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 Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Imperial Dragon Wedding Lantern Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Late 19th- Early 20th century Chinese famille rose porcelain reticulated wedding lantern lamp with central Imperial Dragon motif medallions. The lamp is composed of the porcelain lantern set...
Porcelain
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
$750Sale Price / item|54% Off
Wonderful Pair Black Gold Trim Tole Pagoda Chinoiserie Lanterns Chandeliers
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Pair Of Black & Gold Trim Tole 4 Panel Pagoda Chinoiserie Form Lantern Light Fixtures Each With 4 Rewired Candelabra Sockets, These Chandeliers Come With Chain And Canop...
Metal
$1,350Sale Price / item|27% Off
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
$1,350Sale Price|27% Off
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
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
Wonderful 3 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
Wonderful Chinoiserie Pagoda Octagonal Gold Gilt Lantern Pendant Light Fixture
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Chinoiserie Pagoda Style Octagonal Gold Gilt Lantern Pendant Light Fixture With 3 Candelabra Internal Lights
Metal
$750Sale Price|54% Off
Wonderful White & Gold Trim Tole Pagoda Chinoiserie Lantern Fixture Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful White & Gold Trim Tole 4 Panel Pagoda Chinoiserie Form Lantern Fixture With 4 Rewired Candelabra Sockets, This Chandelier Comes With Chain And Canopy
Metal
1930 French Pagoda Shape Bronze Lantern
Located in New York, NY
Circa 1930 French Pagoda shape bronze small lantern with mini bells on top
Bronze
Pair of French Chinoiserie Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Porcelain Oil Lamps
By Bayeux
Located in London, GB
Each oil lamp in this pair is wrought from gilt bronze and Bayeux porcelain and is designed in the chinoiserie style so prominent in French art during the latter 19th century. Each l...
Ormolu, Bronze
Wonderful Italian Large Gold Gilt Tole Lattice Pagoda Lantern Light Fixture
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Italian Large Gold Gilt Tole Open Lattice Form With Glass Inset Panels Hexagon Shaped, Having 4 Candelabra Light Center Cluster. Lantern Comes With Chain And Canopy Ready...
Metal
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
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
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
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
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
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
Pair of Vintage Pagoda Table Lamps, Lanterns Chinoiserie
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
I just adore these lovely pair of vintage pagoda lantern style table lamps. These will be newly wired prior to shipping. The cord will have an on/off sw...
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
Large Antique Asian Inspired Iron and Steel Lantern, Early 20th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
Highly unusual and large scale, excellent quality Asian inspired antique lantern. Wrought iron and steel with old green paint and frosted glass panels. There is a hinged door that op...
Steel, Iron
Vintage Regency Metal Bamboo Candle Lanterns - Set of 2
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This elegant pair of vintage lanterns perfectly captures the graceful whimsy of the Chinoiserie and Hollywood Regency styles. Crafted from slender white painted metal, the design mim...
Metal
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
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
Chinoiserie Art Deco Period Polychromed Wrought Iron Pendant Chandelier Lantern
Located in Dallas, TX
Chinoiserie art deco period polychromed wrought iron pendant chandelier lantern, the canopy issuing an abstracted calligraphic form hol...
Iron
Antique 19th Century Chinoiserie Bronze Lantern with Painted Mirror and Glass
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique 19th century English Chinoiserie bronze lantern with painted mirror and glass.
Bronze
Large Art Deco White Milk Glass Chandelier, Pendant or Lantern
Located in Plainview, NY
A gorgeous large Art Deco white milk glass handmade chandelier, pendant, or lantern. Handcrafted and having individual panes, the large Art D...
Metal
Pair of Bamboo Rattan Large Drum Pendant Lights / Lanterns
Located in Barcelona, ES
A cool pair of handcrafted rattan drum shaped ceiling suspension lamps with inner paper lampshades. France, 1960s These large lanterns have an...
Bamboo, Wicker, Cane, Rattan, Paper
1930 French Pagoda Shape Bronze Lantern
Located in New York, NY
Circa 1930 French Pagoda shape bronze small lantern with mini bells on top
Bronze
$1,669 / set
H 16 in W 4 in D 4 in
Antique Pair Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Ormolu Table Lamps Blue Green Gilt
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An Exceptionally Fine Pair of Cantonese Hand Decorated Porcelain Oil Lamps with ornate Ormolu bases now converted to Electric Table Lamps, of medium proportions, (see last image in s...
Ormolu
Pair of 19th Century Tole Lanterns
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair of painted tole lanterns.
Tôle
$960Sale Price|80% Off
H 37 in Dm 18 in
Art Deco Style White Milk Glass Handmade Chandelier, Pendant or Lantern
Located in Plainview, NY
A Large Art Deco white milk glass handmade chandelier, pendant lantern, Gorgeously handcrafted, having individual panes. The hanging lantern or ceiling fixture features sandblasted f...
Metal
$2,975
H 29.5 in Dm 20.5 in
Rare Oriental Style Chinese Pagoda Shape Arts & Crafts Brass Pendant or Lantern
Located in Lisse, NL
One of a kind, early 1900s Arts and Crafts light fixture. This antique and extraordinary pendant is another one of our recent, great fin...
Brass
$4,615
H 57 in Dm 15.6 in
Wonderful Late Victorian Bronze and Stain Leaded Glass Pendant Light / Lantern
Located in Lisse, NL
Kindly note that we arrange the shipping ourselves to ensure a smooth, secure, and reliable delivery. This allows us to provide the best possible service and care for your purchase. Stunning design and amazing colors Victorian pendant light...
Bronze
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
Painted Tole Venetian Lantern
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1920's painted and gilt tole Venetian lantern with glass panels and original patina. Measurements: Min Drop: 22" Diameter: 12".
Metal
Wonderful French Pagoda Gilt Rock Crystal Maison Baguès 8 Light Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French Pagoda form gold gilt with rock crystal & faceted crystal pendents in the manner of Maison Baguès chandelier having 8 candelabra light...
Crystal, Rock Crystal
A Pagoda Lantern - Maison Baguès – France, 1970s
By Maison Charles, Maison Baguès, Maison Jansen
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
An elegant and highly decorative gilt bronze and brass pagoda-form lantern, attributed to the celebrated Maison Baguès. Dating from the 1970s, this exquisite piece showcases the exc...
Brass, Bronze
Sold
H 26 in W 14 in D 14 in
Fine Medium Navy Blue & Gold Gilt Pagoda Bamboo Chinoiserie Lantern Fixture
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful medium sized navy blue & gold gilt pagoda bamboo form chinoiserie lantern fixture with 4 candelabra light cluster. Rewired and ready to install with chain canopy and mou...
Paint
Sold
H 25 in W 14 in D 14 in
Wonderful Red Lacquered Pagoda Bamboo Chinoiserie Lantern Fixture Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful red Lacquered pagoda bamboo form chinoiserie style lantern with a 4-candelabra light center cluster, ready to install with chain and canopy
Metal, Enamel
Sold
H 25 in W 14 in D 14 in
Wonderful Red Lacquered Pagoda Bamboo Chinoiserie Lantern Fixture Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful red Lacquered pagoda bamboo form chinoiserie style lantern with a 4-candelabra light center cluster, ready to install with chain and canopy
Enamel, Metal
Sold
H 18.5 in W 12.5 in D 12.5 in
1960s Chinese Pagoda Hanging Lantern Pendant Light Chinoiserie Chandelier
Located in Dayton, OH
Circa 1960's black metal single light, hanging lantern / pendant light. Pagoda style lantern with a pierced chinoiserie cage around a white glass hurricane shade. Dimensions: 12.5" ...
Metal
Late 20th Century chinoiserie Cast Iron Pagoda Lanterns Pair
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
Pair of Late 20th Century cast iron pagoda lanterns with a stunning verdigris patina. These intricate lanterns feature detailed cut-out design...
Iron
An English Tole Pagoda Form Lantern
Located in New York, NY
An English tole pagoda form chinoiserie lantern. With a two-tiered roof having splayed upswept corner elements with carved giltwood tassel drops. The frame having painted faux bamboo...
Brass
Sold
H 32 in W 20 in D 20 in
Wonderful Large Vintage Chinoiserie Tole Turquoise Bamboo Pagoda Lantern Fixture
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Large Vintage Chinoiserie Tole Turquoise With Gold Gilt Trim And Faux Bamboo Center 4 Candelabra Light Cluster Pagoda Form Lantern Fixture. Actual Measurements Of The Fix...
Metal
Sold
H 26 in W 14 in D 14 in
Wonderful Medium Black & Gold Gilt Pagoda Bamboo Chinoiserie Lantern Fixture
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...
Paint
Sold
H 26 in W 14.5 in D 14.5 in
Wonderful White & Gold Gilt Pagoda Bamboo Chinoiserie Lantern Fixture Chandelier
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 w...
Metal
Late 20th Century Faux Bamboo Metal Pagoda Style Fixture
Located in Malibu, CA
Vintage faux bamboo chinoiserie pagoda style metal fixture ready for hardwiring. The fixture is 15.5 at the top & 13" round at the base which has 3 center candle lights. The chain ...
Metal
Sold
H 16 in W 7 in D 6 in
Set of Sconces with Vintage Decoupage Rice Paper Walnut and Teak Wall Light
Located in Lomita, CA
This set of sconces is architectural in appearance with walnut and teakwood details. The pair offers form and function with a warm light source and loads of chic design. Each fixture...
Wood, Teak, Paper
Sold
H 28 in W 16 in D 16 in
Wonderful Large Hand Painted Tole Pagoda Octagonal Chinoiserie Lantern Fixture
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful large hand painted tole pagoda octagonal glass insert chinoiserie style lantern fixture With A 3 Light Candelabra Cluster.
Glass