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 Century Chinese Ink on Silk and Paper Four-Fold Floor Screen
Located in Germantown, MD
A mid 20th Century Chinese Ink on Silk and Paper Four-Fold Floor Screen Measures 71" in width and 52.5" in height. Each panel is 17.75" wide.
Fabric, Silk, Wood, Paper
Vintage Art Deco Blanket Chest, Oriental, Camphorwood Linen Trunk, Home Storage
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage Art Deco blanket chest. An Oriental, camphorwood linen trunk, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1930. Exceptional carved scenes accentuate this generous ches...
Wood
MCM Chinese Export Hand Gilded 6-Panel Geese Coromandel Screen Room Divider
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This spectacular Mid-century era Chinese export is an incised, hand-painted Coromandel Screen which depicts a flock of geese soaring through the air. The rice paper gold gilding is t...
Brass
Chinese 8 Panel Black Coromandel Folding Screen w/Gilded & Hand Painted Intaglio
Located in Topeka, KS
Magnificent vintage Chinese 8 panel coromandel folding screen or room divider with gilded & hand painted intaglio designs & patinated brass hinges &...
Brass
Chinese Export, Jappanned Screen, Crackle Lacquer, Gilt, Brass, China, 1960s
Located in Stamford, CT
Chinese Export, Jappanned Screen or Room Divider, Black Lacquer, Wood, Gilt, Brass, China, 1960s This 20th-century five-panel crackle lacquer screen features a finely decorated phoe...
Lacquer
Mid Century Chinese Style Teak Bird Cage
Located in Germantown, MD
Mid Century Chinese Style Teak Bird Cage Measures 18" in width x 18" in depth x 34" in height.
Hardwood, Teak
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
Six-Panel Double Sided Coromandel Asian Screen on Stand
Located in Germantown, MD
Six-panel double sided Coromandel Asian Screen on stand. Each panel seats in a removable custom wood stand / shoe. Brownish gold color on one side and nature on the other. The subje...
Brass
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
$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
$450Sale Price|47% Off
Table Top Chinese Folding Screen Hand Painted
Located in Fulton, CA
Unusual table top folding screen. Four hand painted panels featuring birds, fruit and flowers. Partial hand carving to wood frame. Appears to be rosewood but not confirmed. Beautiful...
Wood
Early 20th century Chinese red lacquered leather Trunk
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Chinese Antique decoration Measures : 76x54cm H:37cm Materials : Leather - paper - brass This Chinese lacquered leather trunk will make for a great decorative addition to any bedr...
Brass
Antique Chinese Export Six Panel Watercolor Floor Screen, Hand-Painted
Located in Bradenton, FL
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Six Panel Floor Screen. This elegant Chinese folding screen presents in two three-panel sections, decorated on the front with hand-painted watercolo...
Paint, Paper
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
Chinese Export Four Panel Lacquered Coromandel Dressing Screen Room Divider
Located in Doylestown, PA
Chinese export smaller scale four-panel lacquered dressing screen room divider with hand-painted decoration on both sides. One side depicts a charming continuous pavilion scene with...
Metal
Large Vintage Dressing Screen, Oriental, Folding, Privacy, Room Divider, Retail
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a large vintage dressing screen. An Oriental, mahogany folding privacy screen or room divider, dating to the late 20th century, circa 1970. Of wonderful proportion and appea...
Mahogany
Six-Panel Teak Asian, 19th Century Folding Screen / Room Divider
Located in Stamford, CT
Asian 19th Century Folding Screen / Room Divider, Rosewood, Teak, Six Panel Six-panel rosewood / teak, Asian, Late 19th Century early 20th century. Folding screen / Room divider. A spectacular six panel work of art depicts Chinese glamour at its peak. The finest carvings abound in the manner of love birds perched onto tree bark and branches. The overall case supported by dovetail and mortise tenons. The color of a deep rich patina that only time and age can give to any work. This item was purchased from a Sands Point Long Island mansion along with several other pieces. Each panel measures 19 inches in width and stands 93.75 inches high. This is an unparalleled piece and is simply stunning in any setting. The antique room dividers...
Teak
Antique circa 1900 Hand Carved Chinese Camphor Wood Travelling Trunk
Located in Miami, FL
1900’s Chinese export Camphor wood travelling chest which has been ornately carved throughout A good looking and well made piece, this is a med...
Wood
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
Circa 1980's Gracie Silver Leaf Handpainted Screen
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful vintage handpainted floor screen by Gracie, circa 1980s. A large tree, similar to a magnolia, is the central motif of this screen, with exquisitely, detailed birds, butt...
Wood, Paint, Paper
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
Vintage Chinese Trunk with Palace Courtyard Paintings
Located in Chicago, IL
Each side of this vintage Chinese trunk is decorated with scenery of a lavish mountainside palace, brushed with intricate gold linework atop red and black lacquer. Robed members of t...
Wood
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
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
Antique Korean Tansu Bandaji Storage Chest
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Korean Tansu Bandaji Storage Chest Featuring an antique Korean Tansu Bandaji Chest with iron hardware. Stunning piece of furniture that dates back to the early 1900s. Histor...
Wood
ANTIQUE CIRCA 1920's CHINESE EXPORT HEAVILY CARVED CAMPHOR WOOD LINEN TOY CHEST
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning, highly decorative, Antique Chinese Export hand carved linen or toy chest circa 192...
Wood
$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
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
Pencil Reed Walnut Room Divider
Located in Pasadena, TX
This room divider is made in an Asian inspired style. It has 3 screens that open up to 4 ft. wide. Its designed with the pencil reeded front and is held together by walnut.
Walnut
$1,712Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Vintage Dog of Fo Bookends, Oriental, Bronze, Book Rest, Art Deco, 1930
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a pair of vintage Dog of Fo bookends. An Oriental, bronze decorative icon book rest, dating to the Art Deco period, circa 1930. Iconic and distinctive bookends with superb w...
Bronze
Chinese Camphor Wood Sailor's Large Brass-Bound Sea or Campaign Chest & Lock
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export Sailor's Large Brass-bound Camphor Wood Sea or Campaign Chest, Mid-19th Century. A large rectangular dramatic campaign or sailor's trunk lined with Camphor wood and with interior inset drawer, the exterior with brass corners and clasp. There is the original Chinese lock...
Wood
Chinoiserie Red & Gold Painted Lacquer 4 Panel Screen With Black & Gold Border
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
just in this very good looking vintage Chinese painted screen. made in Hong Kong, early 20th C. This Chinoiserie Red & Gold Painted LacquerScreen With Black & Gold Border. ha...
Wood, Lacquer
Chinese Four-Fold Coromandel Style Room Divider, c. 1940s–1950s
Located in London, GB
An elegant mid-20th-century Chinese four-panel folding screen, finished in a deep black lacquer and richly decorated with finely detailed figural and architectural scenes in gilt and...
Lacquer
19th Century Dutch Chinese Export Eight-panel Black and Gold Lacquerware Screen
Located in Solebury, PA
A remarkable 19th-century Dutch Chinese export eight-panel black and gold lacquerware screen, commonly referred to as a Coromandel screen, was crafted from wooden panels coated with ...
Giltwood, Lacquer
19th Century Chinese Export Red Leather Camphor Wood Trunk
Located in San Francisco, CA
Chinese Export period red leather and camphor wood trunk, brass bound with a hand painted floral decoration border, In very good clean antique condition, structurally sound, with exp...
Brass
$950Sale Price|34% Off
Asian Antique Painted Chinese Trunk
Located in Fulton, CA
Beautifully painted Chinese trunk. Circa. 1900. Very attractive as a coffee, side or end table. Old world patina with age appropriate wear. Sturdy. 31 inches wide. 22 inches high. 2...
Wood, Paint
Chinese export eight panel hand painted coromandel screen
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a mid 20th century hand painted eight panel coromandel screen. This Lacquered screen is incised with colorful scenery depicting idyllic Court life in a palace complex. Finall...
Wood
Chinese Export Lacquered Traveling Trunk, Mid to Late 19th Century
Located in Sunshine, LA
Fabulous 19th century Chinese trunk with incredible foliate and avian motifs hand-painted on a cinnabar-red lacquer. The bright vermilion tone is characteristic of many southern Chin...
Iron
Gracie Handpainted Silver 4 Panel Screen - Flowering Trees, Birds, Butterflies
By Gracie
Located in New York, NY
A stunning four panel vintage screen made by Gracie in the 1980's. The handpainted design is Silver Peony, still a design made by Gracie. The wallpaper panels were handpainted in H...
Wood, Paint, Paper
Antique Chinese Hand Painted Porcelain & Carved Rosewood Frame Room Divider
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Chinese Hand Painted Porcelain with Ornate Carved Rosewood Dragon Motif Frame Room Screen/Room Divider This beautiful ...
Paint, Rosewood, Porcelain
Asian Modernist / Chinese carved & hand painted two-panel screen , divider.
Located in Buffalo, NY
Asian Modernist / Chinese carved & hand painted two-panel screen , room divider.Signed by the artist,, Age approbate wear consistent with use and age.. Hand delivery avail to New Yo...
Wood
Chinese Teak 3-Fold Screen with Carved Filigree and Velvet Upholstery
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese style (19th Century) teak 3 fold screen with filigree carved top and bottom and blue velvet center.
Chinese Export Six Panel Cloisonné Soapstone Coromandel Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Charming Chinese export six-panel lacquer coromandel screen featuring a blue and white cloisonné style border decorated with scholars objects,...
Soapstone, Brass
Antique circa 1900 Hand Carved Chinese Camphor Wood Travelling Trunk Nice Finish
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very nice circa 1900’s Chinese export Camphor wood travelling chest which has been ornately carved throug...
Wood
Rare & Collectable Vintage Chinese Export Hardstone 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 circa 1940’s Hardstone room divider folding screen. A truly stunning and exquisit...
Stone
Chinese Cloisonné Enamel Egg with Wood Stand, Early 20 Century
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Presenting a cute Chinese cloisonné enamel egg with wood Stand, early 20 century. The Height is including the Height Stand.
Copper
1930s Early Chinese Wood Screen Asian Wall Art
Located in Chula Vista, CA
AMBIANIC presents early Chinese Large Screen Asian Wall Art architectural wood window screen divider intricate pattern 39.25 h x 45.75 w x 1.13 unsigned Original vintage condition Re...
Wood
$520Sale Price|20% Off
Brass and Enamel Foo Dog Bookends
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A lovely and vibrant pair of brass bookends with Foo Dog repousse in brilliant enamel colors - well suited for any room and lovely for the Childs room
Brass
Antique Chinese Red and Gold Lacquered 4-Fold Screen with Floral Frame
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese style (19th/20th century ) red and gold lacquered 4 fold screen featuring a carved floral frame and a Chinoiserie design.
Wood
Early 19th Century Chinese Export Brown Leather & Brass Camphor Wood Trunk
Located in San Francisco, CA
Large antique Chinese Export brass bound dark brown leather camphor wood trunk. These always make for an interesting coffee table or extra storage at the food of a bed. Early 19th Ce...
Brass
18th Century Chinese Qing Dynasty Four-Panel Lacquered Wood Screen
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese (Qing Dynasty 18/19th Century) 4 panel screen with a (restored) maroon lacquered background and finely decorated scene of figures and palace in a black lacquered frame.
Lacquer, Paint, Wood
Antique Chinese Red Leather Trunk on Stand
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Antique Chinese red lacquered leather trunk mounted on a custom iron base. Trunk show evidence of were and there is color loss.
Iron
Pair of Antique Brass & Enamel Cloisonne Chinese Bookends
Located in Germantown, MD
A Pair of Antique Brass & Enamel Cloisonne Chinese Bookends. Measure 4.35" in width, 3.5" in depth and 6" in height
Brass
$2,153Sale Price|20% Off
EXQUISITE ANTIQUE CIRCA 1900 CHiNESE EXPORT CAMPHOR WOOD STEAMER LUGGAGE TRUNK
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this original circa 1900-1920 original Chinese Export Camphor wood and Iron steamer trunk with the original ...
Wood
$1,098Sale Price|20% Off
LOVELY CHiNESE ELM STORAGE TRUNK OR CHEST OF LINEN & CLOTHES, TOYS PART OF A SET
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely Chinese Elm with brass strap work storage trunk Please note the delivery fee listed is just a ...
Elm
Chinese Export Wallpaper Six Panel Screen
Located in Bradenton, FL
Chinese export wallpaper six panel screen, each panel depicting Chinese decor. Screen includes blue and white painted vases, urns and furnishings in colors that include blue, burgund...
Wood, Paint, Paper
$3,304Sale Price|20% Off
Chinese Export Six Panels Lacquered Screen
Located in Madrid, ES
Chinese screen for export with 6 panels decorated on both sides. The front side with various scenes of daily palatial life with relief figures, buildings and landscapes made of pain...
Brass
$4,500 / item
Chinese Coromandel 4-Fold Screens
Located in Queens, NY
Asian Chinese style (20th Century) black coromandel 4 fold (16\" each panel) screens with scene of people on one side and flowers & birds on reverse. (PRICED EACH).
Chinese Camphor Wood Travelling Trunk Silk Lined Multi Compartments, circa 1920
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very nice circa 1920’s Chinese export Camphor wood travelling chest with silk lining A good looking and well made piece, they are very rare in this size, it would make a great side or coffee table or perhaps a luxury toy...
Silk, Wood
$2,897Sale Price|30% Off
Exquiste Hand Painted Oriental Chinese Linen Trunk or Chest Very Decorative
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage beautifully decorated hand painted and lacquered Oriental trunk A very good looking and well m...
Wood