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Chinoiserie Table Clocks and Desk 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
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 Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood

Red Chinoiserie Table Clock, French
Red Chinoiserie Table Clock, French

Red Chinoiserie Table Clock, French

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 Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood

Antique Table Desk Clock, Painted, Chinoiserie, China Art
Antique Table Desk Clock, Painted, Chinoiserie, China Art

Antique Table Desk Clock, Painted, Chinoiserie, China Art

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 Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Very Fine 19th Century French Chinoiserie Silver and Gilt Three-Piece Garniture
Very Fine 19th Century French Chinoiserie Silver and Gilt Three-Piece Garniture

Very Fine 19th Century French Chinoiserie Silver and Gilt Three-Piece Garniture

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 Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Chinoiserie Style Gilt-Bronze and Enamel Figural Clock
Chinoiserie Style Gilt-Bronze and Enamel Figural Clock

Chinoiserie Style Gilt-Bronze and Enamel Figural Clock

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 Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

19th Century, French Clock in the Chinoiserie Style
19th Century, French Clock in the Chinoiserie Style

19th Century, French Clock in the Chinoiserie Style

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 Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Antique French Chinoiserie Ormolu and Porcelain Three-Piece Clock Graniture
Antique French Chinoiserie Ormolu and Porcelain Three-Piece Clock Graniture

Antique French Chinoiserie Ormolu and Porcelain Three-Piece Clock Graniture

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 Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Gilt Bronze and Wood Table Clock, Clock Signed Biesta, Paris, circa 1890
Gilt Bronze and Wood Table Clock, Clock Signed Biesta, Paris, circa 1890

Gilt Bronze and Wood Table Clock, Clock Signed Biesta, Paris, circa 1890

Related Items
Jules Vieillard Chinoiserie Mantel Clock
Located in Queens, NY
French (Mid-19th Century) Chinoiserie design faience 6-sided mantel clock with foo dog top and elephant heads on sides. (by JULES VIEILLARD, Bordeau France) (Not working)
Category

19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Metal

Jules Vieillard Chinoiserie Mantel Clock
Jules Vieillard Chinoiserie Mantel Clock

Jules Vieillard Chinoiserie Mantel Clock

H 16.5 in W 11 in D 3.5 in
French Bronze Chinoiserie Clock, circa 1880
Located in New York, NY
French bronze chinoiserie clock, circa 1880.
Category

1880s French Antique Chinoiserie Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

French Bronze Chinoiserie Clock, circa 1880
French Bronze Chinoiserie Clock, circa 1880

French Bronze Chinoiserie Clock, circa 1880

H 24 in W 11 in D 9 in
Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Three Piece Sèvres Style Clock Set
Located in Long Island City, NY
Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Three Piece Cobalt Blue Sèvres Style Clock Set Comprising: a round clock with a final with two birds; a pair of five-light candleabra with sc...
Category

19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Three Piece Sèvres Style Clock Set
Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Three Piece Sèvres Style Clock Set

Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Three Piece Sèvres Style Clock Set

H 20 in W 15 in D 10 in
19th Century French Green Glazed Pot
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
French 19th Century green glazed pot with handles. Circa 1890.
Category

19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Ceramic

19th Century French Green Glazed Pot
19th Century French Green Glazed Pot

19th Century French Green Glazed Pot

H 11.82 in W 10.24 in D 10.24 in
19th Century French Blue & White Pagoda Plate Creil et Montereau
By Creil et Montereau
Located in Austin, TX
19th Century French Blue & White Pagoda Plate signed Creil et Montereau. 8.7 inches diameter.
Category

1880s French Antique Chinoiserie Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Ceramic, Faience

19th Century French Blue & White Pagoda Plate Creil et Montereau
19th Century French Blue & White Pagoda Plate Creil et Montereau

19th Century French Blue & White Pagoda Plate Creil et Montereau

H 1.2 in Dm 8.7 in
Antique Enameled Gilt Bronze Carriage Clock
Located in London, GB
The contrast between rich blue enamel, in light and dark hues, and bright gilt bronze gives this carriage clock a sumptuous, luxurious feel. With a t...
Category

19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze

Antique Enameled Gilt Bronze Carriage Clock
Antique Enameled Gilt Bronze Carriage Clock

Antique Enameled Gilt Bronze Carriage Clock

H 7.88 in W 4.34 in D 3.94 in
Han Dynasty, Antique Chinese Painted Pottery Jar
Located in Sampantawong, TH
Chinese painted pottery jar. Age: China, Han Dynasty, 206 B.C. - A.D.220 Size: height 28.3 cm. / width 25.5 cm Condition: Well-preserved o...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Pottery

Han Dynasty, Antique Chinese Painted Pottery Jar
Han Dynasty, Antique Chinese Painted Pottery Jar

Han Dynasty, Antique Chinese Painted Pottery Jar

H 11.15 in Dm 10.04 in
19th Century French Blue & White Pagoda Plate Creil et Montereau
By Creil et Montereau
Located in Austin, TX
19th Century French Blue & White Pagoda Plate signed Creil et Montereau. 8.7 inches diameter.
Category

1880s French Antique Chinoiserie Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Ceramic, Faience

19th Century French Blue & White Pagoda Plate Creil et Montereau
19th Century French Blue & White Pagoda Plate Creil et Montereau

19th Century French Blue & White Pagoda Plate Creil et Montereau

H 1.2 in Dm 8.7 in
Edwardian Chinoiserie Decorated French Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
Edwardian arch top mantel clock standing on brass ball feet with chinoiserie decoration on a red ground. Enamel dial with Arabic numerals and original ‘blued’ steel hands. Eigh...
Category

1910s French Vintage Chinoiserie Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood

Edwardian Chinoiserie Decorated French Mantel Clock
Edwardian Chinoiserie Decorated French Mantel Clock

Edwardian Chinoiserie Decorated French Mantel Clock

H 6.75 in W 5 in D 3 in
19th Century French Ceramic Pot from the Savoie Region
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
19th Century ceramic pot from the Savoie region of France. With good patina and colour. Originally used for conserving food with salt. Circa 1880.
Category

19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Ceramic

19th Century French Ceramic Pot from the Savoie Region
19th Century French Ceramic Pot from the Savoie Region

19th Century French Ceramic Pot from the Savoie Region

H 11.82 in
Antique German Three Piece Porcelain Clock Garniture
Located in Montreal, QC
For those who enjoy the fine quality of blue and white German porcelain from the middle of the last century, this is a particularly fin...
Category

1880s German Antique Chinoiserie Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Porcelain

Antique German Three Piece Porcelain Clock Garniture
Antique German Three Piece Porcelain Clock Garniture

Antique German Three Piece Porcelain Clock Garniture

H 17 in W 9.5 in D 6 in
1930s French Art Deco Table Clock in Red Parchment
Located in Milan, IT
1930s Original French Art Deco Table Clock in Red Parchment, It works perfectly.
Category

1930s French Vintage Chinoiserie Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood

1930s French Art Deco Table Clock in Red Parchment
1930s French Art Deco Table Clock in Red Parchment

1930s French Art Deco Table Clock in Red Parchment

H 8.67 in W 13.39 in D 2.37 in
Previously Available Items
Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos Marina Clock Chinoiserie Design
By Jaeger-LeCoultre
Located in Newark, England
Fine and rare Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos Marina clock. The clock from the Marina series in white Lucite featuring Chinoiserie panels with a figure fishing ...
Category

1960s Swiss Vintage Chinoiserie Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Metal, Gold, Brass

Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos Marina Clock Chinoiserie Design
Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos Marina Clock Chinoiserie Design

Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos Marina Clock Chinoiserie Design

H 9.06 in W 7.09 in D 5.52 in
Petite English Asprey London 1930s Painted Wood Chinoiserie Mantel Clock
By Asprey International Limited
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English Asprey London painted wood mantel clock from the mid 20th century, with gilt Chinoiserie motifs and pagoda roof. Created in England during the second quarter of the 20th c...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Chinoiserie Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Glass, Wood

Petite English Asprey London 1930s Painted Wood Chinoiserie Mantel Clock
Petite English Asprey London 1930s Painted Wood Chinoiserie Mantel Clock

Petite English Asprey London 1930s Painted Wood Chinoiserie Mantel Clock

H 9.5 in W 6 in D 3.75 in
Vintage Chinese Cloisonne Mantle Clock
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice little Mantle clock. Cloisonne and Brass made. China 1970s battery operated. Runs like clockwork. Attractive piece.
Category

1970s Chinese Vintage Chinoiserie Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Enamel

Vintage Chinese Cloisonne Mantle Clock
Vintage Chinese Cloisonne Mantle Clock

Vintage Chinese Cloisonne Mantle Clock

H 11.82 in W 5.71 in D 4.53 in
French Chinoiserie/Orientalist Champleve Enamel & Bronze Clock, F. Barbediene
By F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in New York, NY
A very fine quality antique French Orientalist/Chinoiserie Style, Chamleve Enamel and doré bronze double sided clock, signed by Ferdinand Barbedienne. It is very rare to see a clock ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

French Chinoiserie/Orientalist Champleve Enamel & Bronze Clock, F. Barbediene
French Chinoiserie/Orientalist Champleve Enamel & Bronze Clock, F. Barbediene

French Chinoiserie/Orientalist Champleve Enamel & Bronze Clock, F. Barbediene

H 15 in W 11 in D 4.5 in

Chinoiserie table clocks and desk clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Chinoiserie table clocks and desk clocks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage table clocks and desk 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 table clocks and desk clocks made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and United Kingdom pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original table clocks and desk clocks, popular names associated with this style include Andre Romain Guilmet, and Hamilton & Inches Ltd.. 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 table clocks and desk clocks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,450 and tops out at $48,500 while the average work can sell for $2,588.

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