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.
$300Sale Price|20% Off
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...
Metal, Brass
French Chinoiserie Hardstone Snuff Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
A marvelously carved chinoiserie motif adorns the lid of this incredible 19th-century French tabatière or snuff box. The charming scene is intricately crafted in the form of a boating figure who holds aloft an umbrella formed of yellow gold, while the box itself is crafted from attractive brown hardstone mounted with stunning yellow gold "waves." Enchanting and beautifully executed, the rare snuff box is an incredible example of the creative artistry of these delightful boxes, as well as the highly popular chinoiserie style. Inhaling snuff, or snuffing, as it is also called, was a popular social ritual among the European elite from the 16th through the 19th centuries. Over these 300 years, master artisans created and designed elegant snuff boxes using...
Stone, Gold
VTG Chinese Engraved Brass Box with Longevity Symbols and Carved Stone Medallion
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Elegant vintage Chinese brass decorative box featuring an intricately engraved exterior adorned with auspicious longevity and prosperity symbols amid stylized floral and foliate moti...
Brass
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...
Wood
$1,250
Vintage Asian Pagoda Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Adorn your home with this exquisite vintage Asian Chinoiserie pagoda box, a truly captivating decorative piece. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail,...
Metal
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...
Metal
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 ...
Paper
Large Vintage Bamboo Lidded Storage Box Chinoiserie Modern Container Case 20"
Located in Dayton, OH
Intriguing modern bamboo case or basket. Features a decorated bamboo wrapped exterior and lid. Great for display or use. Dimensions: 20.5" x 16" x 14"h
Bamboo
$694Sale Price|20% Off
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...
Satinwood
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...
Brass, Enamel
A Rare Pair of Luxury Chinoiserie Tea Cannister Shop Fittings
Located in Greenwich, CT
A rare pair of large-scale tea cannisters with wooden lids over rounded tin bodies each elaborately decorated with bucolic scenes of a pair of figures in Chinese dress in a garden, w...
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
Ceramic
Carved Wood Chinese Box, with Landscape and Characters Decor Pattern, China 20th
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This box is in a brown color. It has been made in the 20th century, in China. It is hand carved, with character and landscapes, patterns.
Brass
Silver Painted Wooden Pagoda Storage Box
Located in Stamford, CT
Custom silver painted wooden pagoda box. Three tiered storage compartments plus pagoda finial lid. No makers mark.
Wood
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...
Giltwood, Lacquer
Antique Hand-Carved Chestnut Box in Asian Bamboo Style Inlaid with Soapstone
Located in Lisse, NL
Exclusive & fine quality hand-crafted Chinoiserie box. The diversity in techniques and materials used by craftsman around the world and over the last centuries never seizes to a...
Soapstone
$1,241Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Travelling Jewellery Box, Chinese, Lacquered, Campaign Case, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique travelling jewellery box. A Chinese, lacquered pine campaign case, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900. Delightful example of red lacquered craftsmans...
Pine, Lacquer
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...
Pottery
Sherle Wagner Porcelain Chinoiserie Lidded Jar Italy
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Sherle Wagner designer porcelain lidded jar decorated with "Chinoiserie - Blue" finish depicting flowers, foliage, butterfly, and Asian figures and embellished with gilding. Made in ...
Porcelain
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...
Brass, Enamel
$1,000Sale 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...
Leather
$209Sale Price|20% Off
Black Lacquered Chinese Jewelry Box Soapstone Brass Chinoiserie
Located in Poperinge, BE
Vintage Chinese jewelry box, chinoiserie jewelry box, made of black lacquered wood, brass details and soapstone image in relief of flower...
Soapstone, Brass
19th Century Chinoiserie Sewing Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nice condition for its age. Does not have key. Has original sewing box utensils inside - spools, etc.
Bone, Wood, 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 ra...
Rattan
Vintage Hand Carved Asian Landscape Wood Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This exceptional vintage storage chest is a masterpiece of relief carving, showcasing an immersive panoramic village scene set amidst a rugged, architectural mountain landscape. Hand...
Wood
Early 19th Century Chinese Export Scarlet Red Lacquer & Gilt Wood Table Box
Located in Litchfield, CT
Antique early 19th century Chinese export scarlet red lacquer & gilt wood storage box with hinged lid. Rectangular shape measures 15 5/8" x 9 1/2" x 5 1/2" tall. Decorated with figur...
Wood
$680Sale Price|20% Off
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...
Glass
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...
Wood
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...
Lacquer
Decorated Wooden and Pewter Casket with Floral Relief, Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
A rectangular wooden casket with hinged lid, adorned with repoussé pewter panels worked in low relief. The decoration depicts stylized flowers, leaves, and a butterfly among foliage,...
Other
Antique Chinese Export Black Lacquered Gilt Painted Box, 1940s Decor
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...
Giltwood, Lacquer
$400Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Chinese Cinnabar Lacquer Floral Trinket Box, 1960s
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, AR
Vintage Chinese Red Carved Cinnabar Lacquer Floral Trinket Box.
Lacquer
Chinoiserie Papier Mache Box, circa 1920
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Chinoiserie Papier Mache Box, circa 1920, a rectangular jewelry or work box with hinged pagoda lid, decorated with an embossed phoenix and c...
Other
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.
Wood
Chinese decorative lacquered leather box - 19th Century
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Asian Art - Antique Decoration Measures : 30x18cm H:10,5cm Materials : Leather, Metal, Wood, Lacquered
Metal
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...
Pewter
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...
Bronze
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 ...
Oak
19th Century Chinoiserie Tall Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
In great condition for its age. With bone handle pulls.
Bone, Wood, Lacquer