Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
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.
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Ceramic
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Wood
19th Century Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Glass
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
17th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Nepalese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Bronze
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Brass
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Brass
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Ceramic
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Bronze
19th Century Asian Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Copper, Enamel
15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Earthenware
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Pewter
Mid-19th Century French Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Bronze
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Pottery
1760s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Gold
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Bronze
Late 19th Century Asian Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Gold
20th Century Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
1870s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Rattan
18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Ceramic
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Ormolu
Mid-20th Century Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain, Paint
18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Ceramic
18th Century Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Ormolu
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Wood
Early 19th Century English Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Elm
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Ceramic
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Silver
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Metal, Enamel
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Ceramic
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Enamel
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Bowls and Baskets
Porcelain