Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
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.
Early 1800s English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Metal, Foil
1890s Russian Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Silver
Late 19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Wood, Paper
Late 19th Century Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Brass
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Porcelain
Early 18th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Oak
Early 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Pottery
Mid-19th Century American Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Tin
Late 18th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Satinwood
19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Brass, Enamel
Mid-20th Century English Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Ceramic
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Pewter
19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Tortoise Shell
19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Wood
19th Century British Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Brass
19th Century Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Wood, Paint
Late 18th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Fruitwood
19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Wood, Paper
1880s Russian Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Enamel
Mid-19th Century British Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Giltwood
19th Century Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Bentwood, Lacquer
1870s French Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Lead
Early 1900s English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Britannia Standard Silver
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Lacquer, Wood
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Silk
1860s English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Wood, Lacquer
Early 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Silver
19th Century British Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Brass, Copper
Early 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Silver
1880s American Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Tôle
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Wood, Lacquer