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.
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
Ivory Light Blue Brown 20th Century Hand Knotted Wool Tibetan Scatter Throw Rug
Located in New York, NY
A full pile Tibetan throw rug in clear white and blue hues, circa 1930, measures: 2'11" x 4'10".
Wool
$3,500
White Blue Chinese Rug
Located in New York, NY
Floral vintage Chinese rug in shades of creamy white and blue. Measures: 5'1'' x 8'1''.
Wool
$10,140Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Peking 5Paw 9x12 Dragon Chinese Rug 275cmx356cm Fine Art Deco Rug c.1870
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite circa 1870 Chinese Peking rug features a soft brown field framed by deep blue borders and delicate floral corner motifs, centered by a detailed blossom medallion. Hand...
Wool
$3,845Sale Price|20% Off
Dragon Rug Wool Silk Carpet with Chinese Imperial Kansu Design Hand Knotted
Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE
Dragon Rug Wool Silk Carpet with Chinese Imperial Kansu Design Hand Knotted 6 x 4 ft - 180 x 120 cm. A beautiful contemporary dragon design rug, han...
Wool, Silk
Chinese Dragon Peking Rug
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Chinese animal dragon rug in excellent medium even pile condition on creamy yellow colored ground. Measures: 5' x 8'.
Wool
$5,250Sale Price|25% Off
Handmade Antique Peking Chinese Blue Wool Rug with Allover Floral Design
Located in Norwalk, CT
Upgrade your interior decor with this superior-quality handmade Chinese rug. Our beautiful traditional Chinese rug has a stunning blue field, mult...
Other
$7,500Sale Price|25% Off
Handmade Antique Peking Blue Chinese Wool Rug with Classic Floral Design
Located in Norwalk, CT
This luxurious antique Peking Chinese hand knotted wool rug features a navy blue field adorned with a designed frame and multi-colored accents in a stunning all-over Chinese floral m...
Other
Peking Rug, Wool, China, Mid 20th Century
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Peking Rug, China Mid 20th Century The sandy-beige field and various shades of indigo with central shou symbol roundel surrounded by “Three friends of winter” and repeated in centr...
Wool
Dragon Rug Wool Silk Style Chinese Imperial Carpet Blue Beige, Djoharian Design
Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE
Dragon Rug imperial design wool and silk in style of Chinese Kansu carpets 5.6 x 8 ft. A beautiful contemporary dragon design rug, hand knotted using finest Chinese mulberry silk (8...
Wool, Silk
$9,600Sale Price / set|20% Off
Rare Matching Pair of Antique Khotan Carpets
Located in New York, NY
Very rare matching pair of antique khotans with one measuring 4'1'' x 5'11'' and the other measuring 4'4'' x 6'2''.
Wool
Antique Chinese Ning-Xia Runner with Yin and Yang Design, 19th Century
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Wonderful and rare Chinese runner Ning-Xia: intact! NEVER CUT, with pattern named Yin and Yan. It is perfect, unworn carpet surface. Many have been cut to make the small squares ...
Wool
$1,800Sale Price|25% Off
Blue Vintage Peking Handmade Chinese Wool Rug with Pictorial Design
Located in Norwalk, CT
This hand-knotted Chinese wool rug features a navy blue field with peach accents in a beautiful traditional Tao Immortals design. This rug measures 2'8" x 4'1".
Wool
1890s Soft Coral Medallion Design Traditional Chinese Kansu Rug 6'x8'6" Carpet
Located in New York, NY
Kansu province lies just to the east of Xinkiang or Chinese Turkestan. Kansu carpets are more "Chinese-like” with, as here, fret borders and corners, butterflies and fretwork element...
Wool
Nazmiyal Collection Antique Chinese Rug 9 ft x 9 ft 5 in
Located in New York, NY
Breathtaking Imperial Blue and Cream Floral Artistry Rare Antique Square Chinese Rug, Country of origin: China, Circa date: 1900 This antique Chinese rug features a variety of flora...
Wool
$4,500Sale Price|25% Off
1920s Antique Peking Designed Chinese Wool Rug Handmade In Golderod Color
Located in Norwalk, CT
This elegant antique Peking Chinese wool rug features a goldenrod field with a decorative border and navy blue accents, showcasing a stunning classic Chinese motif. This rug measure...
Other
$11,250Sale Price|25% Off
Purple Antique Unique Beijing Dragon Handmade Wool Rug
Located in Norwalk, CT
Beautiful unique antique Beijing hand knotted wool rug with a purple field. This Beijing rug has a blue frame and multi-color accents in a gorgeous all-over center dragon Chinese cul...
Wool
$7,500Sale Price|25% Off
Room Size Antique Art Deco Chinese Wool Rug Handmade, Floral Design In Purple
Located in Norwalk, CT
This stunning hand-knotted wool rug features a purple field with a navy blue border and multicolored accents, all arranged in a beautiful Chinese floral pattern. This rug measures 6...
Wool
Modern Chinese Art Deco Style Rug with Bamboo Landscape Pictorial
Located in Dallas, TX
30970 Modern Chinese Art Deco Pictorial Rug, 10'00 x 13'09. Showcasing a unique bamboo design, incredible detail and texture, this hand knotted wool...
Wool
Doris Leslie Blau Vintage Chinese Abstract Cream Beige Hand-Knotted Wool Rug
Located in New York, NY
This elegant vintage Chinese Deco rug from the 1950s exudes a tranquil refinement through its harmonious use of soft blues and creams. At nearly 19 feet long, this carpet commands at...
Wool
Blue Tan Chinese Animal Pictorial Landscape Rug
Located in New York, NY
A 20th century Chinese Peking rug with 2 reindeers and a large bird in a scenic background with a tree and palm tree. The wool on this rug is lustrous and has a silky feel to it if w...
Wool
Vintage Chinese Rug in Peking Green
By Nichols
Located in New York, NY
Nice thick pile Chinese wool rug having a two tone green color way, in the style of Nichols. This rug is in very fine, original condition, clean and ready to use. We believe it is vi...
Wool
$2,000
Vintage Tibetan Vase Rug
Located in New York, NY
Colorful late 20th century Tibetan rug. Measures: 3' x 5'6".
Wool
Blue Beige Chinese Silk Scatter Rug
Located in New York, NY
A late 20th-century Chinese Silk rug in beige, light blue and navy Measures: 3' x 4'11''.
Wool, Silk
$6,000Sale Price|25% Off
Midcentury Chinese Hand-Knotted Wool Rug, Pictorial Design, 1930s
Located in Norwalk, CT
Beautiful vintage pictorial hand knotted wool rug with an abstract brown field. This rug has multi-color accents in an all-over gorgeous Oriental pictorial design. This rug measur...
Wool
Dragon Rug Wool Silk Chinese Style Carpet Blue Beige, Djoharian Design
Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE
Dragon design rug wool and silk in style of Chinese carpets 5.6 x 8 ft. A beautiful contemporary dragon design rug, hand knotted using finest Chinese mulberry silk (10%) and Tibetan...
Wool, Silk
$13,500Sale Price|25% Off
Blue Chinese Peking Handmade Designed Wool Rug From the 1920s
Located in Norwalk, CT
Behold this elegant antique Peking Chinese wool rug! Its navy blue field, decorative border, and beige accents showcase a stunning classic Chinese motif. This rug measures 12'6'' x ...
Other
Late 18th Century Antique Dragon Design Chinese Rug 11'9'' X 7'3''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Early 19th Century Antique Dragon Design Chinese Rug 11'9'' X 7'3'', Handmade and Hand-knotted with dragon design Y & B B
Wool
$12,000Sale Price|25% Off
1920s Antique Peking Chinese Wool Rug Handmade with Floral Design In Goldenrod
Located in Norwalk, CT
This luxurious antique Peking Chinese hand-knotted wool rug showcases a goldenrod color field embellished with a navy blue designed frame and multicolor accents, all arranged in a br...
Wool
Sweet 19th Century Chinese Peking 'Double Happiness' Rug
Located in Chicago, IL
A sweet petite 19th century Chinese Peking rug with a simple "double happiness' character woven in dark indigo in the center and with Fu characters in each corner. The double happine...
Wool
Dragon Rug Wool Silk Style Chinese Imperial Carpet Blue Beige, Djoharian Design
Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE
Dragon design rug wool and silk in style of Chinese Kansu carpets 5 x 3.3 ft. A beautiful contemporary dragon design rug, hand knotted using finest Chinese mulberry silk (80%) and...
Wool, Silk
$4,500Sale Price|25% Off
1920s Antique Peking Designed Chinese Wool Rug Handmade In Blue
Located in Norwalk, CT
This elegant antique Peking Chinese wool rug features a navy blue field with a decorative border and vibrant color accents, showcasing a stunning classic Chinese motif. This rug mea...
Other
$4,200Sale Price|25% Off
Medallion Handmade Antique Chinese Peking Square Wool Rug in Blue
Located in Norwalk, CT
This luxurious Peking Chinese antique wool rug boasts a blue field decorated with a designed frame and golden, peach, and black accents in a beautiful all-over Chinese floral pattern...
Other
$9,000Sale Price|25% Off
Vintage Chinese Peking Handmade Dragon Designed Dark Blue Wool Rug
Located in Norwalk, CT
A beautiful antique Dragon Peking Chinese hand-knotted wool rug with a dark blue field and multi-color accents all-over traditional Chinese dragon design. This rug measures 9'10"...
Wool
Chinese Art Deco Purple Area Rug
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese Art Deco rug with a pale purple background and floral decoration (possibly NICHOLS). Please note: used/antique condition
$7,500Sale Price|25% Off
Antique Chinese Peking Hand-Knotted Wool Rug, Green Field, 1925
Located in Norwalk, CT
Beautiful antique Chinese Peking hand knotted wool rug with a green field, orange frame, and multi-color accents in an all-over Classic Chinese floral design. This rug measure: 8'...
Wool
$3,000Sale Price|25% Off
Antique Beige Peking Chinese Wool Rug
Located in Norwalk, CT
A beautiful antique Peking Chinese hand-knotted Wool rug with a beige field. This rug has a frame of blue and multi-color accents all-over Chinese desig...
Wool
$7,500Sale Price|25% Off
Antique Peking Blue and Brown Chinese Handmade Medallion Wool Rug
Located in Norwalk, CT
Beautiful antique Peking Chinese hand-knotted wool rug with a brown field. This Chinese rug has a blue frame, multi-color accents in a gorgeous all-over Chinese medallion...
Other
$5,250Sale Price|25% Off
Antique Peking Burgundy Chinese Handmade Wool Rug
Located in Norwalk, CT
A beautiful antique Peking Chinese hand-knotted wool rug with a burgundy field. This rug has a frame of red and multi-color accents in a gorgeous all-over Chinese floral design. ...
Other
$1,119Sale Price|20% Off
1920's Antique Chinese Art Deco Carpet with Traditional Style
Located in Dallas, TX
70718 Antique Chinese Art Deco Rug, 03'00 x 04'10. Emanating the quiet elegance of a bygone era, this hand-knotted wool antique Chinese Art Deco rug unfolds like a page from a poetic...
Wool
$7,500Sale Price|25% Off
Antique Art Deco Brigth Red Traditional Chinese Handmade Wool Rug
Located in Norwalk, CT
Beautiful antique Chinese Art deco hand-knotted wool rug with a bright red field, This Deco rug has a green frame and multi-color accents in an all-over Classic traditional Chinese f...
Wool
1880s Beige Blue Traditional Antique Chinese Peking Rug 7'9" x 8'1" Wool Carpet
Located in New York, NY
19th Century Chinese Peking Carpet ( 7'9" x 8'1" - 236 x 246 ) The composition is defined by a striking central medallion and precise geometric borders, placing it among the most de...
Wool
$1,279Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Chinese Floral Kilim Rug
Located in Dallas, TX
77814 vintage Chinese Floral Kilim rug 04'02 x 06'03. This hand-woven wool vintage Chinese kilim rug features a color blocked field and border festoon...
Wool
New Contemporary Green Chinese Art Deco Carpet, 07'10 x 09'11
Located in Dallas, TX
30922 New Modern Green Chinese Art Deco Rug with Maximalist Style, 07'10 x 09'11. Emanating maximalism with incredible detail and lavish texture, this Chinese Art Deco style rug is a...
Wool
Antique Brown and Blue Chinese Peking Rug Carpet Runner
Located in Dallas, TX
78200 Antique Chinese Peking Rug Runner, 02'07 x 14'04. Behold the timeless allure of this meticulously hand-knotted wool antique Chinese Peking rug runner, where artistry and nature...
Wool
$1,824Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Peking Chinese Runner, Handmade Oriental Rug, Circa 1870, Ivory and Blue
Located in Port Washington, NY
This exquisite Antique Chinese runner, woven in the distinguished Peking style circa 1870, features a rare and sought-after white and blue color palette. The piece measures approxima...
Wool
Monochromatic Antique Chinese Oval Rug with Striation, circa 1920s
Located in New York, NY
This essentially monochrome, borderless, undecorated elliptical rug has a speckled grey/black pattern constantly varying throughout. The abrash/striation goes end to end and side to ...
Wool
Antique Chinese Peking Rug in Royal Blue and Golden Camel Medallion
Located in Atlanta, GA
Antique Chinese Peking Rug in Royal Blue and Goldish Camel. Keivan Woven Arts/ rug/ 11-20311, Type/ Pecking, Country of Origin/ China, Circa 1890. Excellent Condition. Measures: 8' x 9'10 Crafted with Zen like simplicity, this beautiful antique Chinese rug from the late 19th century possesses a unique medallion design. The strikingly beautiful golden camel medallion is inhabited by an elegant array of blossoms, fruit and butterflies. The mid blue color field is held in place by a simple border containing a gorgeous display of loosely entwined Asian flowers...
Wool
Celestial Chinese Dragon Carpet
Located in Chicago, IL
This small rectangular area carpet recreates traditional Chinese carpet designs with a bold color palette of maroon, navy and mustard yellow. Set against the wine-red field is a cent...
Wool
Zabihi Collection Floral Antique Chinee Rug
Located in New York, NY
an early 20th Century Chinese rug with a floral design in cream, blue, yellow and brown Measures: 8'11'' x 11'5''.
Wool
Antique Chinese Oriental Carpet. 8 ft 3 in x 14 ft 2 in
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese Rug, Origin: China, Circa: Early 20th Century - Size: 8 ft 3 in x 14 ft 2 in (2.51 m x 4.32 m)
Wool
1920s Hand Knotted Allover Navy Blue Floral Antique Peking Chinese Carpet Rug
Located in New York, NY
1920s Hand Knotted Pile Allover Floral Blue Antique Wool Rectangle Rug, Circa Date: 1920s. This exceptional example of early 20th-century weaving represents the pinnacle of antique r...
Wool
Colorful Vintage Tibetan Rug
Located in New York, NY
Colorful late 20th century Tibetan rug Measures: 3'1" x 5'7".
Wool
Champagne Mustard Soft Blue Chinese Rug
Located in New York, NY
An intermediate size Chinese Peking rug in soft blue and champagne tones from the early 20th century 5'3'' x 8'1''
Wool
Gorgeous Early 20th Century Peking Rug
Located in Chicago, IL
A gorgeous early 20th century Chinese Peking rug with a bold and brilliant dark indigo field with a large singular peony patterned medallion woven in cream, pink, brown, and light in...
Wool
Early 20th Century Peking Rug
Located in Chicago, IL
A charming early 20th century Chinese Peking rug with a central peony medallion amidst a field of more peonies and surrounded by a wide complex border containing geometric and floral...
Wool
20th Century Chinese Peking Rug
Located in Chicago, IL
A beautiful 20th century Chinese Peking rug with a central floral medallion against a dark abrash indigo background, and surrounded by a wide stylized lotus and scrolling vine patter...
Wool
Mid 19th Century Geometric Chinese Rug
Located in New York, NY
A mid 19th Century Geometric Chinese Accent Size Rug Measures: 3'7'' x 5'11''.
Wool
Nazmiyal Collection Antique 18th Century Chinese Ningxia Rug. 6 ft x 9 ft 9 in
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent rare and collectible antique 18th century Chinese Ningxia rug, country of origin / rug type: antique Chinese rugs, date: circa late 18th century. Size: 6 ft x 9 ft 9 in...
Wool
Fine Beige Blue Antique Indo-Chinese Rug
Located in New York, NY
A spectacular 19th century Indo-Chinese rug. The weave is very fine (check detailed image of back) and has quite a decorative look highlighted by a beige color oval shaped field acce...
Wool
Zabihi Collection Vintage Tibetan Rug, 3 x 5'5''
Located in New York, NY
a mid-20th-century Tibetan Small-size Tibetan Rug 3' x 5'5''
Wool