Chanteur Antiqued Chinoiserie Wallpaper Mural
2010s American Chinoiserie Wallpaper
Paper
People Also Browsed
2010s American Minimalist Benches
Fiberglass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Sofas
Velvet, Walnut
20th Century Italian Wall Mirrors
Glass, Mirror, Wood
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Doors and Gates
Glass, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Doors and Gates
Wood
Mid-20th Century North American Victorian Beds and Bed Frames
Brass, Wrought Iron
2010s French Architectural Elements
Iron
2010s Belgian Modern Sofas
Linen
2010s British Louis XVI Sofas
Beech
2010s Belgian Modern Sofas
Linen
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Dining Room Tables
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary English George III Mantel Mirrors and Fire...
Wood, Paint, Gesso
Antique 1790s Swedish Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Wood
20th Century French Modern Doors and Gates
Iron
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Fireplaces and Mantels
Marble, Breccia Marble, Carrara Marble
18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
A Close Look at chinoiserie Furniture
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.
Finding the Right wallpaper for You
Forget everything you believed about wallpaper (including mental images of your great aunt’s outdated decor). While paint has long had its place, there are fresh, modern designs these days in wallpaper that offer endless possibilities.
“There is undoubtedly an excitement surrounding pattern at the moment,” says Nick Cope, who cofounded Calico Wallpaper with his wife, Rachel. “Wallpaper has had certain connotations over the years. However, we are always focused on our mission to elevate wallpaper to high art.”
And today, paper is challenging paint’s long dominance. “In the late 1990s and early 2000s, everyone was painting and doing faux finishing,” says Sarah Merenda, founder of Merenda Wallpaper. But “there is currently a spotlight on wallpaper, and I find that people are interested in custom and large-scale designs. Printing digitally has been a game changer for the wallpaper world.”
Explore a variety of motifs and patterns in modern and vintage wallpaper options on 1stDibs today.