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.
$2,819Sale Price|20% Off
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.
Wood
$4,950Sale Price|20% Off
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...
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...
Bronze
$36,375Sale Price / set|33% Off
Very Fine 19th Century French Chinoiserie Silver and Gilt Three-Piece Garniture
Located in Tarzana, 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...
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...
Ormolu
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. ...
Wood
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.
Bronze
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)
Metal
$19,500 / set
H 20 in W 15 in D 10 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...
Bronze, Ormolu
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...
Porcelain
Fine Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Antique French Clock Set
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A stunning antique French ormolu clock set, circa 1870, mounted with exquisite Sèvres style porcelain with Rose Pompadour pink ground. Pan...
Ormolu
Antique French Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Clock
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
Antique French Ormolu and Sèvres Porcelain Clock ~ French - Circa 1850 ~ ~~ Excellent condition, fully overhauled ~~ A fine and early ormolu ...
Marble, Ormolu
$5,880
H 1 in W 17 in D 9.5 in
Antique Chinese Hand Paint Gold Lacquer Scene Gilt Fan with Lacquer Box
Located in Brea, CA
19th century antique Chinese hand painted gold lacquer scene gilt fan 100 faces with original lacquer box, fan is 17 inch x 9.5 x 1, the lacquer fan box is 10....
Lacquer
$20,342 / set
H 25.6 in W 16.93 in D 8.67 in
Sèvres Style Porcelain Mounted Ormolu Three-Piece Clock Set by H. Picard
By Henri Picard
Located in London, GB
Comprising a central clock and a pair of flanking candelabra, the clock with central circular dial signed 'PICARD / A GENEVE', surrounded by three ormolu cherubs and two porcelain pl...
Ormolu
Renaissance Style Gilt Bronze and Enamel Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Renaissance style gilt bronze and enamel mantel clock French, late 19th century Measures: Height 53cm, width 28cm, depth 23cm This exquisite mantel clock is crafted in the idios...
Ormolu, Bronze, Enamel
French Bronze Chinoiserie Clock, circa 1880
Located in New York, NY
French bronze chinoiserie clock, circa 1880.
Bronze
$1,500
H 15.36 in W 35.83 in D 15.16 in
Japanese Antique Table, Desk, Double-sleeved desk, Wabi-Sabi, Early 20th Century
Located in Katori-Shi, 12
This antique Japanese table was produced in the Taisho period (1912-1926). This is a double-sleeved desk whose lacquer has gained a deep flavo...
Wood
Fine Sevres Porcelain and Ormolu Antique French Clock
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A fine, early antique French clock by André Hoffmann of Paris, the movement by Vincenti et Cie, circa 1850. It is beautifully made in ormolu (fir...
Ormolu
$3,280
H 19 in W 16.75 in D 9 in
19th Century Antique Hand Painted Chinese Lacquer Table Jewelry Cabinet
By The Lacquer Company
Located in Brea, CA
19th century antique hand painted Chinese lacquer jewelry cabinet with a pair of raised panel doors opening to five drawers with turned ivory...
Lacquer
Sold
H 6.675 in W 6.675 in D 4 in
Vintage Mid Century Chelsea Desk Clock Electronometer Chinoiserie Bronze Frame
Located in Atlanta, GA
A striking example of mid-20th century American horology and decorative arts, this electric mantel clock by the Chelsea Clock Company features a vividly executed chinoiserie-style ca...
Bronze
Sold
H 11.25 in W 6 in D 4 in
19th Century English Chinoiserie Revival Mahogany Inlaid Pagoda-Top Mantel Clock
Located in Atlanta, GA
Late 19th Century English Chinoiserie Revival Mahogany Pagoda-Top Mantel Clock with Gilt Bronze Mounts An elegant and finely crafted English mantel clock, dating to the late 19th ce...
Bronze
Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos Marina Clock Chinoiserie Design
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 ...
Metal, Gold, Brass
Sold
H 9.5 in W 6 in D 3.75 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...
Glass, Wood
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.
Enamel
Sold
H 15 in W 11 in D 4.5 in
French Chinoiserie/Orientalist Champleve Enamel & Bronze Clock, F. Barbediene
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 ...