Chintz is a printed cotton fabric with a glazed finish and multicolored patterns. The term originally applied only to textiles, used for upholstery, curtains and clothing. Today, it refers as well to the fabric’s characteristic floral patterns, seen in such decorative elements as wallpaper. The heavily saturated designs are most often composed of natural motifs, such as flowers and leaves.
Chintz fabric originated in India. The word chintz comes from the Hindi chint, which means “spotted.” Between 1600 and 1800, chintz was woodblock printed or painted on calico, a cotton fabric originating in Calicut. The dyes used were made from plant pigments, which produced vibrant colors. Thanks in part to innovations introduced during the Industrial Revolution, by the mid-1800s, European factories were producing their own chintz fabric. Victorians appreciated that the glazed finish made it easy to wipe clean.
While the 1990s saw major pushback against the 1980s chintz craze, it has rebounded of late. No longer considered “chintzy,” the fabric is again embraced by designers for its decorative patterns and bold colors. This is thanks in part to the maximalism that has taken the design world by storm. Reacting against minimalism, the style celebrates exuberance, displayed in the mixing of textures and patterns. Chintz fits right in.
Chintz curtains, furniture upholstery and decorative pillows can all make statements with their vibrant floral prints. A touch of chintz can set the mood of a room, introducing a colorful, soft and traditional nuance to a contemporary space.
Find rugs and carpets, seating, lighting and more in the floral chintz collection on 1stDibs.
Boch Freres Chinoiserie Porcelain Gilt Floral Ginger Jar Hand Painted Table Lamp
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Boch Freres Chinoiserie Porcelain Gilt Floral Ginger Jar Hand Painted Table Lamp. Gorgeous and monumental gilt hand painted floral porcelain chinoiserie ginger jar wired as lamp. Lovely scale and proportions. Genius use of color. Victorian lampshade...
Porcelain
Multicolor Flowers Basket Murano Glass Ceiling Light
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Rome, IT
Amazing Mid-Century Modern hand blown Italian flush mount chandelier featuring overlapping multi-color crystal flowers, mounted on a webbed white painted frame. Measures: Height ...
Blown Glass
Venetian Flowers Glass Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A horizontal, circa 1930s Italian light fixture with multicolor glass flower insets and interior lights. Measurements: Height 20" Depth 17" Width/length 40".
Pair of Good Quality 19th Century Chinese Rose Medallion Vases
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality pair of 19th century Chinese Cantonese / rose Medallion vases, each having the classical green ground with pink floral decoration, pierced blue handles to either ...
Porcelain
$2,555Sale Price|20% Off
French Art Nouveau Floral Foliage Table Lamp in Bronze
Located in Barcelona, ES
Beautiful cast bronze floral design Art Nouveau table lamp, France, 1930s. This exquisite table lamp features two flowers standing on a plant, one of them holds the light bulb. This ...
Bronze
Venetian Pink Glass Chandelier. Murano
By Mazzega
Located in Budapest, HU
Italian vintage chandelier in Murano glass and nickel plated metal structure on 4 levels. The armor polished nickel supports pink etched glass tubes in a star shape. Weight about 60 ...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$1,988
H 3.94 in Dm 14.97 in
1 of 4 Stunning Murano Glass Flower Wall Light by Ernst Palme, Germany, 1970s
By Ernst Palme
Located in Aachen, NRW
Midcentury flush mount light or wall sconce with 24 Murano glass flowers over a polished brass base, made by Ernst Palme in Germany, 1970s High quality and in very good condition....
Brass
Large Wavey Murano Ceiling/ Wall Light
Located in Westport, CT
One textured clear blown Murano wavy sconce with silver hardware, comprised of six lights up to 60 watts each, can be displayed horizontally or vertically ...
Glass
Austrian Art Nouveau Bronze Lamp
Located in Houston, TX
Lovely period Austrian Art Nouveau bronze table lamp. This beautifully detailed, high quality Austrian bronze lamp has been newly wired and would w...
Bronze
$1,988
H 3.94 in Dm 14.97 in
1 of 4 Stunning Murano Glass Flower Ceiling Light by Ernst Palme, Germany, 1970s
By Ernst Palme
Located in Aachen, NRW
Midcentury flush mount light or wall sconce with 24 Murano glass flowers over a polished brass base, made by Ernst Palme in Germany, 1970s Wonderful light effect. High quality and in...
Brass
$1,656 / set
H 16 in W 4 in D 4 in
Antique Pair Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Ormolu Table Lamps Blue Green Gilt
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An Exceptionally Fine Pair of Cantonese Hand Decorated Porcelain Oil Lamps with ornate Ormolu bases now converted to Electric Table Lamps, of medium proportions, (see last image in s...
Ormolu
Pair of Rose Medallion Vases
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
Fine pair of 19th century rose medallion vases.
Ceramic
Large Antique 19th Century Chinese Rose Mandarin Porcelain Vase
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique large Chinese porcelain vase. In the Rose Mandarin (Famille Rose) style. Decorated throughout with with various detailed scenes of people & plants. The body of ...
Porcelain
$1,626
H 25.6 in W 11.82 in D 7.88 in
Large French Chinoiserie Gilt Bronze & Hand-Painted Porcelain Lamp
Located in Barntrup, DE
Large French Chinoiserie Style Gilt Bronze and Hand-Painted Porcelain Table Lamp An impressive late 19th-century French oil lamp, later converted to electricity, showcasing exquisit...
Bronze
Hand Painted Chinoiserie Scene Porcelain Pair Table Lamp
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautifully hand painted and decorated Chinoiserie scene details glazed porcelain pair table lamp. Each lamp features a different motif of monkeys , ...
Porcelain, Wood, Paint
Bud Flower Ceiling Light Fixture in Bronze, Spain 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Single Light Flower Bud Ceiling Light Fixture / Wall Light, Bronze Spain, 1950s A beautiful Hollywood Regency gilt bronze floral flush mount or wall sconce. This lovely light fixture...
Bronze
Italian Murano Glass Flushmount Light
Located in Antwerp, BE
Italian Murano glass flushmount light. Measures: Diameter 40 cm. Height 15 cm. Three E27 bulbs.
Metal, Brass
Commissioned for the lakeside villa of a Finnish industrialist, it illuminated visits with dignitaries.
Across New York, there’s no shortage of statement lighting on view.
The 1920s design is a thrilling combination of saturated colors, ancient motifs and modern aesthetics.
Designed by a giant of Swedish lighting, the large-scale fixtures bring major drama.
The alluring pendant light exemplifies the designer’s winsome mid-career work.
Before founding the Memphis Group, Sottsass bent the rules of lighting design with the wonderfully wavy Cometa.
Warm chalet style meets cool Bauhaus functionality in Pietro Cascella’s cleverly carved creation.
Patrizio Chiarparini of Brooklyn’s Duplex gallery sheds light on the lasting legacy of Italy’s postwar furniture boom.