Skip to main content

Chinoiserie Ceramics

CHINOISERIE STYLE

Emerging in the 17th century, chinoiserie appropriated the aesthetics and imagery of popular East Asian design for European-made versions. Reflecting the exoticization of China, Japan and other countries in this era, the word directly translates from French to “Chinese-esque,” which reveals its shortcomings as a style of furniture and decor that often stereotypically and reductively mimics Asian culture rather than showcasing and paying tribute to its artistic traditions.

The enthusiastically decorative chinoiserie style was propelled by influential tastemakers including French King Louis XIV, whose Trianon de Porcelaine in 1670 was inspired by Chinese architecture. Expanded trade between the East and West led to a demand for porcelain, lacquer objects, silk and other goods, which further informed the fanciful furniture being crafted in Europe.

Artisans working in the chinoiserie style used materials and elements like pagoda shapes, bamboo, lacquer surfaces, bird and flower motifs and other interpretations of Asian design on pieces that were frequently set against vibrant wallcoverings. This whimsical approach yielded chinoiserie furniture that boasted dramatic flourishes drawing on the natural world and reflected the dominance of Rococo during the 18th century.

As chinoiserie was shaped by approximations of Asian design by European creators, it had regional variations, such as Chinese Chippendale in England where cabinets, chairs and tea tables had wooden fretwork designs and “japanned” surfaces intended to resemble lacquer work that was created in East Asia. In North America, furniture makers in Boston and New York integrated chinoiserie-painted scenes into Queen Anne furniture.

Antique chinoiserie furniture has continued to be fashionable, from its popularity with decorators of the Hollywood Regency era — James Mont, Tommi Parzinger, William Haines and Samuel Marx favored the style — to contemporary interior designers, although it brings with it a complex history.

Find a collection of chinoiserie bedroom furniture, cabinets, decorative objects and more on 1stDibs.

3
to
2
1
3
3
3
286
185
107
37
15
12
12
11
8
5
4
3
3
1
1
2
1
3
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
Style: Chinoiserie
Pair 19th Century Meissen Nodding Pagodas
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality pair of late 19th century Meissen porcelain Nodding Pagodas, each with wonderful bold coloring moving heads, tongues and hands....
Category

19th Century German Antique Chinoiserie Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Lucky Chinoiserie Famille Rose Pink Ceramic Vase Birds and Geckos, 20th Century
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A tall chinoiserie famille rose vase with a floral and bird motif. This gorgeous ceramic vessel will be fabulous on a center table, side table, or in a foyer on a credenza. The neck ...
Category

20th Century Hong Kong Chinoiserie Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Paint

French Majolica Wire Basket Gien circa 1890
By Gien
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica wire basket Gien circa 1890. Chinoiserie scene with pagoda.
Category

1890s French Antique Chinoiserie Ceramics

Materials

Wire

Related Items
Vase Hands, White and Gold Ceramic, Italy
Located in Treviso, Treviso
The “Andy” ceramic collection VG presents a collection of classic sculptures which revisits the techniques of pop art. The original work is taken apart; a few details are then remove...
Category

2010s Italian Chinoiserie Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Early 20th Century Chinese Famille Rose Hand Painted Porcelain Vase
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in China circa 1920, the tall vase is round in shaped with an elegant long neck. The colorful antique urn is decorated with hand painted figural motifs including a mother playing with children. The large Famille Rose...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Sponge Ware Butter Crock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century sponge ware butter crock in very good condition.
Category

19th Century American Antique Chinoiserie Ceramics

Materials

Pottery

Vase Hands, Matt Black and Gold Ceramic, Italy
Located in Treviso, Treviso
The “Andy” ceramic collection VG presents a collection of classic sculptures which revisits the techniques of pop art. The original work is taken apart; a few details are then remove...
Category

2010s Italian Chinoiserie Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

END OF THE 17th CENTURY MONTELUPO MAJOLICA PLAQUE
Located in Firenze, FI
Beautiful tabernacle plaque in polychrome majolica, depicting the Madonna with child and Saint Anthony of Padua. The design and colors recall the first polychrome majolica from the f...
Category

Late 17th Century Italian Antique Chinoiserie Ceramics

Materials

Maiolica

19th Century Spongeware Butter Crock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This handmade and painted butter crock was found in Pennsylvania and is in good condition with the exception of the old repairs to the lid. The base has n...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Chinoiserie Ceramics

Materials

Pottery

Vintage Hollywood Regency Moorish Majolica Camel Garden Seat
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage highly decorative Hollywood Regency Moorish Majolica camel garden seat. Hollywood Regency 1950s poly-chrome glazed Italian terracotta garden st...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Terracotta

Charming Pair of Austrian 19th Century Polychromed Majolica Wall Sculptures
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine and charming pair of Austrian 19th century polychromed majolica hanging wall sculptures of an elderly couple peeking through a window, probably by Friedrich Goldscheider (Goldscheider'sche Porzellan-Manufactur und Majolica-Fabrik.) Each wall sculpture depicting an elderly man wearing glasses and a traditional cap with his arms extended forward as if it was reading a book or a newspaper. The other depicting an elderly lady, also peeking through a window, wearing a laced cap with a bow tie and shawl over her shoulders, her arms are also extended forward as if it was reading a book or a newspaper. The male figure stamped on the back "78 - II ." The lady figure stamped on the back "37 - 79." Vienna, circa 1890-1900. Man's height: 16 1/2 inches (41.9 cm.) Man's width: 13 3/4 inches (34.9 cm.) Depth: 8 1/2 inches (21.6 cm.) Lady's height: 15 1/2 inches (39.4 cm.) Lady's width: 13 3/4 inches (34.9 cm.) Lady's depth: 6 1/2 inches (16.5 cm.) Goldscheider Manufactory and Majolica Factory (German: Goldscheider'sche Porzellan-Manufactur und Majolica-Fabrik, (now) Goldscheider Keramik) is an Austrian ceramic manufactory. In 1885, Friedrich Goldscheider came from the small Bohemian city of Pilsen to Vienna and founded the Goldscheider Manufactory and Majolica Factory. It became one of the most influential ceramic manufactories of terracotta, faience and bronze objects in Austria with subsidiaries in Paris, Leipzig and Florence. For over half a century Goldscheider created masterpieces of historical revivalism, Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) and Art Deco. Famous artists such as Josef Lorenzl, Stefan Dakon, Ida Meisinger and the two perhaps best known Austrian ceramic artists Michael Powolny and Vally Wieselthier worked for Goldscheider. Several of the artists who worked for Goldscheider also worked for other Viennese studios, such as Augarten, Keramos or for the German brands Rosenthal and Meissen. The Goldscheider family emigrated in 1938 to United Kingdom and USA. Walter Goldscheider startet a new factory in Trenton, New Jersey and returned to Vienna in 1950. Marcel Goldscheider went to Stoke-on-Trent and produced figurative ceramics for Myott and opened his own studio in the 1950s in Hanley. Both brothers died in the early 1960s. More than 10,000 different models were created over a period of three generations. Since the very beginning many of these won first prizes and gold medals at innumerable world fairs, exhibitions and trade fairs. Goldscheider figures...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Chinoiserie Ceramics

Materials

Majolica

Very Decorative Blue Chinese Ceramic Vase Famille Rosé Floral 20th Century
Located in DE
Beautiful decorative vase Famille Rosé, China, circa 20th century with little birds and gilded rim. The intricate design with pink, purple, yellow and red makes this beautiful vase f...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Authentic Talavera Decorative Plate Folk Art Vessel Mexican Ceramic Blue White
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
Elegant white and blue plate made with the Talavera technique. Artist, Cesar Torres portraits the colonial art of Mexico. The Talavera is not just a simple painted ceramic: its exquisite decoration is the product of a delicate process of alchemy that translates into fine enamels. In Puebla, Mexico few people still produce using Talavera with the ancestral techniques. One of those few is Cesar Torres, Don Cesar learned his art in the workshop of the Uriarte family, an excellent workshop where his grandfather worked. In his creations he uses the black and white mud that is obtained from the nearby hills of Loreto and Guadalupe, and colors of mineral origin that he creates in his workshop with recipes from his grandfather. All the pieces are modeled in a traditional way and go through a production process that usually takes from one to two months, between drying, burning, and painting. Being surrounded by a living tradition, Cesar Torres Jr., learned from his father since childhood. Architect by profession, Cesar Jr. has come to revolutionize and modernize with new designs and ideas of the current world, nevertheless always respecting the tradition of the processes and materials that make Talavera a Creole art...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Chinoiserie Ceramics

Materials

Clay, Ceramic, Majolica

Antique French Ceramic, Shoe With Mice, Circa 1900
Located in Greven, DE
Wonderful antique ceramic from France, around 1900. Beautiful small ceramic in the shape of a shoe with two mice climbing on it.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

White Trompe L'Oeil Ceramic Italian Basket
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful white ceramic basket. This piece features woven ceramic braids surrounding a small basket with a handle. Dimensions: 6" Wide 4" Deep 5.75" Tall.
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Previously Available Items
Pair of Meiselman Majolica Ceramic Birds in Green and Cream Majolica, Italy
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A pair of handmade ceramic majolica ducks by Meiselman. Glazed in an assortment of bright colors, this pair will be fabulous to display on a bookshelf or foyer table. Each bird is pa...
Category

20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Paint

French Majolica Wire Basket Gien, circa 1890
By Gien
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica wire basket Gien, circa 1890. Chinoiserie scene with pagoda.
Category

1890s French Antique Chinoiserie Ceramics

Materials

Wire

Chinoiserie Famille Rose Ceramic Decorative Bowl in Pink and Gold Floral Design
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
The true power of an object is the ability to tell a story. This is the reason we love this colorful Famille Rose chinoiserie ceramic bowl so ...
Category

20th Century Hong Kong Chinoiserie Ceramics

Materials

Gold

Chinoiserie Asian Chalkware Bust of a Woman Attributed to Esther Hunt, 1920s
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Chinoiserie style hand painted ceramic bust of a woman in wonderful vintage condition. This figural bust is created from chalkware and features a Chinese woman with dark hair pulled into two buns at each side. Her hair is black and accented with blue, green and white floral decoration. The woman wears a traditional cheongsam in light pastel pink. A cherry blossom print in darker pink accents the garment throughout with black piping at its edges. The sculpture ends just below the young woman's shoulders Attributed to Esther Hunt...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Paint

Chinoiserie ceramics for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Chinoiserie ceramics for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage ceramics created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Chinoiserie ceramics made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original ceramics, popular names associated with this style include Gien, and Meissen Porcelain. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for ceramics differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $350 and tops out at $18,623 while the average work can sell for $550.

Recently Viewed

View All