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.
Orange and Yellow Lily Tole Wall Lights Italy 1970's
Located in Hastings, GB
A colourful pair of hand painted Lily flower and leaf tole wall lights. In superb vintage condition, these 1970's lights are in full working order and PAT Tested. Price is for the...
Metal
Italian Brass Pagoda Large Sconce
Located in Stamford, CT
1960s Italian brass pagoda sconce. Clear glass panels. Backed in unpainted tin (as shown). Suitable for indoor or covered outdoor areas. Takes one chand...
Brass
Pair of English Chinoiserie Painted Reverse on Glass Giltwood Mirrored Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A fantastic pair of English chinoiserie painted reverse on glass, carved giltwood mirrored two-light sconces. Each is beautifully hand carved and gilt...
Mirror, Giltwood
$4,200 / set
1900's Caldwell Mirror Chinoiserie sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of circa 1900's small gilt bronze Caldwell sconces with mirrored backplate and hand painted chinoiserie design
Bronze
Pair of Gilt Bronze Sconces, Circa 1920, Chinoisant Style.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of gilt bronze sconces, circa 1920, Chinoisant style. A pair of large gilt bronze sconces in the Chinoisant style, Napoleon III style, early 20th century, circa 1920. Dimensio...
Bronze
Antique Carved Wood Monkey Sconces, Metal Palm Fronds, Italy, 1970s
Located in Stamford, CT
Large and substantial pair sconces of monkeys climbing on a palm trees. Carved wood with metal palm fronds. 28" high without harp. 7.5" diameter back ...
Metal
Pair of Chinoiserie Style Silvered Metal Two-Light Rock Crystal Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of silvered metal two-light sconces with backplate in the form of a Chinese vase in three sections of carved rock crystal. The upper section continuing into three rows of over...
Rock Crystal, Metal
Wonderful Vintage Pair Bronze Chinoiserie Figure Crystal Drop Two Light Sconces
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful vintage pair of bronze chinoiserie figure and crystal drop two candelabra light sconces, rewired with new sockets and ready to install.
Crystal, Bronze
Set of 4 Large Figural Chinoiserie Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces, Attributed Caldwell
Located in New York, NY
A Set of Four Extremely Rare Very Large Multi Light Figural Chinoiserie Gilt and Patinated Bronze hand Enameled Wall Sconces, Attributed to Caldwell. This exquisite set of four larg...
Bronze
Pair of 18th Century English Giltwood Chinoiserie Mirrors with Candleholders
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful pair of antique 18th century George II chinoiserie English carved giltwood mirrors with candleholders. These magnificently hand-carved giltwood mirrors are meticulously detailed and adorned with acanthus leaves flourishing throughout the frame with flowers and vines blossoming all around. On each mirror has a double arm gilt metal candleholder held up by acanthus vines growing upwards out of the plane of the mirrors, the primary wood is pine. From an Important and old NYC...
Mirror, Giltwood
Antique Hand-Painted Iron Chinoiserie Sconces, France, 19th Century
Located in Stamford, CT
A substantial and unusual pair of Chinoiserie Palm and Figural Sconces. One figure is wearing red clothing. The other figure is wearing a pink shirt and blue pants. Each is sporting...
Metal, Iron
Set of Four English Chinoiserie Decorated Wall Sconces with Gilt Fittings
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of Four English Chinoiserie Decorated Wall Sconces with Gilt Fittings. Each backplate with raised gilt decoration of Chinese design depicting mountain ranges and palatial homes. ...
Giltwood, Paint
Pair Antique Chinoiserie Gilt Bronze and Painted 3-Light Sconces / Wall Lights
Located in New York, NY
Pair of gilt bronze three-light wall lights in the Chinoiserie style with carved wooden backplates hand-painted with the figures of exotic maidens. With candelabra size sockets and ...
Bronze
$18,000 / set
Antique, Silver Plated Chinoiserie Sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of remarkable, silvered, French wall sconces in the Chinoiserie style. Each with large, pierced screens filled with blossoming lotus flowers surr...
Metal
Large Italian 1970s Gilt Metal Single Wheatsheaf Wall Sconce
Located in London, GB
This large but intricately detailed wheat sheaf wall light was made in Italy in the 1970s. It has 3 lights held on strong curving arms. Crafted with expertise from gilt metal, all th...
Metal
$3,450
H 18 in W 21 in D 5.5 in
Audoux & Minet Nautical 2 Light Sconce with Round Mirror France 1960 Midcentury
By Adrien Audoux and Frida Minnet
Located in Miami, FL
Wall mirror or 2 light sconce with 2 lights designed by Audoux & Minet made in France 1960s. Sturdy rope handwoven and crafted into a round wall mirror and 2 arm light...
Brass
Pair of Glass and Metal Flower Sconces, Italy, 1970s
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Mid-Century Modern Space Age Hollywood Regency italian design pair of flower daisy wall lights lamps sconces in glass and metal chrome. In the mood of Glass Italia, Reggiani, Sciolari, Targetti Sankey, Willy Rizzo, Francesco Buzzi Ceriani, Angelo Brotto for Esperia, Aldo Carlo Nason for Mazzega, Venini, Vistosi, La Murrina, Toni Zuccheri, Fontana Arte, Artemide, Arteluce, Arredoluce, Luigi Caccia Dominioni. Bulbs are not included for US 110...
Metal, Chrome
$3,428 / set
H 17.13 in W 20.48 in D 7.88 in
Pair of Spiral Metal Chrome Sconces by Reggiani. Italy, 1970s
By Reggiani
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Pair of wall lights sconces spiral metal chrome by the editor Reggiani. Can be use vertical or horizontal. Famous manufacture like Sciolari, Targetti, Stilux.
Metal, Chrome
Pair of Italian Giltwood Sconces
Located in Pembroke, MA
Pair of large Italian giltwood sconces in neoclassical style, with crossed flags, bows and arrows, animals and laurel leaves among other detail...
Giltwood
Pair of E. F. Caldwell Lyre Form Bronze Sconces
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This quality pair of Caldwell bronze sconces feature hand painted floral motifs, and gilt rosettes.
Bronze
$10,168 / set
H 53.15 in W 8.86 in D 3.94 in
Large Contemporary Pair of Brass Sconces Geometrical Murano Glass, Italy
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Large pair of sconces wall lights lighting lamps panels or flush mount. Contemporary work, small italian artisanal workshop, few exclusive production. Full brass and Murano glass. In...
Brass
$2,650 / set
H 11.5 in W 9.5 in D 4 in
Wonderful Pair E.F. Caldwell Art Deco Starburst Mirrored Brass Wall Sconces
Located in Roslyn, NY
A beautiful pair of two armed sconces stamped by E. F. Caldwell in brass with wonderful vintage starburst mirror back is sure to make a wonderful addition to your décor. The mirror i...
Brass
$2,250 / set
H 18.5 in W 7.25 in D 6 in
Wonderful Pair Etched Floral Mirror Back Single Light Bronze Caldwell Sconces
Located in Roslyn, NY
Wonderful pair of etched floral mirror back single-light gilt bronze classical sconces with black wood backs, new wiring and sockets, in the manne...
Pair of Mirror Sconces
Located in Seattle, WA
Pair of gilded French mirrors with decorative arms holding a single lamp each.
Mirror
$13,231 / set
H 28.75 in W 8.27 in D 4.73 in
Plexiglass & Brass Large Pair of Cinema Sconces, 1950s, Italy
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Plexiglass & Brass Large Pair of Cinema Sconces, 1950s, Italy Very elegant and rare cinema or theater sconces. They are large wall lamps Manufactured in Italy Lamps are in perfect ...
Glass, Plexiglass
Three Seguso wall lights. Italy c1970
By Seguso
Located in London, GB
Three thick glass wall lights by Seguso. Italy c1970 *Please note the listing says there are two available. The listing is actually for a set of 3 wall lights.
Chrome
Sold
H 20 in W 12.75 in D 14.75 in
1940s Pair Pagoda Wall Lights Sconces Chinoiserie Indoor Outdoor Newly Wired
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
The most amazing pair of vintage 1940s chinoiserie pagoda wall sconces lanterns! These can be used indoors or outdoors. These were rescued from a 19...
Metal
Sold
H 20 in W 12.75 in D 14.75 in
1940s Pair Pagoda Wall Lights Sconces Chinoiserie Indoor Outdoor Newly Wired
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
The most amazing pair of vintage 1940s chinoiserie pagoda wall sconces lanterns! These can be used indoors or outdoors. These were rescued from a 19...
Metal
Pair Antique Chinoiserie Hand-painted Gilt Bronze Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Our pair of antique wall lights in the Chinoiserie style are crafted from gilt metal with wall plates hand-painted with the figures of male and female Chinese figures in a landscape,...
Bronze
Suite of Four Gilt Bronze Sconces, Circa 1920, Chinoisant Style.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Suite of four gilt bronze sconces, circa 1920, Chinoisant style. Suite of four large gilt bronze sconces in the Chinoisant style, Napoleon III style, early 20th century, circa 1920....
Bronze
Sold
H 22 in W 14.5 in D 5 in
Pair of Mid 18th Century French Bronze Chinoiserie and Rococo Style Sconces
Located in Chicago, IL
This exquisite pair of 18th-century Georgian-era French sconces blend Rococo's swirling delicacy with Chinoiserie's opulent shapes, created in polished bronze and featuring a central...
Bronze
Pair of Mid-20th Century Chinoiserie Cast Brass Sconces
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
A pair of Chinoiserie cast brass double-light sconces, mid-20th century. Once electrified, not currently wired. 12" h., 5.75" w., 4.5" d. Whitehall Antiques is a family business tha...
Brass
Pair E F Caldwell Bronze and Semi-Precious Stone Chinese Style Sconces
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
These truly exceptional sconces by E. F. Caldwell are pictured the the Caldwell archives at the Smithsonian in binder 17. They are made of gilt and patinated bronze, and mounted with...
Multi-gemstone, Bronze
Brass Simulated Bamboo Table Lamp with Coolie Shade A very stylish piece
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Brass Simulated Bamboo Table Lamp with Coolie Shade A very pretty piece, the base of the lamp is a chunky column turned to look like giant bamboo The lamp is all working, and the ...
Brass
Pair Chinoiserie Gilt Bronze and Porcelain Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Pair of very fine quality and unusual 19 century French Chinoiserie Gilt Bronze and Porcelain Sconces with Buddha motif.
Bronze
Antique Set Four Gilt Bronze Chinoiserie Wall Sconces, circa 1920
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique set of four wall sconces offers gilt bronze construction with Chinoiserie decorated plaque and double arms terminating in candle lights, circa 1920 Measure - 16.5" x 11...
Bronze
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
Pair of Italian Chinoiserie Sconces by Banci Firenze
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of 1960s Italian wall sconces by Banci Firenze, with parrots and urns. These sconces are made by Banci and are a very similar style and quality to the Parisan light atelier Maison Baguès. Founded in the heart of Florence in 1899 as a workshop to restore chandeliers...
Crystal, Iron