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.
Wonderful Wood Carved Chinoiserie Faux Bamboo Monkey Pagoda Umbrella Chandelier
By Seletti
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Wood Carved Painted White Chinoiserie Faux Bamboo With Seated Monkey Pagoda Below An Umbrella Form 6 Candelabra Light Chandelier Finished At The Bottom With A Carved Tassel
Wood
French Maison Baguès Bronze and Crystal Pagoda Lantern
Located in Houston, TX
French Maison Baguès bronze and crystal pagoda lantern. Stunning French Maison Bagues designed Chinoiserie style bronze and crystal chandelier or lantern in the shape of a pagoda Ou...
Crystal, Bronze
Wonderful Medium Black & Gold Gilt Pagoda Bamboo Chinoiserie Lantern Fixtures
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful medium sized black & gold gilt pagoda bamboo form chinoiserie lantern fixture with 4 candelabra light cluster, each socket with a max of 40 watts. Rewired and ready to i...
Paint
Wonderful White Gold Pagoda Bamboo Chinoiserie Lanterns 3 Fixtures Chandeliers
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful painted white & gold gilt pagoda bamboo form chinoiserie lantern fixture with 4 candelabra light cluster each taking up to a 40 watt bulb. Rewired and ready to install wi...
Metal
Morihiro Sangyo Blanc de Chine Chinoiserie Pendant Swag Light Lantern Chandelier
Located in Dayton, OH
Circa 1950's Morihiro Sangyo pendant / swag light featuring a trio of pierced blanc de chine porcelain lanterns of different shapes, with wooden caps, suspended from a triangular bra...
Brass
Wonderful Pair Chinoiserie Gold Gilt Pagoda Lantern Bell Chandeliers Fixtures
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Pair Of Chinoiserie Gold Gilt Pagoda lantern chandeliers With 3 Candelabra Lights Completely Rewired With Bells On Each Corner, These Fixtures...
Glass
Wonderful 2 Large Navy Blue Gold Gilt Pagoda Bamboo Chinoiserie Lantern Fixtures
Located in Roslyn, NY
Available are 3 wonderful large navy blue gold gilt pagoda bamboo chinoiserie lanterns each with 4-candelabra light fixtures, ready to install with chain and canopy Each lantern sol...
Enamel
Large, Red MCM Asian Kitsch lantern
By Mark Bell
Located in Berkeley, CA
Living large. this one of a kind, rich asian red lantern would cool up just about any room. ( I see it in a kitchen.) 4 x 60 warm LED bulbs included.
Brass, Steel
Divine Large Pair Black & Gold Gilt Pagoda Bamboo Chinoiserie Lanterns Fixtures
Located in Roslyn, NY
A divine large pair of black & gold gilt pagoda bamboo form chinoiserie lanterns, each of the fixtures have been rewired and come with chain canopy and mounting hardware for installa...
Enamel, Iron
Large Chinoiserie Pagoda Mid Century Brass Lantern Light Fixture c. 1950
Located in Saint Louis, MO
This large and majestic mid century pagoda lantern is of the sort aficionados and collectors of Chinoiserie mid century pieces scoop right up. The Asian lantern checks all the boxes....
Metal, Brass
Wonderful Navy Blue Gold Gilt Pagoda Bamboo Chinoiserie Lantern Pair Fixtures
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful medium sized navy blue & gold gilt pagoda bamboo form chinoiserie lantern fixtures with a 4 candelabra light clusters Rewired and ready to install with chain canopy and mounting hardware. Pair lanterns...
Paint
Pagoda Form Chinoiserie Chandelier
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Art Deco Italian red painted iron twelve-light chandelier with a dramatic pagoda form and amber beads around a glass ball. Newly wired.
Iron
Wonderful Gold Gilt Tole Pagoda Bamboo Chinoiserie Lantern Fixture Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Gold Gilt Tole Pagoda Bamboo Form chinoiserie Lantern Fixture With 6 Candelabra Lights And This Beautiful Chandelier Is Decorated With Crystal Beads And Flowers Finished ...
Crystal, Brass
Wonderful Baguès Gold Gilt Pagoda Chinoiserie Rock Crystal Vintage Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Maison Baguès Style Gold Gilt Pagoda / Chinoiserie Form Chandelier Adorned With Alternating Rock Crystal And Crystal Drops And Having A Rock Crystal Center Ball, This Bea...
Crystal, Rock Crystal
Wonderful Pair Baguès Rock Crystal Chinoiserie Gold Gilt Chandeliers Fixtures
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Pair Of Baguès Style Glass Flower And Rock Crystal Drop Chinoiserie Style Hexagon Form With 6 Candelabra Light Chandeliers, *Each Sold Individually Completely Rewired W...
Crystal, Rock Crystal
Chanteloup Lantern Light by David Duncan, Hanging Lantern
By David Duncan
Located in New York, NY
The Chanteloup Lantern by David Duncan Lighting. This artisan crafted, six-sided hanging lantern has been designed in an elegant style. The Chanteloup Lantern features a geometric ga...
Brass
Wonderful Baguès Rock Crystal Chinoiserie Pagoda Gold Gilt Leaf Spray Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Baguès Style Glass Tear Drop And Rock Crystal Chinoiserie Style Leaf Spray Cascading Form Center With 6 Candelabra Lights Chandelier Completely Rewired With New Sockets A...
Crystal, Rock Crystal
Chinoiserie Gold Crystal Chandelier Banci Firenze Italy
Located in Hastings, GB
An exceptionally rare Banci Firenze chandelier, gilt iron frame surmounted with crystal leaves and flowers that sit on spiraling golden gilt arms, to the base sit two solid crystal j...
Crystal, Iron
Wrought Iron Chinoiserie Painted & Gilded 6-Light Chandelier, early 20th cen.
Located in Atlanta, GA
constructed of both wrought and cast iron, painted and gilded, this chandelier features a pagoda shaped top with a scrolling frame with attached leaf forms with a basket bottom, feat...
Iron, Wrought Iron
Enormous, circa 1930, Crystal Pagoda Chandelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Remarkable, grand, crystal and hand-beaded, Sicilian pagoda chandelier featuring protruding turrets and a tiered upper level embellished with cascading, floral form drops. From the f...
Crystal, Metal
Carved Wood Italian Monkey Chandelier
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Carved wood Italian monkey chandelier carved wood five light chandelier with a distressed white washed finish featuring a monkey in pirates attire, ...
Wood
Wonderful Six Light Maison Baguès Rock Crystal Pagoda Chinoiserie Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Six Candelabra Light Maison Baguès Style Rock Crystal Drop Pagoda Form Chinoiserie Chandelier, Rewired With New Sockets And Comes Ready To Install With Chain And Canopy
Rock Crystal, Bronze
Wonderful Baguès Rock Crystal Pagoda Chinoiserie Gold Gilt Chandelier Fixture
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Baguès Style Rock Crystal Two Tier Umbrella Pagoda / Chinoiserie Form With 6 Candelabra Light Chandelier, Completely Rewired With New Sockets Accompanied By Chain And Canopy
Crystal, Rock Crystal
Antique French Chinoiserie Style Ormolu and Chinese Porcelain Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A unique antique French Chinoiserie style chandelier composed of ormolu mounts and Chinese porcelain elements. The chandelier is suspended by four ormolu supports connected with porc...
Bronze
Vintage Boho Garland Faulkner Botanical Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This extraordinary vintage chandelier, attributed to the artisanal work of Garland Faulkner, is a masterful blend of botanical sculpture and Chinoiserie elegance. Crafted from hand-p...
Iron
Wonderful Baguès Gold Gilt Pagoda Chinoiserie Rock Crystal Vintage Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Baguès Style Gold Gilt Pagoda Chinoiserie Form With Rock Crystal & Crystal Drops This Vintage Chandelier Has 8 Candelabra Lights And Comes Ready To Install With Canopy An...
Crystal, Rock Crystal
Chinoiserie Octagonal Mirrored Reverse Hand-Painted Gold Gilt Lantern Pendant
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Chinoiserie Octagonal Mirrored & Reverse Hand Painted Gold Gilt Lantern Pendents With 3 Candelabra Lights.
Mirror
Vintage Swag Crystals Pagoda Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This spectacular vintage chandelier captures the essence of Chinoiserie elegance with its dramatic pagoda-inspired silhouette. The architectural brass cage frame is exquisitely drape...
Crystal, Brass
Vintage Regency Black Pagoda Pendant Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Elevate your interior with the architectural elegance of this striking vintage pagoda pendant. A quintessential example of Hollywood Regency design, this fixture boasts a dramatic, s...
Stone
Wonderful Beaded Rock Crystal Gold Gilt Chinoiserie Pagoda Lantern Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Rock Crystal Drop Gold Gilt Chinoiserie / Pagoda Lantern Form Chandelier Having 4 Candelabra Lights, Completely Rewired With New Sockets. Accompanied By Chain And Canopy
Crystal, Rock Crystal
Vintage Coastal Maitland Smith Patinated Monkey Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning testament to the whimsical and exotic designs of Maitland Smith, this magnificent chandelier is a true work of art. The intricately cast frame, finished with a deep, rich ...
Bronze
Wonderful Vintage Chinoiserie Black Gold Gilt Glass Pagoda Fixture Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
Wonderful Vintage Chinoiserie Style Black & Gold Gilt Trim And Decor 3 Edison Light And Frosted Glass Bottom Panel Pagoda Form Lantern Decorated With Bells Light Fixture Chandelier.
Metal
Wonderful Chinoiserie Pagoda Cobalt Blue White Enameled Glass Lantern Fixture
Located in Roslyn, NY
Wonderful chinoiserie pagoda square cobalt blue white contrast trim enameled paint and glass panel 4-light lantern fixture, completely rewired and re...
Enamel
Rattan Cylinder Pendant Hanging Light or Lantern, 1960s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching Mid-Century Modern cylinder rattan lantern or pendant ceiling lamp, Italy, 1960s. This oriental inspired suspension features two concentric cylinders made of rattan or w...
Wicker, Cane, Rattan
One of a Kind, Art Deco Fine Silvered Bronze Sculptured Pendant Light
Located in Lisse, NL
Amazing quality and aesthetically beautiful six-arm chandelier During the Universal Exhibition in 1889 in Paris people were very much impressed with all that was displayed in the Ch...
Bronze
Custom-Made, "Venezia" Beaded Pagoda Chandelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large, sIlver-hued hand-beaded, six-arm pagoda chandelier from Sicily made exclusively for Antonio's Bella Casa. The center is embellished with generous, facteted crystal drops.
Crystal, Metal
French Louis XVI Baguès Rock Crystal Eight-Light Square Midcentury Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French Louis XVI / Baguès style rock crystal eight candelabra light square midcentury flower basket form chandelier.
Rock Crystal
Pair of French Rattan Pendant Lights or Lanterns, 1960s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of Rattan Pendants or Lanterns with Chinoiserie Accents, France, 1950s-1960s. Pair of Mid-Century Modern rattan hanging lamps or lanterns acce...
Wicker, Cane, Rattan
Italian Chinoiserie Chandelier, White Painted Metal, Bells, 1970s
Located in Stamford, CT
Small intricate chinoiserie chandelier with ball, bells, fretwork and canopy. It requires six chandelier size bulbs.
Metal
19th Century Chinoiserie Decorated Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
A 19th century chinoiserie decorated chandelier possibly Venetian, the pagoda form having six lights with crimson shades, 15" H x 28" W.
Tôle
Antique French Chinoiserie Bronze D' Ore 24 Light Chandelier, Circa 1890.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Chinoiserie Bronze D' Ore 24 Light Chandelier, Circa 1890.
Bronze