Chinoiserie Decorative Art
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.
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Glass, Wood, Paper, Crayon
1840s English Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paper
Late 20th Century Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Wood
1880s British Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Ceramic, Faience
20th Century Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Fabric
1920s French Vintage Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Ceramic
1880s French Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Ceramic
1830s English Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Faux Bamboo, Paper
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Silk
20th Century Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Porcelain, Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary British Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary British Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paper
1890s English Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paper
1970s German Vintage Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Porcelain
1830s English Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paper
1940s Chinese Vintage Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Wood
Early 20th Century European Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Silk
Late 20th Century Hong Kong Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Silk, Wood
Early 20th Century European Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paint, Canvas, Wood
1860s English Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paper
Early 1800s English Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary British Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary British Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paper
Early 1900s English Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paper
Mid-20th Century Asian Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paper
1950s Vintage Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Wood, Giltwood, Paper
19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Faience
1830s English Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paper
20th Century German Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Porcelain
1860s English Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paper
Early 1900s English Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paper
20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Jade
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Bamboo
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paper
Late 20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Wood
Early 1900s French Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Ceramic, Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Bamboo
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Silk, Giltwood
1890s English Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Ceramic, Faience
20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Ceramic
1880s French Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Ceramic
1890s English Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Ceramic
Late 19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Faience
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Wood
Early 1800s English Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paper
20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Ceramic, Paint
Early 1900s French Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Ceramic, Faience
Early 18th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paper
Late 18th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Canvas, Giltwood
Mid-20th Century Hong Kong Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Brass
1950s Italian Vintage Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Bronze
1950s Italian Vintage Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Bronze
2010s American Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paper
2010s British Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paper
2010s British Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary British Chinoiserie Decorative Art
Paper