Chinese Export Furniture
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
Recognized Seller Listings
Chinese Export Silver Bowl
By Luen Wo
Located in London, GB
Chinese Export Silver Bowl, of round form with applied prunus around two-thirds of the bowl leaving the remainder plain, in keeping with Chinese tradition seen on paintings where bla...
Category
1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
$10,226
Chinese Export Silver Mug
By Leeching
Located in London, GB
A Chinese export silver mug with flowers and foliage engraved within decorative panels; and a dragon handle. Marked with LC, for Leeching, 利升 (...
Category
1870s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
19th Century Chinese Hardwood Display Table or Stand
Located in London, GB
This display table is a refined work crafted in the 19th century of the Chinese Qing dynasty. It would serve as a beautiful ornament upon which to display plants, urns or other decor...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
Set of 4 Chinese Export Silver Candlesticks
Located in London, GB
A Set of 4 Chinese Export Silver Candlesticks with Glasgow import marks for the firm of George Edward & Sons, 1899. The Scottish firm was one of the few UK companies that stocked Chi...
Category
1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
$8,862 / set
Pair of Chinese Export Silver Vases
Located in London, GB
A Pair of Chinese Export Silver Flower Vases of trumpet form, each with circular base and rising to a flared, shaped top. The vases, which are decorated with applied prunus, were ret...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
$3,408 / set
19th or 20th Century Antique Asian Mirror Frame
Located in Stockholm, SE
A large 19th or 20th century Asian, possibly Chinese, carved mirror frame. Heavy Asian wood. The top with carving similar to a crest and two Foo dogs facing each other. Probably made...
Category
Early 20th Century Asian Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood
Chinese Export Silver Salver
Located in London, GB
An exquisite Chinese Export Silver Salver embossed and chased with a captivating scene of graceful egrets wading in the pond, accompanied by the elegant ...
Category
1880s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
$10,226
Pair of Chinese Export Silver Candlesticks
Located in London, GB
A pair of Chinese Export silver candlesticks, marked with TC, for Tuck Chang, 德祥 公记(DeXiangGongJi), a Shanghai retailer from 1901-1934, and with the maker's mark of 培记 (PeiJi).
230gm...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
$2,999 / set
Chinese Export Silver Bowl
Located in London, GB
A Chinese export silver bowl circa 1890, with later blue glass liner. The bowl is pierced and has wonderfully detailed chrysanthemum decorat...
Category
1880s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
Pair of Chinese Export Silver Bowls
Located in London, GB
A Pair of Chinese Export Silver Bowls on original wood stands, circa 1880. Both bowls composed of six lotus-shaped panels, sit on a stand with openwork cloud carving...
Category
1880s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
Chinese Export Silver Teaset
Located in London, GB
Chinese Export Silver 3-piece Teaset, circa 1920, of pumpkin form, decorated with pumpkin vine and leaves on each piece, and a large impressive cicada on the teapot. The finial on th...
Category
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
$12,953
Early 20th Century Blue
White Ginger Jar Converted to Lamp
Located in Dublin 8, IE
Early 20th Century blue and white ginger jar converted to lamp in the style of the Chinese period of the 18th Century. Ornamented with a floral landscape of leaves, and geometric mot...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Paintings on Mirror Glass Chinese 18th Century China
Located in New York, NY
Paintings on Mirror Glass Chinese 18th Century China. A pair of paintings made on mirrored glass. Made during the 18th century in China. Original fr...
Category
18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Mirror
$2,000 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Chinese Export Silver Mug with Dragon Handle
Located in London, GB
A Chinese Export silver mug with dragon handle, decorated with five birds among bamboo against a matte background. There is a round vacant cartouche to t...
Category
1860s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
Pair of Antique Chinese Hardwood and Veined Marble Stands
Located in London, GB
The stands in this matching pair are made from 'Hongmu' wood (Chinese hardwood). Each stand rests upon four stylised and flared dragon feet, which extend into four ornately carved ca...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
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 Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Chinese Rust Agate Carved Plate
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese rust agate oval bowl with a carved relief of peaches and vine on interior.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Marble
Chinese Rust Agate Carved Plate and Stand
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese rust agate oval plate with carved grapes and leaves in relief with a modern stand.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Marble
Chinese Export Silver Mug with Bamboo Decoration
Located in London, GB
A Chinese Export silver mug with a bamboo handle, and decorated with a bird and moth amongst profuse bamboo decoration on a matte background. T...
Category
1860s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
"Massage" Large White Porcelain Vase by Luce Raggi, Italy / China Contemporary
Located in London, GB
Luce Raggi, Massage (food porn), 2017 glazed porcelain 65 x 25 cm
Hand-painted vase representing police men, seductive women and amused saints, all dedicated to
their passion fo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
$6,326 Sale Price
20% Off
Chinese Export Silver Tea Caddy
Located in London, GB
A Chinese Export Silver Tea Caddy of shaped oval form, with applied prunus and chrysanthemum decoration and a plain, pull-off lid. The retailer is sho...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
19th Century Hand Painted Cantonese Vase
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th century hand painted Cantonese vase in the Famille Rose style. The baluster-shaped body with brightly painted panels depicts interior sc...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Large Chinese Export Silver Bowl
Located in London, GB
A large Chinese Export Silver Bowl with chrysanthemum decoration on a matte background. It was retailed by HC, for Hung Chong "鸿昌", whose shop was in Shanghai between around 1870-194...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
Vintage Indo-Chinese Carpet
Located in Closter, NJ
The city of Amritsar, in the Punjab region in northwest India, began producing carpets in the 19th Century when Kashmir was annexed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh...
Category
1940s Indian Vintage Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Five Extremely Rare Chinese Drawings of Foreigners, 18th Century, Colonial
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Five Chinese paintings of western people by an unknown artist
China, circa 1760, captions later
All in giltwood frames.
“A woman with Portuguese hairdo, with gold, silver and gemstone necklace, a skirt under a vest, a koi on her back, called a cloak, a woman customarily inherited the family business, the male humble, to the threshold (Qianlong year, circa 1735).”
Gouache on silk, measures: 32 x 25.4 cm
“He is a Westerner who had a white skin. He does not have a heavy beard but plaits his hair. He wears a triangular black hat, short jacket, leather shoes and long stockings...
Category
Mid-18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Paper
Chinese Tang Dynasty-Style Man and Horse Terra Cotta Tomb Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Tang Dynasty-style terra cotta tomb figure of a man dressed in dark gray robes, with one fist raised in the air, sitting atop a red saddle, on a horse that is painted...
Category
20th Century Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Terracotta
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 Furniture
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 Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Cream Balance Beam Design Table Lamps
Located in Queens, NY
"Pair of Chinese table lamps made from cream, gourd-shaped vases hand-painted with figures on a balance beam and wooden bases with brass hardware. (PRICED...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Chinese Yellow Barrel Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese porcelain table lamp in a pale yellow hue and barrel shape on a wooden base with brass hardware. (Available in gray: NWL2002)
Ships without a shade."
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Chinese White Gesso Horned Antelope Head Wall Plaque
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese Mid-Century hand-carved, white gesso-painted wall plaque depicting a horned antelope head emerging from a decorative oval plaque. (Similar...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wood
Chinese Dark Blue and White Peony Flower Design Scalloped Porcelain Centerpiece
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (13-14th Century) dark blue shallow porcelain centerpiece bowl with scalloped edges and a white floral peony motif in the center.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
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 Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese White and Blue Vine Design Porcelain Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) white porcelain urn decorated with an all-over blue vine and flower patterned ground, surrounding spaced bold, blue characters.
Signs of wear t...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
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 Furniture
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 Furniture
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 Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Framed Vintage Chinese Acrylic Abstract Painting of Waves and Fans
Located in Queens, NY
Vintage Chinese acrylic on canvas abstract painting of black and warm toned multi-colored swirls and waves interspersed with florals, leaves, and fans in a rectangular black painted ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic, Wood
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 Furniture
Materials
Metal
Chinese Off-White Foliage Motif Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese off-white porcelain table lamp made from a baluster-shaped vase decorated with a motif of beige foliage punctuated by red florals and two colorful geometric bands, a wooden b...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Pair of Chinese Pink
Blue
Famille Rose
Lamps with Birds and Flowers
Located in London, GB
Pair of baluster form lamps in the floral Famille Rose palette, hand decorated in polychromes with foliates and birds.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Two Round Inlaid Hardwood Chinese Tables
Located in London, GB
Two round inlaid hardwood Chinese tables
Chinese, Early 20th Century
Height 77cm, diameter 51cm
The main body of these superb Chinese tables has been crafted from hardwood, and ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Marble
$32,724 / set
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 Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
Chinese Export Silver Salver
By Wo Hing Hoaching
Located in London, GB
Chinese Export Silver Salver, of octagonal shape, and with eight panels fanning out from the centre and chased with lotus and egrets, magpies and peonies, butterflies and pomegranate...
Category
1850s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
Pair of Chinese Export Silver Candlesticks
Located in London, GB
Pair of Chinese Export Silver Candlesticks on original wood stands, Shanghai circa 1885.
The candlesticks are applied with heavily detailed chrysanthemum decoration around the body ...
Category
1880s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
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 Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
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 Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu, Enamel
"TaoBao" Large White Porcelain Vase by Luce Raggi Italy / China Contemporary
Located in London, GB
Luce Raggi, TaoBao (online shopping), 2017 glazed porcelain 55 x 35 cm
Hand painted vase depicting packages and prices related to online shopping on Taobao, the Chinese Amazon. On ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
$6,326 Sale Price
20% Off
Two Antique Cloisonné Enamel and Gilt Bronze Lamps
Located in London, GB
These antique lamps feature beautiful Chinese cloisonné enamel bodies and fine French gilt bronze (ormolu) mounts.
Each item is comprised of two light sockets, which are attached ...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Enamel, Bronze, Ormolu
$12,953 / set
Antique Peking Chinese Runner
Located in Closter, NJ
In the 1860s an organized carpet industry was established under imperial patronage in Peking. These carpets tended to have tighter and finer weaves than their Ningxia counterparts, o...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Chinese Export Silver Mirror
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exquisite Chinese export silver mirror is a work of exotic beauty. Elegantly shaped and monumental in size, this looking glass is held within ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
$24,500
Chinese Export Silver Fruit Dish
By Luen Wo
Located in London, GB
A Chinese export silver fruit dish of shaped oval form. The dish has applied chrysanthemum on engraved basket weave piercing, and the base is a skirt of...
Category
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
"Karaoke" Large White Porcelain Vase by Luce Raggi Italy / China Contemporary
Located in London, GB
Luce Raggi, Karaoke (another love song), 2017 glazed porcelain 70 x 25 cm
Hand painted vase with typical female evening scenes of karaoke mania. Women who forget their sentimental ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
$6,326 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of Blue
Orange Colour Chinese Lamps Hand Decorated with Court Scenes
Located in London, GB
Pair of baluster form lamps, hand decorated with court scenes in polychrome on wood bases.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Peking Chinese Carpet
Located in Closter, NJ
In the 1860s an organized carpet industry was established under imperial patronage in Peking. These carpets tended to have tighter and finer weaves than their Ningxia counterparts, often having knot qualities up to 100 knots per square inch. Most antique...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Pair of Chinese Export Silver Vases
Located in London, GB
Pair of Chinese silver vases with all-over bamboo decoration and each with a wavy-edge flared rim. They were made by 涂茂兴, TuMaoXing, a retailer in JiuJiang (九江), next to the Yangtze ...
Category
1890s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Silver
$2,727 / set
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 Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu, Enamel
Pekingese Rug #162
Located in Ravenna, IT
The carpet is of Chinese origin, and is characteristic of the oriental manufacturing style of the late Qing Dynasty, produced in the city of Beijing, one of the largest centers of te...
Category
1850s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Furniture
Materials
Wool
$9,823
Chinese Export furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Chinese Export furniture 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 furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include asian art and furniture, decorative objects, 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 furniture 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 furniture, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, Wang Hing
Co., Luen Wo, and Hung Chong
Co.. 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 furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $40 and tops out at $216,780 while the average work can sell for $1,998.
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