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.
Chinese Export Flora and Fauna Gilt Coromandel Screen 8 Ft
Located in Rio Vista, CA
A rich and dramatic Chinese Export folding six-panel double-sided coromandel screen executed in radiant gilt and lacquer. The front depicts a beautiful composition of twisting brown ...
Brass, Gold Leaf
Chinese Export Coromandel Screen After Ogata Korin Irises
Located in Rio Vista, CA
A rich and dramatic 20th century Chinese Export folding six-panel double-sided coromandel screen executed in radiant gilt, natural color pigments, and lacquer. The front depicts a be...
Brass
Four c.1 980's Gracie Handpainted Wallpaper Panels, on silver, mounted on boards
Located in New York, NY
A set of four beautiful hand-painted Gracie wallpaper panels, circa 1980, on silver metallic background. These were painted in Hong Kong, with exquisite details. The flowering trees...
Paint, Paper
Antique Chinese Large Twelve Panel Coromandel Screen - Black Lacquer Background
Located in New York, NY
A grand twelve-panel coromandel lacquer screen, hand-incised and polychrome-decorated on a black lacquer ground. The traditional carved-and-painted technique gives the surface its ch...
Wood, Lacquer
Chinese Painting on Scroll Paper, China 19th Century, Birds and Nature Decor
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Chinese painting on paper, which is unrolled once hung on the wall. It is a painting that depicts birds in nature, in the style of the 18th c...
Paper
Chinese Export Eight-Panel Lacquered Coromandel Screen
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautifully hand painted and decorated grand scale Chinese export Eight-panel Coromandel screen featuring different hand painted Chinese scene on each side. One side depicting an hand painted and parcel gilded court scenes. The reverse features a Chinese landscape scene. The screen measures 96 inches...
Brass
Chinese Export Six Panel Coromandel Screen Gilt Courtyard
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Stunning 20th century Chinese export lacquered six-panel coromandel screen depicting a lush courtyard over a dramatic gold leaf ground. The lacquered panels are incised and painted w...
Brass
Asian Showa Four-Panel Screen Herons Amid Lotus and Peonies
Located in Rio Vista, CA
A dramatic large 20th century Asian four-panel folding screen measuring 6 feet high and wide. The screen features a richly detailed hand-painted composition over a gold-leaf ground m...
Brass, Gold Leaf
Chinese Export Six Panel Lacquered Coromandel Screen Courtyard
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Vibrant 20th century Chinese export coromandel screen depicting a walled pagoda courtyard. The lacquered panels are incised and decorated with colorful pigments of green, red, and wh...
Brass
Chinese Export Four Panel Gilt Lacquered Coromandel Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Extraordinary Chinese export four-panel coromandel screen featuring a pagoda pavilion landscape with a dramatic gold leaf background. The black lacquered panels are incised with vibr...
Brass, Gold Leaf
$1,800Sale Price|20% Off
Chinese Carved Gilt Wood Panels or Screen, 19th Century
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a charming 19th century Chinese carved and gilt wood 3 panel screen. The panels are carved in high relief with multiple figures and architectural elements. The panels are pai...
Gold Leaf
Chinese Export Four Panel Lacquered Coromandel Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Celestial Chinese export coromandel four-panel screen depicting figures in colorful robes in a heavenly landscape among the white clouds. Eac...
Brass
Chinese Export Four Panel Coromandel Screen Pastel Beauties
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Gorgeous Chinese export four-panel coromandel screen featuring a courtyard scene of beauties engaged in leisurely activities. The lacquered panels are incised and painted in soft pas...
Brass
Chinese Export Six-Panel Gilt Landscape Coromandel Screen 8 Ft
Located in Rio Vista, CA
A dramatic six-panel decorative Chinese Export Coromandel screen featuring a warm, luminous reflective gold-leaf ground and a continuous garden landscape scene of flora and fauna ext...
Metal, Gold Leaf
Chinese Qing Four Panel Carved Soapstone Coromandel Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Impressive Chinese late Qing dynasty four panel folding coromandel screen featuring carved soapstone. The lacquered panels are decorated with idyllic scenes of beauties in a pagoda p...
Soapstone, Brass
20th Century Chinese Export Six Panel Gold Leaf Coromandel Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Late Qing, early republic period style Chinese export six-panel coromandel screen featuring a pavillion with figures engaged in leisurely activities on a dramatic gilt gold leaf back...
Brass, Gold Leaf
$3,040Sale Price|20% Off
Chinese Export Four Panel Coromandel Screen Pearlescent Landscape
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Captivating Chinese export four-panel coromandel screen featuring an idyllic seascape with beauties. The background is comprised of pearlescent crystal sand that shines like glitter ...
Brass
$10,500Sale Price|30% Off
18th Century Chinese Coromandel Screen, Hand-Carved, Black Lacquer
Located in CABA, AR
Transport yourself back to the opulent splendor of the 18th century with this magnificent Chinese five-panel black Coromandel screen, a true m...
Gold Leaf
Chinese Six-Panel Decorative Folding Screen, Circa 1780
Located in Charleston, SC
Chinese six-panel folding screen with decorative carved forest with standing and flying cranes, with reverse side depicting village and figures of people, terminating on brass square...
Chinese Export Six Panel Coromandel Screen Gilt Courtyard
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Exceptional 20th century Chinese export six panel coromandel screen featuring a busy idyllic courtyard scene with a dramatic gilt background. The screen has six panels lacquered and ...
Brass
Set of Four Carved Blossoms and Birds Chinese Hardwood Veneer Panels
Located in Lomita, CA
A striking set of four vintage Asian relief wall panels depicting birds among flowering branches, carved in high relief and hand-painted in rich polychrome. Each vertical panel prese...
Wood
18th C.China Trade Painting on Mirror Portrait of Catharina van Braam Houckgeest
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
China Trade Painting on Mirror Portrait of Catharina van Braam Houckgeest This late 18th-century China Trade reverse glass painting on mirror depicts Catharina van Braam Houckgeest,...
Enamel
Chinese Export Four-Panel Red Lacquer Screen, c.1900
Located in Savannah, GA
A Chinese export four-panel red lacquer screen, circa 1900. 65 inches wide (as pictured) 71 ½ inches tall by 1 inch deep
Wood
Chinoiserie Lacquer 8 fold Chinese screen, late 19th Century.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
This late 19th-century Chinese coromandel lacquer eight-fold screen showcases exquisite craftsmanship and artistry. One side features a vibrant scene with traditional architecture an...
Lacquer
Four Panel Screen with Antique Chinese Handpainted Floral Wallpaper
Located in New York, NY
Tall four panel screen with stunning antique Chinese handpainted wallpaper applied to the front. Handpainted wallpapers such as these were created for export, beginning in the 18th...
Wood, Paper
Chinese Export Four Panel Coromandel Screen Cranes on Gold Leaf
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Dazzling Chinese export lacquered four-panel coromandel screen featuring a flora and fauna waterscape with stylized cranes. The carved lacquer panels...
Brass, Gold Leaf
Mid Century Chinese Black Lacquer Mother of Pearl Decorative Wall Fan
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful decorative Wall Hanging Fan , circa 1950's, Black Lacquer Mother of Pearl
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
$800Sale Price|20% Off
Verre Eglomise Chinese Export Reverse Glass Painting
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Antique Verre Eglomise Chinese Export reverse glass painting. Beautiful Chinese reverse glass painting of two women in a Chinese garden with a scroll. This painting is particularly vibrant and exquisite in color and detail. The wood frame painting...
Glass, Wood
$1,211Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Framed Silk Panel, Oriental, Embroidered, Decorative, 100 Children, 1900
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique framed silk panel. An Oriental, embroidered decorative scene known as the 'Hundred Children' dating to the early 20th century, circa 1900. Fascinating Oriental antique craftsmanship Displays a desirable aged patina Superb, hand embroidered silk panel with pastel palette Presented within a golden frame and navy blue border behind glass plate Famous, Oriental '100 Children' scene depicts children at play against a cream ground Outer green border with foliate pattern complements the discrete inner margin Replete with hanging loop for wall mounting This antique silk panel...
Silk
20th C. Chinese Export Pair of Peacocks and Flowers Painting
Located in Rio Vista, CA
A beautifully rendered Chinese Export 20th century painting depicting a pair of peacocks amid an ancient tree with blossoming pink flowers. Executed in ink and natural color pigments...
Glass, Wood, Silk, Paper, Faux Bamboo
Chinese Export Four Panel Carved Soapstone Coromandel Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Amazing Chinese export four panel coromandel screen featuring beauties in a pagoda pavilion landscape. Beautifully crafted from intricately carved soapstone in vivid colors and fasci...
Soapstone, Brass
108 Inch Asian Hand Carved Wooden Folding Six Panel Screen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
**Chinese Coromandel Lacquer Six-Panel Screen, Qing Dynasty Style, Palace Scene** A stunning and richly detailed **Chinese Coromandel lacquer folding screen**, likely dating to the ...
Wood, Paint
Chinese Export Four Panel Carved Soapstone Coromandel Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Impressive Chinese export four panel lacquered coromandel screen featuring hand-carved soapstone beauties in a floral landscape with gilt clo...
Soapstone, Brass
Chinese Kuancai Ten Panel Coromandel Screen Mythical Landscape
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Amazing Chinese export Kuancai ten-panel coromandel screen featuring a mythical flora and fauna landscape. Made in the 17th century style that was so loved and collected by Coco Chan...
Brass
Paintings of Chinese Ancestral Portraits Reverse Glass, 1940s, Pair
By Marshall Fields, Maitland Smith, Kutani Studio, James Mont, Gumps
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of reverse hand painted on glass of Chinese Emperor and Empress portrait paintings, circa 1940s. These detailed and well executed paintings still...
Wood, Paint, Glass
18th Century, Chinese Export Qing Pith Painting Of Court Ladies *Stair & Co*
Located in Atlanta, GA
18th century export painting - this Chinese export painting is best described as an anonymous Qing-period atelier production, executed for the Western market in the highly finished ...
Faux Bamboo, Paint
Chinese Export Four Panel Carved Soapstone Lacquered Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Distinctive Chinese export four-panel coromandel screen featuring carved hardstone and soapstone decoration. The screen depicts a group of beauties in colorful flowing robes. The parcel-gilt landscape is decorated with two large carved stone trees...
Soapstone, Brass
A spectacular Chinese 18th century Coromandel Lacquered 8-panel floor screen
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A spectacular and most impressive Chinese 18th century Coromandel Lacquered screen. Each of the eight panels are raised by two feet formed from an urn shaped arch below a foliate decorated band. The center of each panel joins together to depict various scenes executed in the Kuan Cai or "incised colors" technique. The front side of the screen features bottom panels showing various birds on/near a variety of blooming trees, while the central panel depicts a battle scene on horseback through hills and forests. The tops show a variety of vases holding floral branches, and bowls of fruit mirroring...
Wood
Chinese Export Reverse Glass Portrait Painting of an Opium Maiden, circa 1830
Located in Kinderhook, NY
A wonderful and rare circa 1830 Chinese export reverse glass portrait painting of unusually large size of a lady in traditional robes holding a closed fan shown sat in front of black...
Iron
Chinese Export Eight Panel Coromandel Screen Six Beauties
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rare and unusual Chinese export eight panel lacquered coromandel screen depicting six beauties. The scene is bordered by a walled pavilion with pagodas and trees. The women appear to...
Brass
Ephemeral Beauty: Set of Six Chinese Export "Pith Paper" Paintings of Butterflie
Located in Downingtown, PA
Ephemeral Beauty: Set of Six Chinese Export "Pith Paper" Paintings of Butterflies, Circa 1840–1860 A charming and cohesive set of six mid-19th century Chinese Export paintings, exec...
Paper
$11,250Sale Price|25% Off
Chinese Twelve-Panel Red Lacquer Coromandel Screen of Xiwangmu
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Monumental Chinese export twelve-panel red lacquered Coromandel screen of Chinese mythological Daoist character Xiwangmu (Queen mother of the West). Remarkable large scale screen full of vibrant color on incised lacquer...
Brass
Vintage Asian Gouache Painting on Paper - Unsigned - China - Late 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage gouache painting on paper - good quality and composition - mounted with adhesive tape to a two color/double beveled matte board - unsigned - China - late 20th century. Excel...
Paint, Paper
Set of Six 19th Century Chinese Export Gouache Paintings on Pith Paper
Located in Stamford, CT
A very unusual and intriguing rare set of six 19th century Chinese gouaches depicting scenes of corporal punishment, and in one, execution. Painted...
Paper
Four Chinese Export Gouache Watercolors of Various Stages of Tea Production
By Puqua
Located in Nashua, NH
A Set of Four Beautiful and Elegant Chinese Export Gouache Watercolors,C. 1790 - 1820 displayed in beautiful gilded frames with bead decoration and magnificent wide black matting and...
Paint, Glass, Wood
$1,091Sale Price|34% Off
19th Century Chinese Gilt Inkwash Miniature Six-Fold Screen, Framed
Located in Lomita, CA
This is a singular piece, a framed vintage Chinese gilt and inkwash miniature six-fold paper screen, that was possibly a salesman's sample, and it is beautiful. This is from the la...
Giltwood
Gracie Six panel Handpainted Wallpaper Screen with Floral Design
By Gracie
Located in New York, NY
Six panel screen made by Gracie. The wallpaper and screen date to the 1990's. The wallpaper is handpainted, with a detailed design of flowering trees, birds and butterlies, with a ...
Wood, Paint, Paper
19th Century Chinese Export Harbor / Seascape Paintings
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Chinese Export Harbor Scene of Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong with American & British Steamships Chinese School, Hand Painted on Silk, Measuring 14.5 inches wide by 11 inches high (s...
Silk, Glass, Giltwood
Pair of Vintage Landscape Paintings, Oriental, Watercolour, Art, Mid Century
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a pair of vintage landscape paintings. An Oriental, framed watercolour picture, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1950. Appealingly subdued paintings with an endearing m...
Glass, Paper
Large Chinese Heavily Carved Wood Relief Plaque Wall Mounted Sculpture
Located in West Hartford, CT
Stunning vintage heavily carved relief, ready to hang. Now, more than ever, home is where the heart is.
Wood
$1,279Sale Price|20% Off
Silk 1940s Chinese Export Needlepoint with Nightingale on Branch with Blooms
Located in Lomita, CA
This is a silk Asian needlepoint (Gilt Bamboo-style frame) bird on a branch with flow that measures 38 x 25 x 2.5 inches.It is stunning in pastel colo...
Silk, Bamboo
Fine Chinese Export Reverse Painting on Glass
Located in San Francisco, CA
A well-executed Chinese export reverse painting on glass depicting an elaborate interior scene with many figures engaged in various domestic activities. This is a finely drawn compos...
Glass, Paint
Chinese Soapstone, Semiprecious Hardstone and Lacquer Folding Screen
Located in Miami, FL
This stunning Chinese screen is an exceptionally well-crafted piece, beautifully decorated with intricate semiprecious hardstone carvings. Measuring ...
Precious Stone, Wood
Chinese Export Soapstone Folding Screen Room Divider
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this extremely well-made and highly collectable Chinese Export Soapstone room divider folding screen depicting court beauties A truly stunning and...
Soapstone
$9,600Sale Price|33% Off
Chinese Export Coromandel Lacquer and Gilt Six Fold Screen
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Chinese Export Coromandel lacquer and gilt six fold screen. Exceptional and rare six panel intaglio lacquer carving from the mid-20th century. It depi...
Wood
Chinese Export Reverse Glass Painting of Warriors in Landscape, circa 1825
Located in Kinderhook, NY
A fine circa 1825 Chinese Export polychrome reverse glass painting of a warrior group with horse and 'Budai' in a river landscape housed in original 'Chinese Chippendale' parcel-gilt...
Glass, Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Asian Two Panel Table Screen Flowering Prunus with Songbird
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Colorful Asian two panel byobu screen featuring a blossoming prunus tree with a songbird perched on its branch. Vibrant ink and color pigments applied to a golden silk ground. The pa...
Brass
Chinese Export Watercolor Exotic Bird Paintings on Paper
Located in Downingtown, PA
Natural History of the East: Pair of Fine Chinese Export Bird Watercolors (c. 1800–1820) A superb pair of early 19th-century Chinese Export ...
Paper
$1,046Sale Price|30% Off
19th Century Asian Hand Carved Screen with Mountains, Trees and Sea Gulls
Located in Lomita, CA
Sea, Sky and Birds populate the hand carving of this screen. The delicate open hand-carving on this screen is distinctive. This is a late 19th, early 20th century Chinese divider screen...
Wood
Chinese Export Four Panel Coromandel Dream of the Red Chamber
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Faded Chinese export narrative tale coromandel screen with four lacquered panels. The scene is from the 18th century novel by Cao Xuegin. The screen depicts beauties in the grand vie...
Brass