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.
Antique Pair of Chinese Yellow Ground Porcelain Miniature Vases
Located in New York, NY
Lovely pair of miniature Chinese yellow ground porcelain vases with applied plum blossom trees and butterflies. Each Stand on circular rosewood b...
Porcelain
Tall Chinoiserie Cobalt Blue Ceramic Vase with Floral and Bird Motif
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A tall ceramic chinoiserie vase in cobalt blue. We don't often come across deep blue chinoiserie vases, so when we do, we snap them up! This piec...
Ceramic, Paint
Ceramic Famille Verte Green Ceramic Chinoiserie Floral Motif Gord Vases, a Pair
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A pair of ceramic famille verte green chinoiserie vases. Glazed in a beautiful deep green, and decorated with a floral motif of pink chrysanthemums,...
Ceramic, Paint
Pair of Vintage Reverse Painting Art Snuff Bottles
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful pair of artistic vintage reverse painted snuff bottles with 2 different designs featuring cats. The large bottle has a rectangular shape with a triangular profile. The sm...
Glass, Paint
$361,573 / set
H 84.26 in W 27.56 in D 27.56 in
Pair Antique Very Large Chinese Porcelain Vases French Gold Ormolu Stands
Located in London, GB
Pair Antique Very Large Chinese Porcelain Vases French Gold Ormolu Stands Porcelain: Chinese, 18th Century Ormolu: French, Late 19th Century Vases...
Ormolu
Snuff Bottles Four Zodiac Animals Reverse Painted
Located in Somis, CA
Our snuff bottles are topped with gemstone grade agate lids and 100% hand painted from within. The Chinese art of églomisé uses a very thin bamboo brush with a few strands of hair to...
Agate
Chinese Daoist Monumental Snuff Bottle with Immortals, 1930-50
Located in Lomita, CA
A large Chinese glass snuff bottle decorated with the auspicious figures of Fu, Lu, and Shou, representing prosperity, rank, and longevity—a classical theme in Chinese decorative art...
Enamel
Chinese Blue and White Snuff Bottle, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A mixture of finely powdered tobacco, herbs, and spices, snuff was introduced to China in the 17th century by Western diplomats. Initially reserved for ranking members of Qing-dynast...
Porcelain
$350Sale Price|22% Off
H 3.25 in W 2.75 in D 0.75 in
Antique French Quimper Faience Snuff or Perfume Bottle Dated 1900
Located in Pearland, TX
A lovely antique French Quimper faience flat round snuff bottle / secouette / perfume bottle / flacon hand painted by French artisans. This is a highly collectible and rare dated 190...
Faience
Chinese Grey Agate Snuff Bottle, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A mixture of finely powdered tobacco, herbs, and spices, snuff was introduced to China in the 17th century by Western diplomats. Initially reserved for ranking members of Qing-dynast...
Agate
Mid-Century Chinese Hand Painted Porcelain Famille Verte Vase
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a table or a console with this colorful antique porcelain vase. Crafted in China circa 1950, the important Family Verte vessel is round in shape decorated with a wide neck a...
Porcelain
Pair Chinese Famille Verte vases / lamps, circa 1880
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very decoration and stylish pair of late 19th Century Chinese Famille Verte vases, having inset hand painted panels depicting Classical Chinese interior scenes, set among floral an...
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Porcelain Famille Verte Vases, circa 1840
Located in New York, NY
Depicting phoenix birds in flight.
Porcelain
Vintage Chinese Cinnabar Carved Lacquer Vase with Floral & Bird Motifs
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
A beautifully carved vintage Chinese cinnabar lacquer vase featuring intricate floral and foliate reliefs arranged around a finely patterned geometric background. The vase displays r...
Brass, Enamel
$628
H 21.46 in W 14.97 in D 14.97 in
Large Decorative Chinese Painted Vase with Floral and Bird Motif
Located in Hong Kong, HK
This elegant porcelain vase features a tall, narrow neck and a rounded body, beautifully adorned with a detailed painted scene. The artwork depicts two cranes standing beneath a blos...
Ceramic
$38,800 / set
H 20.5 in Dm 9 in
Pair 19th C. French Ormolu-Mounted Chinese Famille Verte Porcelain Covered Vases
Located in New York, NY
A Large Pair of 19th Century French Ormolu-Mounted Chinese Famille Verte Porcelain Covered Vases/Pot-Pouries, with Daoist Emblem Cartouches. Each vase is made of famille verte porc...
Bronze
Set of Six English Chinoiserie Black and Gilt-Painted Tole Tea Canisters
Located in New York, NY
Each of cylindrical form with domed lid, elaborately decorated in vibrant polychrome with Mandarin figures in brightly-colored dress in exotic landscape settings, set between broad g...
Metal
Sold
H 4.25 in W 4 in D 1.5 in
Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Opium Parfum Made in France Collectible Bottle 1980's
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Opium Parfum made in France Collectible Bottle 1980's This is vintage, hard to find, discontinued, collectible per...
Bakelite
Sold
H 3.82 in Dm 2.69 in
Early Pair of Mason's Scent Bottles or Small Vases in Fence Japan Ptn circa 1825
By C.J. Mason 1
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
These are a beautiful pair of small vases or scent bottles made in porcelain by Mason's (C J Mason) of Lane Delph, Staffordshire Potteries, England. They are hand decorated in the...
Porcelain
Chinese Snuff Bottle in Cameo or Overlay Glass, Circa 1920
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very good Chinese cameo or overlay glass snuff bottle, which we date to the earlier part of the 20th century, circa 1920. These overlay glass cameo snuff bottles are very ...
Glass
Sold
H 12 in W 7.5 in D 5 in
Pair of Antique Copeland Spode Chintz Pattern Chinoiserie Style Cover Vases
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Fabulous pair of cover vases in a classic chintz pattern. Transfer printed green background surmounted by wonderful exotic asiatic birds, flowers and butterflies. Makers mark o...
Ceramic
Sold
H 3.82 in Dm 2.69 in
Early Pair of Mason's Scent or Perfume Bottles in Fence Japan pattern, Ca 1825
By C.J. Mason 1
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
These are a beautiful pair of scent or perfume bottles made in porcelain by Mason's ( C J Mason) of Lane Delph, Staffordshire Potteries, England. They are decorated in the Fence Jap...
Porcelain
Chinese Snuff Bottle, Natural Agate, Hand-Carved, circa 1930
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a good and very decorative Chinese snuff bottle from the 20th century, circa 1930. The bottle is made of hand-carved agate which is a natural hard stone. This agate has an...
Agate, Metal