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.
$361Sale Price|20% Off
China Set of Three Silk Hand Painted Rigid Fans 'Pay-Pay', circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Set of 3 delicate silk hand painted rigid fans (Pay-Pay) from China with floral and birds decoration. China End of 19th beginning of the 20th century. Some tiny holes in the silk...
Silk, Wood
Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Frame
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Black and gold lacquer. Beautiful chinoiserie art along the frame.
Bamboo
$3,793
Chinoiserie Palm Oval
Located in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset
A carved gilt-wood Chippendale crossed palm frame, with inset hand painted chinoiserie portraits of 18th Century oriental nobility. Please note we are currently working to a 30-36 w...
Giltwood
Black Chinoiserie Square Frame
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Our large, square black Chinoiserie frame was handcrafted by Kipper in our shop. Design/style is originated from China. Absolutely stunning hand painted figures of a traditional ser...
Bamboo
Black Chinoiserie Concave Frame
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Concave Frame and Mirror, Gold and Black figures of traditional serene garden motif with pagodas, palms and bamboo that pop. Bow ties on the frame keep it solid
Bamboo, Maple
Black Chinoiserie Frame, Birds, Tiger, Floral
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Raised chinoiserie with classic motif of tiger hunt theme, flowers and birds.
Bamboo, Wood
Vintage Antique Large Chinese Asian Carved Jade Floral Bronze Picture Frame
Located in Roslyn, NY
A vintage / antique large Chinese Asian carved jade floral pattern bronze picture frame.
Jade, Bronze
Vintage Faux Bamboo Metal Picture Frames - Set of 2
Located in Charleston, SC
Vintage Gilded Faux Bamboo Metal Picture Frames Chinoiserie Hollywood Regency Beautiful Chinoiserie faux bamboo metal picture frames. Faux bamboo metal in excellent condition. Ni...
Metal
Chinese Silk Table Screen with Intricately Carved Stand
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Chinese Silk Table Screen with Intricately Carved Stand The beautiful double sided painted silk panel shows a boat in the river and a bridge, the framed panel can be lifted out The...
Silk
$786 / set
H 18.5 in W 18.5 in D 1 in
Pair of Early 20th Century Framed Chinese Silk Embroidered Panels
Located in Germantown, MD
Pair of Early 20th Century Framed Chinese Silk Embroidered Panels, Feature a stitched rendering of a immortals enveloped with flowers and a l...
Silk, Wood
$466
H 8.27 in W 6.3 in D 0.79 in
Medea Picture Frame in Black Lacquered Wood and Corno Italiano, Mod. 5314s
Located in Recanati, Macerata
Handcrafted from wood with lacquered black gloss finish, Medea picture frame excels luxury and elegance with its detailing in Corno Italiano, whose remarkable natural nuances will le...
Wood, Lacquer
$580
H 9.45 in W 7.49 in D 0.79 in
Medea Picture Frame in Black Lacquered Wood and Corno Italiano, Mod. 5315s
Located in Recanati, Macerata
Handcrafted from wood with lacquered black gloss finish, Medea picture frame excels luxury and elegance with its detailing in Corno Italiano, whose remarkable natural nuances will le...
Wood, Lacquer
Gilded Metal Palm Leaf Photo Frame, Large Model.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Gilded metal palm leaf photo frame, large model. Show off your favourite photos in this palm-style photo frame, featuring a distinctive woven palm leaf motif. Made from high-quality...
Metal
$2,258
H 0.99 in W 3.94 in D 3.94 in
Sterling Silver Gold-Plated Square Photo Frame with Translucent Enamel Salimbeni
By Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Square photo frame in 9251000 sterling silver gold-plated with translucent fired enamel on guilloché. Modern contemporary style. Cut glass. Blue velvet panel. External dimensions 10...
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
$1,130
H 13.78 in W 13.78 in D 9.85 in
Midcentury Tommaso Barbi Burl and Chrome Square Picture Frame, Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Astonishing midcentury chromed brass and burl square photo frame. This beautiful piece was designed in Italy in the 1970s by Tomaso Barbi and is als...
Metal, Chrome
$1,100Sale Price / set|50% Off
H 21.5 in W 21.5 in D 1 in
Pair of 19th Century Framed Chinese Silk Embroideries
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Pair of framed Chinese silk embroideries from the 19th century with supporting documents from Hong Kong. Each piece is approximately 15 ...
Brass
Chinese Silk Embroidered Panels
Located in Tampa, FL
This elegant pair of Chinese panels features richly embroidered and embossed silk, showcasing refined craftsmanship and intricate surface detail. The textiles are beautifully present...
Silk
Rare Chinese Yun Jian Embroidered Silk Cloud Collar, circa 1880
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An exceptional and rare antique Chinese Yun Jian embroidered silk cloud collar dating from circa 1880. The collar is beautifully hand embroidered on colored s...
Silk
Vintage Palm Wood Framed Photograph from Cambodia
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
A vintage photograph from Cambodia framed in a palm wood & glass frame. Dimensions: Height 38cm x Width 27cm x Depth 0.05cm.
Glass, Wood
$2,680 / set
H 26.5 in W 10.95 in D 1.58 in
PAIR OF 19TH CENTURY CHINESE BiRD & FLOWERS GOLD SILVER STITCH SILK EMBROIDERIES
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning pair of original circa 1880 Chinese gold and silver threaded tapestry on silk depicting Chines...
Silk
$821 / item
H 9.06 in W 6.7 in D 0.79 in
Dafne Picture Frame in Corno Italiano and Glossy Black Lacquered Wood, Mod. 872
Located in Recanati, Macerata
The most distinctive way to display your treasured photo memories, Dafne picture frame is crafted from natural Corno Italiano and sports desirable white, cream, and brown nuances. Co...
Wood, Lacquer
1920s Japanese Black Lacquer Picutre Frames
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
Set of two 1920s Japanese black lacquer picture frames. These frames are made from wood, and are decorated with gold crane birds and reeds. Inside is a white satin backdrop, and glas...
Glass, Wood
European Pagoda & Phoenix Embroidery Fragment, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This antique embroidery fragment offers a Western interpretation of Chinese art styles and traditions. Densely stitched atop off-white silk, the embroidered scene depicts a tiered pa...
Silk
Faux Bamboo Brass Easel Photo Frame Holder
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful tall brass faux bamboo easel photo frame holder. We love the idea of using this piece to display favorite books or photos on a dresser, s...
Brass
Large Chinoiserie Ebonized & Gilt Decorated Wall Mirror, Circa 1950
Located in Big Flats, NY
A large Chinoiserie wall mirror offers shaped and ebonized frame having gilt central figure of a wise man and allover foliate elements, c1950 Measures - 44.75'' H x 27'' W x 1.5'' D...
Mirror
Chinoiserie Enamel Decorated Vermillion Red Wall Mirror 20th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
A Chinoiserie decorated wall mirror offers shaped form with Vermillion red frame having hand enameled foliate and lattice elements encasing a beveled mi...
Enamel
Sold
H 14.25 in W 17.5 in D 0.75 in
Grand Millennial Chinoiserie Blue Lacquered Faux Bamboo Hanging Photo Frame
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A grand millennial's dream, this faux bamboo picture frame is perfect for displaying a treasured photograph. Hexagonal in shape, this piece ...
Plastic, Paint
Sold
H 17 in W 13.75 in D 0.75 in
Vintage Antique Large Chinese Asian Carved Jade Floral Bronze Picture Frame
Located in Roslyn, NY
A vintage / antique large Chinese Asian carved jade floral pattern bronze picture frame.
Jade, Bronze
Sold
H 38.5 in W 24.5 in D 1.5 in
Chinoiserie Ebonized and Gilt Decorated Parclose Wall Mirror, 20th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
European parclose wall mirror features ebonized chinoiserie decorated frame with gilt foliate and scroll decoration, internal panels frames by brass rods, 20th century. Measures: ...
Brass
Large Painting of a Japanese Geisha by Philip Standish Read
By Philip Standish Read
Located in Montreal, QC
Large oil on canvas picturing a Japanese Geisha by Philip Standish Read.
Paint