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.
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
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...
Paper
$350Sale Price|30% Off
Antique Japanese Dovetailed Copper Dragon Tobacco Tea Snuff Storage Jar Caddy 6"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Japanese barrel shaped lidded tobacco, tea, snuff jar / box / caddy. Made of copper, hammered, dovetailed, studded, and etched with dragons. ...
Copper
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
1950s Chinese Rosewood & Brass Rectangular Jewelry Box
Located in Farmington Hills, MI
We are very pleased to offer this elegant Chinese hardwood box, circa 1950s. Beautifully crafted in rosewood, this piece features a rich warm wood tone with traditional joinery and a...
Brass
$221Sale Price|35% Off
Japanese Kyoto Damascene Tiger Cigarette/Card Mixed Metal Case Amita Japan
Located in Clifton Forge, VA
This is a fine quality Japanese damascene case made by and signed Amita which was in business in Kyoto Japan from the 1930's to the 1970's. The tiger de...
Metal, Brass, Enamel
$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. Shipping & Location This item is located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. We offer secu...
Lacquer
$696Sale 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 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
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
$164Sale Price|30% Off
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
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
$208Sale 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
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
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
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...
Tin
$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
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
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
Vintage Lacquered Clam Shell Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This vintage lacquered clam shell box brings bold color and organic shape to any vignette. Crafted from bamboo with a vibrant oil paint finish, the exterior shows a rich patina in am...
Bamboo, Paint
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
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
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
Vintage Shanghai Handicrafts Weave Bug Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This enchanting vintage "Shanghai Weave" box is a masterclass in artisanal basketry, featuring a whimsical yet sophisticated design that captures the spirit of global curiosity. Hand...
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
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
Large Asian Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Round Wooden Box, Early 20th Century
Located in MONTPELLIER, FR
Large round Asian wooden box richly decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay. The lid features an elaborate floral composition surrounded by butterflies, birds, scrolling foliage and tr...
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
19th Century black lacquered jewellery box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century chinese black lacquered jewellery box circa 1860. Good quality shaped chinese jewellery box with overstuffed top cushion. Hand painted i...
Fabric, Wood, Lacquer
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
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
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
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 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
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
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.
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
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