Chinoiserie Clocks
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
Chinoiserie decorated Mantel clock circa 1930s
By Maple & Co.
Located in Dereham, GB
Chinoiserie decorated Mantel clock circa 1930s
Cream in colour
Top with Scroll shaped pediment
Decoration With, Flowers, Foliage, Figure, Bridge & Building
Circular enamel dial, Dom...
Category
1930s British Vintage Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Lacquer
19th Century Red Chinoiserie Decorated Clock
Located in Charlottesville, VA
We love Chinoiserie. This is a beautiful red clock.
Category
19th Century British Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Metal
Red Chinoiserie Table Clock, French
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th Century Red French Chinoiserie Table Clock. Clock has a brass movement stamped "France," and is painted with gilt pagodas, and flowers, and birds, all on a dark red background. ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Wood
Winterhalder & Hofmeier Schwarzenbach Chinoiserie Small Grandmother Clock
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A charming grandmother clock decorated in the chinoiserie taste with typical scenery and figures.
Smaller than your average grandmother clock and larger than your typical granddaug...
Category
Early 20th Century European Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Pine
English George III 18th Century Japanned Tall Case Clock with Chinoiserie Décor
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English George III period Chinoiserie parcel gilt and japanned tall case clock from the 18th century, with black paint and arched brass di...
Category
18th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Brass
Wai Hing Clocks Co. Chinoiserie Lacquer German Tempus Fugit Grandfather Clock
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Wai Hing Clocks Co. Chinossorie Black Lacquer Hand-Painted Mother of Pearl inlaid German Movement Tempus Fugit Grandfather Clock
This black lacquer grandfather clock...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl, Lacquer
Fine quality antique Edwardian chinoiserie decorated mantle clock
Located in Ipswich, GB
Fine quality antique Edwardian chinoiserie decorated mantle clock, having a quality antique Edwardian shaped mantle clock with fantastic chinoiserie decoration throughout, having a p...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Brass
English 18th Century Chinoiserie James Hewitt of Sunderland Tall Case Clock
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English George III period tall case clock from the mid 18th century, with chinoiserie décor and brass face by James Hewitt of Sunderland. Created in En...
Category
Mid-18th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Wood
Chinoiserie lacquer Grandmother clock, circa 1920
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality early 20th Century Mahogany Grandmother clock, having wonderful Chinoiserie lacquer decoration to the whole, depicting classical scenes of various courtiers, pagoda bu...
Category
20th Century English Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Mahogany
Antique English Chinoiserie Lacquer Grandfather Clock, Circa 1820-1840.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English Chinoiserie Lacquer Grandfather Clock, Circa 1820-1840.
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Antique Samson Porcelain and Ormolu Chinoiserie Elephant Clock
Located in London, GB
Antique Samson porcelain and ormolu Chinoiserie elephant clock
French, Late 19th Century
Height 24cm, width 17cm, depth 13cm
This exquisite and...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Antique English Tall Case Clock with Chinoiserie Design
Located in Dallas, TX
Handsome antique English tall case clock with Chinoiserie design. A beautiful piece with ebonized and gilt details. Pretty!! Circa 1840.
19w x 9d x 93h
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Wood
English Regency Period 1820s Golden Toned Wall Clock with Chinoiserie Décor
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English painted wood wall clock from the early 19th century, with chinoiserie motifs. Created in England at the end of the Regency period, this wall clock captures our attention w...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Blue Porcelain Elephant Clock Set in the Chinoiserie Style
Located in London, GB
A French Garniture de Cheminée in the Chinoiserie Taste
Constructed in blue turquoise porcelain with gilt highlights, Algerian onyx and bronze, ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
18th Cent. Chinoiserie Tall Case Clock with Faux Tortoiseshell and British Ship
Located in Charleston, SC
Incredible 18th century chinoiserie tall case clock with faux tortoiseshell and scenes included figures, ho-ho birds, and a British ship. Remarkable lacquer work. Clock is signed Tho...
Category
Early 18th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Oak, Lacquer
Antique Table Desk Clock, Painted, Chinoiserie, China Art
Located in Berlin, DE
Decorative, antique table clock with elaborate painting on the case and dial. chinoiserie. China art.
Category
19th Century Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Wood
19th Century English Chinoiserie Decorated Tall Case Clock
Located in Dallas, TX
Very special 19th century Englished Chinoiserie decorated tall case clock. Featuring very pretty Asian images along with a decora...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Metal
19th Century English Red Lacquered Chinoiserie Tall Case Clock
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful 19th century red lacquered tall cased clock with chinoiserie design. The clock has London movement by George Tyler. A stunning piece!
Category
19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Wood
George III Chinoserie Lacquered Tallcase Clock with Faux Tortoiseshell Design
Located in Atlanta, GA
George III Chinoserie Lacquered Tallcase Clock with Faux Tortoiseshell Design, Thomas Hall, ca. 1760
Category
1760s English Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Wood
Original circa 1920's Asprey London Chinoiserie Mantle Clock Lovely Decoration
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer this lovely original circa 1920’s Asprey London Chinoiserie mantle clock
A very decorative and well made piece, r...
Category
1920s English Vintage Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Wood
Very Fine 19th Century French Chinoiserie Silver and Gilt Three-Piece Garniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An important & rare silvered and gilt bronze 3-piece Chinoiserie clock garniture comprising a clock and two side pieces. The Pagoda form clock with 2 Chinese figures, one sitting pla...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Chinoiserie Style Gilt-Bronze and Enamel Figural Clock
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A rare Chinoiserie style gilt-bronze and enamel figural clock.
This elegant and sophisticated clock has a finely chiselled gilt-bronze case with gold and enamel highlights. It dep...
Category
19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Wonderful English 18th-19th Century Red Chinoiserie Grandfather Clock
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
English late 18th-early 19th century red chinoiserie grandfathers clock. Brass dial inscribed Jan Chater. Working condition. Beautiful detail and paint. Wonderful condition.
Category
Late 18th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Metal
Chinoiserie Cold Painted and Gilt Bronze Clock and Candelabra
Located in London, GB
This clock set is designed in a wonderful ‘chinoiserie’ style. This style was inspired by the art of China, and it was very fashionable in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries. The ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
19th Century, French Clock in the Chinoiserie Style
Located in San Francisco, CA
19th century, French clock In the Chinoiserie style. An 8 day pendulum movement that bell strikes on the hour and half hour. Chinese porcelain body in the Kang His style by Samson. T...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Chinoiserie Ormolu and Porcelain Three-Piece Clock Graniture
Located in New York, NY
A very fine antique French chinoiserie, doré bronze, and Imari porcelain three-piece clock graniture. The porcelain is marvelously hand-painted with intricately designed flowers, pea...
Category
1860s French Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Fine 19th C Lacquered Chinoiserie Grandfather Clock by Triggs and Sons London
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine 19th century Chinoiserie hand painted and decorated grandfather clock. The dial signed Triggs and Sons London. Working condition.
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Wood
Oriental Style Gilt Bronze and Champlevé Enamel Clock Set
Located in London, GB
This clock set was designed in France in the late 19th century in a fanciful ‘Oriental’ style. The set is comprised of a mantel clock and a pair of candelabra, all of which have been...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze, Enamel
French Gilt Bronze and Faience Clock Set in the Chinoiserie Style
Located in London, GB
French gilt bronze and faience clock set in the chinoiserie style
French, late 19th century
Clock: Height 52cm, width 43cm, depth 18cm
Candelabra: Height 53cm, width 26cm, depth 1...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Shreve Crump & Low Boston Chinoiserie Decorated Tole Mantel Clock - Swiss Mov't
Located in Atlanta, GA
Swiss, retailed by Shreve Crump & Low Boston circa 1900.
Edwardian mantel clock housed in a bell top case with raised chinoiserie scenes on a yellow ground resting on gilded block ...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Metal, Brass, Steel
Gilt Bronze and Wood Table Clock, Clock Signed Biesta, Paris, circa 1890
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Gilt bronze and wood table clock. Clock signed Biesta, Paris, circa 1890.
Category
1890s French Antique Chinoiserie Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Chinoiserie clocks for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Chinoiserie clocks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage clocks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, asian art and furniture, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Chinoiserie clocks made in a specific country, there are Europe, United Kingdom, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original clocks, popular names associated with this style include Andre Romain Guilmet, Asprey & Garrard Limited, Hamilton & Inches Ltd., and Jaeger-LeCoultre. 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 clocks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $585 and tops out at $48,500 while the average work can sell for $8,725.