Katherine Henick
Mid-20th Century Chinoiserie Night Stands
Wood, Paint
People Also Browsed
2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals
Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
20th Century French Louis XV Night Stands
Wood
Vintage 1970s European Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Travertine
Mid-20th Century French Chinoiserie Night Stands
Wood
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Travertine
2010s Indian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Travertine
Mid-20th Century French Directoire Night Stands
Brass
2010s Indian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Travertine
Vintage 1970s European Center Tables
Travertine
Vintage 1950s Italian Louis XV Night Stands
Brass
20th Century French Art Deco Night Stands
Wood
Vintage 1960s American Chinoiserie Night Stands
Brass
2010s Indian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Travertine
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Travertine
2010s Indonesian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Travertine
Recent Sales
Mid-20th Century Chinoiserie Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wood, Paint
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.
Read More
Jackie Kennedy and Sister Parish Placed This Tea Table in the White House
The former First Lady kept the Victorian antique, with an elegant chinoiserie design, for the rest of her life.
Susanna Salk’s Favorite Designers Show Us How to Play with Patterns
Taking us on a whirlwind tour of spaces that use charming prints with aplomb, the interiors expert makes a compelling case for ditching staid solids when tackling your next decorating project.