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.
19th Century Antique Chinese Porcelain Urn with Floral Design
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white porcelain urn decorated with a faded green and red floral pattern and accented with pale pink scrolled handles along the neck. Signs of we...
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Porcelain Urn, Blue and White Floral, 19th Century
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white and blue porcelain urn decorated with a lily pad and floral motif, and accented in two navy scrolled handles along the neck.
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Porcelain Urn, Blue Bird Design, Late 19th Century
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white, porcelain urn decorated in a blue scene of a bird perched on a flowering branch above water, and accented with two light blue scrolled hand...
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Han Dynasty Patinated Bronze Urn with Geometric Design
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese Han Dynasty-style copy of a patinated bronze urn carved with raised geometric patterned bands wrapping its form, sitting atop a round foot, and fitted with two curved...
Metal
Antique 20th Century Chinese Porcelain Urn, Blue and White Floral
Located in Queens, NY
"Chinese porcelain urn painted with a blue and white floral background surrounding a center white oval with bold markings, dark blue feathers along the neck, and geometric patterned ...
Porcelain
Chinese Export Porcelain Blue & White Fruit Coolers / Cachepots American Federal
Located in Litchfield, CT
Fine pair antique early 19th century Chinese export porcelain blue & white fruit coolers or cachepots circa 1800 for the American Federal market. Each decorated with continuous harbo...
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Urn, Late 19th Century
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...
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Porcelain Urn, Blue Village Scene, Late 19th Century
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. ...
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Porcelain Urn, Late 19th Century, Pastoral Scene, 24
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white porcelain urn decorated with a detailed and lively scene of people gathering in a pastoral Setting and blue...
Porcelain
19th Century Antique Chinese Porcelain Urn with Blue Buddhist Symbols
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) large, off-white porcelain urn painted with a blue pattern featuring Buddhist symbols and other shapes with accented blue scrolled handles.
Porcelain
19th Century Antique Chinese Porcelain Urn with Foo Dogs & Serpents
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...
Porcelain
19th Century Antique Chinese Porcelain Urn with Bird Motif
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) off-white, porcelain urn with a navy blue bird amid florals and two blue scrolled handles along the neck. Light wear, hairline cracks."
Porcelain
$672Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Baluster Vase, Decorative, Oriental, Ceramic, Urn, 20th Century
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage baluster vase, a highly decorative, oriental ceramic urn dating to the mid 20th century. Of classic form and in good proportion ...
Ceramic
Chinese Rust Agate Elephant Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese rust agate tapered urn with carved elephant handles having rings and scroll & floral carving in relief with a finial top with filigree sides. (modern base 1¬O" high).
Marble, Stone
Antique Chinese Pink Porcelain Urn, Floral Design, Late 19th Century
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (late 19th century) pink porcelain urn decorated with a light blue floral design grounding multiple light blue cartouches, each bearing a bogu pattern that signifies ...
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Porcelain Urn, Navy Egret Design, Late 19th Century
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) white, porcelain urn with a navy egret amid florals and two blue scrolled handles along the neck. Dimpling and crazing."
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Porcelain Urn, Early 20th Century, Floral Design, 18
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) white porcelain urn decorated with green and blooming orange florals with two birds perched on a nearby branch, and accented with orange dog...
Porcelain
19th Century Antique Chinese Export Porcelain Urn with Blue Flora
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 ...
Porcelain
Chinese Porcelain Light Green and White Cartouche Urn
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) bulbous porcelain urn with a large white cartouche depicting a basket of botanicals on each side against a light green background patterned with...
Porcelain
19th Century Antique Chinese Porcelain Urn with Buddhist Symbols
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. ...
Porcelain
19th Century Antique Chinese Porcelain Urn with Blue Peacock Motif
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."
Porcelain
$2,580 / set
Large Chinese Vases
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of two beautiful asian style large vases/urns.
Porcelain
Chinese Hand-Made Light Green Tole Lidded Urn with Botanical Design
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese hand-made, light green tole urn painted with branches, fruit, and a dark green band at the base and finished with a finial atop its lid.
Metal
19th Century Antique Chinese Porcelain Urn with Blue Deer Motif
Located in Queens, NY
"Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) large porcelain urn with blue spotted deer amid florals on an off-white background and two navy scrolled hand...
Porcelain
Pair of 20th Century Yongzheng Style Chinese Porcelain Vases in High Gloss
Located in Essex, MA
Pair of Yongzheng style Chinese porcelain vases in a high gloss finish in the Gu shape. The vases are decorated with deer, flowers, and animal motifs. Lovely shades of aqua, turquois...
Porcelain
19th Century Bronze Mounted Rose Medallion Lidded Urns
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Century rose medallion covered urns with beautifully cast dore bronze French mountings. In excellent condition. Lids are not removable.
Bronze