Silver, Enamel

Double Happiness Blue White Ceramic Ginger Jar
Located in Bradenton, FL
A blue and white Chinese ceramic ginger jar with lid. Hand-painted with the double happiness symbol framed with a floral motif in bold cobalt blue. Marked underneath “Made in China”.
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of Chinese Mahogany and Tin Hinged Painted Figural Tea Bins, Circa 1840
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of Chinese mahogany and tin hinged painted tea bins with gilt figural stenciling and decorative landscape scenes with bird motif, Mid-19th century.
Category

1840s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

Large 19th Century Chinese Jade Disc on Stand
Located in Queens, NY
Large 19th Century Chinese Jade Disc on Stand
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Jade

18th-century Chinese Export Porcelain Famille Rose Wine Cooler
Located in Downingtown, PA
Elegant Tableware: Chinese Export Famille Rose Porcelain Wine Cooler Circa 1775 A finely potted and well-preserved Chinese Export porcelain vessel, functioning as either a wine co...
Category

1770s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

Monumental Fish and Flora Blue and White Gooseneck Vase
Located in Chicago, IL
Revered for centuries for its elegant designs and rich cobalt blue and pure white colors, traditional Chinese blue-and-white porcelain lives on in this hand-painted bottleneck vase. Delicately rendered with fish and flora beneath fanciful waves, the vase's whimsical motif draws from these traditional Chinese symbols...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Large Chinese Woven Wicker Wedding Basket
Located in West Hartford, CT
Three tiered Asian Chinese wedding basket was certainly make a statement! Woven reeds split bamboo throughout. Dragon head metal brass handles...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Chinese Blue White Prunus Birds Jar/Vase Cover Earlier Qing Dynasty
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Chinese Blue & White 'Prunus' Jar/Vase & Cover Early Qing Dynasty (1644–1911) This impressive Chinese Blue & White 'Prunus' Jar/Vase and Cover, dating to the Early Qing Dynasty, is...
Category

18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese Red Lacquered Foo Dogs
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Asian Chinese style (19th Cent) red lacquered carved figures of squatting foo dogs
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Lacquer

Quartz Rock Crystal of a Chinese Goddess
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a very rare Carving of a Goddess seated inside of a large Quartz Rock Crystal . Hard to see any details in the photos . No signature found . The stone is appox 9" across an...
Category

Late 19th Century Central Asian Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Quartz

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

Porcelain Chinese Vase, Satsuma, 1970 s.
Located in Praha, CZ
The vase is hand-decorated with painted scenes, figures in kimonos. The decoration is richly interwoven with gold color and fine lines very typical for Satsuma ceramics Signed Origin...
Category

1970s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Mid 20th Century Chinese Famille Noire Porcelain Fish Bawl/Planter
Located in Pomona, CA
This gorgeous vintage Chinese porcelain fish bowl having striking black background on the exterior decorated with elaborate floral,lotus and lotus pods as well as dragon flies and bu...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Celadon Vase, in a Green Color, Ceramic, Mid-20th Century, Made in China
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Green Celadon vase. This ceramic was made in China in the 20th century. It is small in size and has decorations in the manner of the Song period.
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic, Celadon

Large Chinese Export Hand Painted Rose Medallion Porcelain Bowl
Located in San Diego, CA
Large Chinese export hand painted rose medallion porcelain bowl, circa early 1950s. This gorgeous bowl has a wonderful traditional design and is in v...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Chinese Export Porcelain Puppies
Located in Essex, MA
Well modeled "lion dogs'" modeled after a Pekingese the companion pet of Chinese royalty. Cream colored ground with brown accents.
Category

1860s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Petite Famille Verte Canton Vase, c. 1920
Located in Chicago, IL
Dated to the 1920s during China's Republic Period, this petite vase is decorated in a style known as Canton enamel, so named for the long-standing industry of export enamels based in...
Category

1920s Chinese Vintage Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Chinese Export Style Porcelain Oval Basin
Located in New York, NY
With applied handles to the sides, painted in blue monochrome with band of swags under the rim, over crown, shield motifs and sparse stylized flowers; the interior with three leaves ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Circa 1850 Chinese Export Papier Mache Footed Tray
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1850 Chinese export papier mache footed tray. Exquisitely hand painted & gilded. Minor rubbing & darkening commensurate with age, material & use. 11 3/8" dia., 1.75" h. We are...
Category

1850s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Paint, Paper

Pair Chinese Sang Du Boeuf vases / candelabra, circa 1880
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive and decorative pair of 19th century Chinese Sang Du Bouf lidded vases each with wonderful gilded ormolu Rococo style scrolling foliate candelabra mounts. Batch 83...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Ormolu

Pair of Chinese Export Porcelain and French Bronze Candelabra
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of candelabra consisting of a pair of 18th century Chinese export vases mounted in 19th century French bronze in the Louis XVI style. The porcelains are very decorative and do...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Blue White Shan Shui 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 jar is decorated with mountain-and...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Daoist Monumental Snuff Bottle with Immortals, 1930-50
Located in Lomita, CA
A large Chinese glass snuff bottle decorated with the auspicious figures of Fu, Lu, and Shou, representing prosperity, rank, and longevity—a classical theme in Chinese decorative art...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Objects

Materials

Enamel

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.