Decorative Chinese Art

A collection of antique and traditionally crafted Chinese decorative art from Shanxi, Jiangsu, and beyond.

This collection celebrates China’s long tradition of craftsmanship and symbolic design—objects once made for ritual, domestic, and scholarly life, now treasured for their quiet refinement and decorative power. From Chinese export lacquer and painted ancestral portraits to wall panels and calligraphy pieces, each item represents the fusion of artistry and purpose that defines Chinese material culture.

Regional craft and historic origins

Much of this collection originates from Shanxi province—a region renowned for its robust furniture and architectural carvings in elm and cypress—and from Jiangsu, whose riverine workshops produced finely turned wooden utensils and export pieces for the 18th and 19th-century trade. Canton (modern Guangzhou) appears throughout, its lacquer and pith paintings reflecting the artistry of the export era when Chinese decorative arts captivated Europe’s collectors and merchants alike.

Forms of use and meaning

Everyday forms—grain measures, dao baskets, food carriers and hat boxes—were made with both function and proportion in mind. Their geometric lines and hand-worn surfaces lend a timeless simplicity that translates effortlessly into contemporary interiors. Whether displayed singly or grouped in layers, these pieces evoke the measured rhythm of domestic life in traditional China.

Lacquer, painting and symbolic imagery

The export lacquer pieces of Canton—black or cinnabar, often decorated with gilt chinoiserie landscapes—embody the elegance of Qing-period craft. Delicate pith paintings capture scenes of court life, trades and flora in translucent detail, their colour and texture unmatched by other mediums. Together they form an essential record of the Chinese artisan’s refined visual language.

Ancestral art and devotion

Equally evocative are the ancestor figures and ancestor portraits—objects made to honour lineage and preserve family memory. Their formal stillness and muted pigments speak of reverence, continuity, and belonging. Within a contemporary setting, these works introduce a sense of quiet presence and contemplative grace.

Continuing traditions and Tibetan influence

Modern artisanal works, such as silver-plated Guanyin and Buddha figures, calligraphy brushes, and celadon bowls from Jingdezhen, extend traditional practices into the present. Alongside them are Sino-Tibetan devotional objects—gilt bronzes, butter lamps and ritual vessels—whose symbolism reflects the intertwined histories of China and Tibet. Explore the wider context through our Tibetan Art & Furniture collection.

For collectors and interiors

Curated for both scholarship and design, these pieces offer texture, mat