Chinoiserie Boxes
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.
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Style: Chinoiserie
Japanese Laquered Papier Mâché Circular Cups Hand Painted, circa 1910 Set of 2
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This is a beautiful papier mâché, circular lacquered set of 2 cups, which we attribute to being made in Japan during the early 20th century, circa 1910.
This is a very decoratives...
Category
1910s Chinese Vintage Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Paper
$239 Sale Price / set
20% Off
18th Century Japanned Chinoiserie Dome-Topped Box, Circa 1715-1725
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Early 18th century George I Japanned Chinoiserie dome-topped box, Circa 1715-1725. England or France.
A rare survivor from the first quarter of the ...
Category
18th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Cherry
Japanese laquered Papier Mâché Circular Cups Hand-Painted, circa 1910 Set of 3
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This is a beautiful papier mâché, circular lacquered St of Cups, which we attribute to being made in Japan during the early 20th century, circa 1910.
This is a very decorativeset ...
Category
1910s Chinese Vintage Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Paper
$239 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Wood Lidded Box, Hand-Painted and Lacquered, Japanese, Early 20Century
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This box is a japanese box, early 20th century, in a red laquer, representing a bird and a flower.
This has been made in Japan.
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Wood
$335 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of 19th Century American Henry Troemner Philadephia Pa Chinoiserie Tea Bins
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a gorgeous and extremely rare pair mid-19th century, metal tea bins, by Henry Troemner of Philadelphia, PA in the chinoiserie style.
From circa 1845.
Made of black enamel...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Tin
Chinese cloissoné Circular Cup or Vide Poche Hand-Painted, circa 1910
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Chinese cloissoné Circular Cup or Vide Poche Hand-Painted, circa 1910
Category
1910s Chinese Vintage Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Ceramic
$335 Sale Price
20% Off
Chinoiserie Famille Rose Decorative Box with Birds Flora and Fauna
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful vintage decorated Famille Rose ceramic decorative box, Chinese Export/Chinoiserie style, circa mid-20th century. Box and lid are beautiful decorated with figures and bird...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Ceramic
Chinese Wicker Capybara Animal
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Chinese wicker capybara box from the Shanghai collection with carved wood highlights and removable lid.
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Wicker
Chinese Export Cloisonné Box
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Lovely Chinese export cloisonné box made of brass and enameled with a beautiful mountain scene decoration in vibrant yellow color resting on ball feet. This chinoiserie box is marked...
Category
1910s Chinese Vintage Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Brass, Enamel
Antique Korean Trunk Chest or Box circa 1920s with Luck and Longevity Characters
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome antique Korean trunk or chest with beautiful brass details and the auspicious Chinese characters for luck and longevity carved into the f...
Category
Early 20th Century Korean Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Brass
Chinese Export Cloisonné Box
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Lovely Chinese export cloisonné box made of brass and enameled with a beautiful floral pattern resting on ball feet. This decorative box was most likely a cigarette box or trinket bo...
Category
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Brass, Enamel
Vintage Carved Keepsake Case, Chinese, Satinwood, Decorative Box, Circa 1950
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage carved keepsake case. A Chinese, satinwood decorative box, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1950.
Profusely carved throughout with an abundance of Oriental cr...
Category
1950s Chinese Vintage Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Satinwood
19th Century Chinese Victorian Tea Caddy
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Hand-crafted in China for the European market, this Asian-style English black lacquered octagonal hinged tea caddy features a decorative stenciled motif of pagodas and foliage in gil...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Pewter
Collectible Coca-Cola Special Edition Asian Chinese Bottles, a Set of 5
Located in Plainview, NY
A custom made special edition Coca-Cola set of 5 miniature glass bottles. Each bottle is handprinted to portray traditional Chinese emblems such...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Glass
$680 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage French Chinoiserie Lacquer Box
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Vintage French Chinoiserie Lacquer Box, with gold decoration. This type of box would have held cigarettes or trinkets. Stamped "Made in Fra...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Lacquer
Two Korean Antique Dowery Boxes in Brown Rattan and Red Papier-Mâché
Located in New York, NY
Two attractive 19th century Korean dowery boxes in brown rattan and red hand-painted papier-mâché, the one slightly larger in delicately interwoven brown ...
Category
19th Century Korean Antique Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Rattan
Blue and Yellow Chinoiserie Tea Caddy
Located in New York, NY
Blue and yellow chinoiserie tea caddy. Charming Prattware shaped tea canister in a blue cast paste with blue, yellow and moss green decoration fe...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Pottery
Oriental Carved Camphor Wood Chest
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Oriental carved camphor wood chest
This Beautiful Carved Chest is made from Camphor Wood, for those of you who do not know campho...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Wood
Chinese Lacquer Hand-Painted Toiletry Box with Mirror
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects.
Valua...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Wood
Large Chinoiserie Rectangular Black Lacquered Gilt Painted Covered Box 1950s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large Chinoiserie Rectangular Black Lacquered Gilt Painted Covered Box 1950s.
Large Chinese black lacquered box with numerous figures and gilt detail.
Chinese rectangular black lacquer and gilt painted box, made for the export market.
The rectangular large black lacquer box is decorated with beautiful gilt painting.
the Upper portion opens revealing a lacquer tray.
The lid of the box hand painted in the shanshui style, with an idyllic river and mountain, Chinoiserie style landscape with architectural Asian decor, landscape figures of women in traditional kimonos, young boys playing near a river.
The landscape studded with trees and vegetation, and some small pagodas...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Vintage Chinese Porcelain Shard Box Oriental Decorative Nickel Silver
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Chinese Porcelain Shard Box Oriental Decorative Nickel Silver Box Blue and White.
Vintage Chinese Nickel Silver Box with Blue and White Porcelain S...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Metal
Mother Of Pearl Game Pieces in Wooden Box in Chinese Style
Located in Greven, DE
Numerous finely engraved mother-of-pearl game pieces in a wooden box in Chinese style.
The game pieces are in three different shapes - oval, round and rectangular. The engravings sho...
Category
20th Century Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Wood
Chinese Antique Black Lacquered Gilt Painted Covered Box 1940s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique Oriental Chinese Export Black Lacquered Gilt Painted Covered Box 1940s.
Large Asian Chinese black lacquered tea box with nume...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Giltwood, Lacquer
Porcelain on Metal Fine Chinoiserie Occupied Japan Art Deco Box
Located in San Diego, CA
Porcelain on metal fine chinoiserie occupied Japan Art Deco box, beautiful and rare petite box delicate and painted with metal inserts, a couple of tiny...
Category
20th Century Japanese Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Metal, Brass
$300 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Chinese Red Carved Cinnabar Lacquer Floral Trinket Box
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, AR
Vintage Chinese Red Carved Cinnabar Lacquer Floral Trinket Box.
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Lacquer
$600 Sale Price
20% Off
Luscious Leather Embossed Hand-Painted Chinoiserie Box
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Wonderful Chinese box in red, gold and black having a Chinoiserie painted design on embossed leather with original brass hardware. There's a removable metal liner and the interior is...
Category
1940s Chinese Vintage Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Leather
$1,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Chinese Black Lacquer Gilt Painted Covered Tea Box 1940s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique Oriental Chinese Export Black Lacquered Gilt Painted Covered Box 1940s.
Large Asian Chinese black lacquered tea box with nume...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Lacquer
Asian Chinese Box Black Lacquered Gilt Painted 1940s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique Oriental Chinese Export Black Lacquered Gilt Painted Covered Box 1940s.
Large Asian Chinese black lacquered tea box with nume...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Giltwood, Lacquer
Antique Chinoiserie Regency Box
Located in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
A most attractive Regency painted chinoiserie box in an unusually large size; plain painted interior.
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Wood
19th Century English Chinoiserie Box with Bronze Feet
Located in Dallas, TX
Gorgeous 19th century English chinoiserie box with bronze feet. Featuring a beautiful decorative hand painted design. So pretty! Note: As is.
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Wood
Lacquered Wood Toilet Box, Japan, 19th Century
Located in Lisboa, PT
Lacquered wood toilet box - Japan, 19th century.
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Lacquer
18th Century George I Domed Topped Japanned Chinoiserie Falconry Box, circa 1710
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
A rare and important Queen Anne-George I japanned chinoiserie domed topped box depicting scenes of falconry, circa 1710-1720. England
Falconry is ...
Category
Early 18th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Oak
Chositsu Cylindrical Chinese Box. China, late 19th Century.
Located in Madrid, ES
Cylindrical box made of bronze using the sculpted lacquer technique called "Chositsu". A highly valuable technique, since in order to sculpt the motifs, it was necessary to apply a l...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Bronze
Chinoiserie Decorated Wig Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A hand carved, hand painted and lacquered, hinged wig box with classic Chinese red painted interior. Incised brass knob and lock.
Category
19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Boxes
Materials
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
Chinoiserie boxes for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Chinoiserie boxes for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, asian art and furniture, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Chinoiserie boxes made in a specific country, there are Asia, East Asia, and China pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original boxes, popular names associated with this style include Cartier, Daniel & John Welby, Henry Troemner, and Iradj Moini. 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 boxes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $189 and tops out at $22,500 while the average work can sell for $822.
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