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.
Mid-19th Century Carved and Painted Wooden Tang Dynasty Horse
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Mid-19th century carved and painted wooden Tang dynasty horse This is a superb piece of Chinese Folk Art, superbly carved in wood, in the classic statue...
Pair of Chinese Lacquered Wall Plaques
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Asian Chinese style (19/20th Century) red lacquered vertical wall plaques with gold lettering and lattice top and bottom (PRICED AS PAIR).
Gold
Pair of Chinese Lacquered Carved Wall Plaques
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Asian Chinese style (19th Century) red lacquered and gilt trimmed wall plaques with filigree border surrounding carved scenes with figures (PRICED AS PAIR).
Lacquer
Pair of Chinese Mahogany Wall Plaques
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Asian Chinese style (19th Century) mahogany wall plaques with carved and filigree birds (PRICED AS PAIR).
Mahogany
Pair of Chinese Lacquered Carved Wall Plaques
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Asian Chinese style (19th Century) red lacquered and gilt trimmed wall plaques with carved & filigree scenes with figures and 2 glass jewels (PRICED AS PAIR).
Glass
Chinese Lacquered Carved Wall Plaque
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese style (19th Century) red lacquered and gilt trimmed wall plaque with 2 filigree carved panels.
Lacquer
$5,999Sale Price|25% Off
Early 20th Century Antique Japanese Huge Kutani Hotei Laughing Buddha
Located in Pomona, CA
This is an authentic antique Japanese Buddha, Hotei from early 1900's. It is from Kutani which a famous kiln region in the village of Kutani, now part of the city of Kaga. This porce...
Porcelain
19th Century Pair of Chinese Hardwood Buffalo & Boys with Bone Flutes
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th Century pair of dark hardwood water buffalo with inset glass eyes. These finely carved and highly detailed figures have carved boy figures sitting on their backs holding bone flutes...
Hardwood
19th Century Pipe Head
Located in Vosselaar, BE
You just got to love this guy! A wacky looking bearded Indian pipe head. Probably 19th century France. Beautifully carved by a artisan with a sense of humor.
Wood
19th Century German Carved Wooden Deers Head
Located in London, GB
19th century carved wooden deer’s head We are proud to offer a delightful example of a 19th century hand carved German deer’s head. This ite...
Pine, Paint
$6,500 / set
H 10 in W 8 in D 3.25 in
Pair of Italian Gilt Carved Wood Demilune Acanthus Wall Brackets, Circa 1800
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of Italian gilt carved wood demilune wall brackets with scrolled foliage acanthus motif. All original. Early 19th Century.
Giltwood, Wood
19th Century Painted Metal Horse Head
Located in Austin, TX
Fine metal painted head horse on horseshoe, circa 1890.
Metal
19th Century Wooden Rocking Horse
Located in Sheffield, MA
The 19th century charming and rustic rocking horse now mounted on two straight boards is made of handcrafted wood pieces cleverly assembled, and has a leather saddle, reins and stirrups. A great addition for those who collect Early American country antiques...
Wood
Provincetown Folk Art Carved Wood Whale Wall Sculpture
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
3-575 hand carved wood grey whale wall sculpture signed Claire on verso
Fruitwood
$1,181Sale Price|25% Off
H 24 in W 29 in D 8 in
20th Century Chinese Gilt carved Wooden Tang Horse Sculpture
Located in Pomona, CA
Chinese Gilt Polychrome Wooden Carved Tang Dynasty Style Horse Sculpture. Featured nicely hand carved and hand painted with gilt highlighted on...
Wood
Large Swedish Hand-Carved Wooden Horse Model Sculpture, c. 1880
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A folk art sculpture of a horse from the 19th Century. This wooden horse has been scraped to original its color. This animal sculpture can nicely stand on a writing desk, a cupboard ...
Wood
$2,500 / set
H 13.25 in W 5 in D 4.5 in
Chinese Ming Dynasty Antique Sancai Glazed Attendants Tomb Figure Pair
Located in Forney, TX
A pair of large antique Chinese polychrome ceramic attendants, Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Outstanding 500+ year old Sancai glazed earthenware pottery tomb figures, exceptionally executed figural form, exquisitely detailed, one holding a teapot, the other holding a charger, rising on rare sculptural plinth...
Ceramic, Earthenware
19th Century Italian Hand-Carved and Painted Cherub
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century Italian hand-carved and painted cherub presents a charming, colorful and adorable rendering of a young winged cherub, holding a spiral torchere in one hand that can be u...
Walnut
Antique Black Forest Carved Bear Wall Hook Hanger
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and exceptional hand carved German Black Forest wall-mounted hanger. circa 1890 Born in the late 19th / early 20th century, featuring an intricately carved walnut figural bear's head with inset glass eyes, finely detailed gilt brass paws holding a supporting rod, affixed with chain drop hook. Dimensions: (approx) 10.75" High, 8 1/8" Wide, 5.5" Deep, A superb example of German folk art, functional and highly decorative, it's ideal for use as an entryway coat...
Brass
$2,650
H 15 in W 43 in D 5 in
Carved & Gilded American Wooden Eagle Plaque with Polychrome Liberty Shield
Located in Milford, NH
A fine hand carved and gilded American wooden eagle clutching arrows and a polychrome Liberty shield, dating to the 20th century, unsigned, in very good overall condition, with minim...
Wood
Early 20th-Century Antique Chinese Erotic Porcelain Figurine
Located in Pomona, CA
These "spring palace paintings" (春宫畫), Chinese erotic porcelain figurine were historically given to brides and young couples, sometimes as a form of "sex education" in a culture wher...
Porcelain
Vintage Chinese Fu Lu Shou Feng Shui Trio Gods Figurines Statues
Located in Pomona, CA
This beautiful vintage set of three porcelain statues features the Chinese deities Fu, Lu, Shou, commonly known as the Fu Lu Shou gods in folks Chinese. Each statue represents a diff...
Porcelain
Yao Ornamental Hair Comb, c. 1920
Located in Chicago, IL
This etched bone comb was crafted in the 19th century, exemplifying the professional artisanal work of the Yao people of Southern China. The comb features a ...
Bone, Wool, Beads
Sold
H 0.79 in Dm 3.15 in
Chinese Painting, Miniature, on a Bone Frame, Green and White, Republic Period
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
It's a little bone disk, painted. The decor is a decor of birds on branches in green and black color, bone is of course in white color. It is typically an object made in the republic...
Bone
Chinese Hand Carved Wood Statue, 19th Century
Located in Malibu, CA
This one-of-a-kind hand-carved antique wood buddha is certified to be over 180 years old and sits 9" tall. Distressed paint emphasizes carved detai...
Wood, Paint
Sold
H 14.88 in W 6.88 in D 5.25 in
Chinese Blanc de Chine Porcelain Figure of Guanyin ‘Guan Yin’ "Goddess of Mercy"
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Buddhist Chinese blanc de chine porcelain figure of Guanyin or Guan Yin ?? "Goddess of Mercy" The seated figure in lalitasana on a rock-form by the sea-shore and resting on her kne...
Porcelain