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 1920s Art Deco Chinese Nichols Rug in Sage Green & Plum Floral Design
Located in Norwalk, CT
An exquisite piece of 1920s Art Deco luxury, this authentic antique Chinese Nichols-style wool rug features an ethereal sage green field framed by a rich plum and aubergine border. E...
Wool
1920s Antique Chinese Art Deco Indigo Blue Wool Rug with Birds and Butterflies
Located in Norwalk, CT
Elevate your interior with this striking antique Chinese Art Deco wool rug, dating back to the 1920s. Masterfully hand-knotted, it features a rich, luminous royal indigo blue field t...
Wool
Antique Art Deco Chinese Nichols Style Rug - Mandarin Orange & Indigo 10x14
Located in Norwalk, CT
This striking antique Chinese wool rug showcases a vibrant mandarin orange field typical of the Art Deco movement. It features a bold indigo blue medallion with a classic Greek Key b...
Wool
Zabihi Collection Chinese Art Deco Small Rug
Located in New York, NY
Chinese Nichols art deco scatter size rug in pretty pinks and greens Measures: 3' x 4'9".
Wool
1920s Antique Chinese Art Deco Rug Floral & Bird Motif in Taupe & Amethyst
Located in Norwalk, CT
This stunning Antique Chinese Art Deco rug is a masterclass in the "Nichols" style of the early 20th century. Set against a sophisticated, variegated taupe-mauve field, the rug featu...
Wool
Antique 1920s Chinese Art Deco Wool Rug in Rich Ruby, Plum & Magenta 9x11
Located in Norwalk, CT
Elevate your space with the dramatic elegance of this spectacular antique 1920s Chinese Art Deco wool rug. Masterfully hand-knotted during the golden age of Chinese Deco weaving, thi...
Wool
The Sultan's Garden: An Antique Turkish Sivas Masterpiece of Timeless Grandeur
Located in Dallas, TX
74991 Antique Turkish Sivas Rug, 10'03 x 15'07. The Sultan's Garden: An Antique Turkish Sivas Masterpiece of Timeless Grandeur. Evoking the splendor of Ottoman palaces and the cultiv...
Wool
1890s Blue Antique Chinese Peking Ningxia Hand Knotted Rug 3' x 5'8"
Located in New York, NY
Antique circa 1890 Chinese Chinoiserie hand-knotted wool rug, 3' x 5'8" (36 x 68 in), in blue tones. Condition: good, wear consistent with age and use. This is a beautiful and highl...
Wool
$3,599Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Chinese Peking Pictorial Rug with Cartouche Border
Located in Dallas, TX
78124 Distressed Antique Chinese Peking Pictorial Rug with Cartouche Border 05'02 x 07'07. With its effortless beauty and rustic s...
Wool
12 X 9 Antique Chinese Art Deco Chinoiserie Peking Rug Geometric Medallion
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, an antique Chinese Peking rug, typically dating from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. It features a classic two-tone aesthetic with a rich, ...
Wool
Antique Chinese Art Deco Rug 1920s - 100 Birds & Phoenix Pictorial Wool 10x14
Located in Norwalk, CT
This exquisite antique Chinese wool rug is a masterpiece of early 20th-century craftsmanship, blending traditional Eastern symbolism with the vibrant, asymmetrical aesthetic of the A...
Wool
Antique Chinese Art Deco Rug Navy & Taupe Floral Wool 8x10
Located in Norwalk, CT
This Antique Chinese Art Deco rug from the 1920s a stunning example of early 20th-century textile design. It features a rich taupe field with a deep navy blue border, showcasing deli...
Wool
Antique Art Deco Chinese Rug: Emerald & Terracotta Neo-Classical Medallion 8x10
Located in Norwalk, CT
This antique Chinese Art Deco rug showcases a unique blend of Eastern craftsmanship and Western design. Featuring a rich emerald green field, it centers on a bold medallion within an...
Wool
Antique Chinese Art Deco Wool Rug with Medallion and Indigo Floral Borders 9x11
Located in Norwalk, CT
An extraordinary early 20th-century Chinese Art Deco hand-knotted wool rug featuring a rich golden-amber field centered by a classic round medallion with auspicious character motifs....
Wool
Early 20th Century Chinese Feti Rug
Located in Chicago, IL
A wonderful early 20th century Chinese Feti rug with a solid mauve central field surrounded by a border with an indigo meandering motif and repeated floral inner stripe and a wide re...
Wool
Antique Chinese Art Deco Rug - Plum & Jade Green Floral Wool 9x12
Located in Norwalk, CT
This stunning antique Chinese Art Deco rug (circa 1920s-1930s) features a rich plum-brown field and a vibrant emerald green border. Hand-knotted with high-quality wool, it showcases ...
Wool
Antique Art Deco Chinese Nichols Style Rug – Imperial Yellow & Lavender
Located in Norwalk, CT
This stunning antique Chinese Art Deco rug features a vibrant Imperial Yellow field framed by a sophisticated muted lavender-mauve border. Hand-knotted with high-quality wool, this p...
Wool
Contemporary Irregular Hand-Tufted Wool Chinoiseries Style Rug by RAG Home
Located in Jakarta Selatan, ID
Moody's! Mood for Love from RAG Home Inspired from a piece of chinoiserie. The evocation of Chinese motifs and patterns mixed with Contemporary shape rug. Original Designed by RAG H...
Wool
Irregular Shape Chinoiserie Runner Carpet by RAG Home
By RAG home
Located in Jakarta Selatan, ID
Irregular Shape Chinoiserie Runner Carpet Inspired by ancient graphics and illustrations of Chinese Origin, adapted to fuse seamlessly with a contem...
Wool, Acrylic
Antique Chinese Art Deco Rug Vibrant Plum & Navy Wool 9X12
Located in Norwalk, CT
This stunning Antique Chinese Art Deco rug captures the bold elegance of the 1920s with its rich, saturated plum-magenta field and contrasting deep navy blue borders. Hand-knotted fr...
Wool
Antique Chinese Art Deco Rug in Deep Burgundy Plum with Floral & Bird Border
Located in Norwalk, CT
An exquisite example of early 20th-century craftsmanship, this authentic Art Deco Chinese rug features a rich, deep burgundy-plum field framed by an intricate midnight blue border. H...
Wool
Atelier Gianni Versace carpet chinoiserie style lemon yellow background
Located in Firenze, IT
Gianni Versace's signature hand-knotted rugs from the 1980s and 1990s are considered pieces of high fashion and design. These rugs reflect Versace's bold and innovative style, chara...
Wool
Antique Art Deco Chinese Wool Rug with Indigo Field and Lotus Medallions 9x11
Located in Norwalk, CT
Elevate your interior with this breathtaking 1920s Antique Chinese Art Deco wool rug, featuring a rich, midnight indigo blue field accented by traditional lotus medallions, floral sp...
Wool
Antique Art Deco Chinese Nichols Style Rug with Floral Sprays on Jet Black Field
Located in Norwalk, CT
Elevate your space with the striking elegance of this antique Chinese Art Deco wool rug, dating from the early 20th century. Masterfully hand-knotted, this piece features an open, dr...
Wool
Antique Chinese Imperial-Style Dragon & Fretwork Wool Rug with Indigo Accents
Located in Norwalk, CT
This exquisite late 19th-to-early 20th century antique Chinese wool rug features an intricate, golden-ochre geometric fretwork (wanzi/swastika-pattern) ground symbolizing infinite fo...
Wool
1920's Chinese Peking Carpet with Traditional Style
Located in Dallas, TX
78422 Antique Chinese Peking Rug, 09'00 x 11'02. Bathed in the tranquil hues of dusk and flame, this hand-knotted wool antique Chinese Peking rug evokes the serene elegance of a bygo...
Wool
$1,398Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Chinese hand tufted rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Pretty vintage Chinese rug with a simple design with some Chinese symbols on a yellow background and a navy blue background border with Chinese design and symbols, handmade by hand t...
Wool
Sage Green Modern Chinese Style Wool Area Rug – Hand-Knotted Chinoiserie Floral
Located in Norwalk, CT
Elevate your interior with this exquisite hand-knotted wool rug, inspired by classic Chinese Chinoiserie aesthetics. Featuring a serene sage green field and warm ochre gold border, t...
Wool
Antique Chinese Art Deo Pictorial Rug with Chinoiserie Style
Located in Dallas, TX
77583 Antique Chinese Art Deo Pictorial Rug, 08'11 x 11'08. The Celestial Garden: An Antique Chinese Art Deco Masterpiece of Poetic Opulence. This hand knotted...
Wool
Beautiful antique silk Japanese Embroidery « the tigers »
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice antique Japanese embroidery with beautiful design with tigers, and with nice natural colours in hues of yellow, green, brown and black , entirely...
Silk
Zabihi Collection Pair of Antique Navy Heriz Accent Rugs
Located in New York, NY
A pair of accent size Navy Field Persian Heriz rugs from the 1st quarter of the 20th century. Measuring 4'10'' x 6' & 4'9'' x 6'1'' respectively.
Wool
Chinese Art Deco Wool Rug Pagoda & Floral Design - Earthy Bronze & Gold Tones
Located in Norwalk, CT
Elevate your space with this Antique Chinese Art Deco rug from the 1920s. Hand-knotted from wool, it features a sophisticated "open field" design with a tranquil landscape of a pagod...
Wool
1920s Antique Chinese Art Deco Wool Rug in Ruby Red and Taupe with Floral Motifs
Located in Norwalk, CT
This striking 1920s antique Chinese Art Deco rug features a rich, vibrant ruby red field beautifully framed by a wide taupe-grey border and a slender blue guard stripe. Hand-knotted ...
Wool
Beautiful antique silk Japanese Embroidery «village»
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice antique Japanese embroidery with beautiful design with a village and a river, and with nice natural colours in hues of yellow, green, brown and black , entirely hand embroidered...
Silk
Antique 1920s Chinese Art Deco Rug in Deep Indigo Blue, Ochre and Cream Floral
Located in Norwalk, CT
Capture the enduring elegance of early 20th-century design with this striking antique Chinese Art Deco wool rug. Rendered in a mesmerizing, deep indigo blue field, this hand-knotted ...
Wool
Beautiful Antique Manila Embroidered piano Shawl Chinese embroidery
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice mid 20th century shawl from Manila, with a floral Chinese design and style, entirely hand embroidered with silk on silk foundation. Some stains to clean ✨✨✨ "Experience the epi...
Silk
$9,600Sale Price|20% Off
Chinese Indigo Blue Peking Rug, 1920
Located in Rome, IT
A fine early 20th century Indigo blue peking rug. Measures: cm 350 x 280.
Wool
Antique Chinese Art Deco Rug in Ruby Red and Sage Green with Floral Bouquets
Located in Norwalk, CT
This striking antique Chinese Art Deco wool rug from the 1920s showcases a bold, saturated ruby-coral red field framed by a contrasting muted sage green border. Embodying the elegant...
Wool
Hand-Knotted Modern Chinese Botanical Wool Area Rug - Slate Grey & Marigold
Located in Norwalk, CT
Elevate your space with this hand-knotted wool rug, blending classical Chinese aesthetics with contemporary design. Its slate grey field features subtle color variations, serving as ...
Wool
$1,842Sale Price|47% Off
Zabihi Collection Navy Blue Ivory Traditional Chinese Peking Rug
Located in New York, NY
Stunning deep blue and ivory accent full pile condition antique Chinese Peking rug, circa 1920. Measures: 4' x 6'9".
Wool
Antique Chinese Art Deco "Peking" Gold Wool Area Rug Garden Motif (1920s)
Located in Norwalk, CT
This exquisite Antique Chinese Art Deco rug from the 1920s features a vibrant Imperial Gold field adorned with a "Hundred Flowers" garden motif. Hand-knotted with high-quality wool, ...
Wool
Antique Chinese Peking Rug with Pagodas and Peacocks in Indigo and Taupe
Located in Norwalk, CT
This exquisite 1920s antique Chinese Peking wool rug effortlessly marries classical Eastern iconography with the bold sensibilities of the Deco movement. Hand-knotted from lustrous, ...
Wool
1920's Antique Blue Chinese Peking Carpet with Traditional Style
Located in Dallas, TX
77524 Antique Blue Chinese Peking Rug, 09'01 x 11'06. A rare and resplendent testament to the art of imperial refinement, this hand-knotted wool antique Chinese Peking rug is an obje...
Wool
$412Sale Price|20% Off
Beautiful Vintage Asian Dragon Embroidery
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice embroidery panel with dragon design entirely hand embroidered with silk on silk Dragon designs are on relief.
Silk
1920s Antique Chinese Art Deco Plum Wool Rug with Floral Vases & Navy Border
Located in Norwalk, CT
This early 20th-century Chinese Art Deco rug features a rich, deep plum field framed by a contrasting navy blue border. Hand-knotted from high-luster wool, the composition is adorned...
Wool
Bobyrug’s pretty vintage art deco Chinese rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice mid century Chinese rug with beautiful Chinese art deco design and beautiful colours with green, pink, blue, yellow and brown. Entirely hand knotted with wool on cotton foundati...
Wool, Cotton
Beautiful antique wool and metal Chinese Embroidery
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice antique Chinese embroidery with beautiful design with flowers, birds and butterflies, and with nice natural colours with a red background, entirely hand embroidered with silk, w...
Metal
19th Century Chinese Peking Rug
Located in Chicago, IL
A fascinating mid-19th century Chinese Peking rug with a whimsical pattern of intertwining blossoming tree peonies with birds nestled among the branches, all woven in light and dark ...
Wool
Art Deco Antique Chinese Wool Rug in Magenta Cherry and Jade Green, Circa 1920s
Located in Norwalk, CT
This striking Art Deco antique Chinese rug features a vibrant magenta-cherry field adorned with an asymmetrical, flowing composition of flora and whimsical butterflies. Framed by a r...
Wool
$2,000Sale Price / set|46% Off
Zabihi Collection Vintage Chinese Rug
Located in New York, NY
An intermediate size one of a kind blue Chinese rug from the 3rd quarter of the 20th century. Measuring 5'4'' x 7'6'
Wool
Bobyrug’s Beautiful Vintage Chinese Silk Embroidery
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice mid century large Chinese silk embroidery with beautiful floral design with birds and nice colors, entirely hand embroidered with silk on ...
Silk
pretty small vintage silk Chinese rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Very beautiful small Chinese rug with nice design and beautiful colours with a yellow background, blue, brown, pink, green and purple at the design,...
Silk
Pretty Vintage Chinese Peking Art Deco Rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice mid century Chinese peking rug with beautiful Chinese Art Deco design and nice colors, entirely hand knotted with wool velvet on cotton foundation. ✨✨✨ "Experience the epitome ...
Wool, Cotton
Antique Nichols-Style Chinese Art Deco Rug in Ruby Red and Slate Gray, 9x12
Located in Norwalk, CT
Introduce a touch of roaring twenties glamour to your space with this striking antique Chinese Art Deco wool rug, dating to the 1920s. Masterfully hand-knotted with a lustrous, thick...
Wool
1890s Ivory Antique Chinese Peking Ningxia Hand Knotted Rug 7'9" x 9'4"
Located in New York, NY
Antique circa 1890 Chinese Chinoiserie hand-knotted wool rug, 7'9" x 9'4" (93 x 112 in), in ivory tones. Condition: good, wear consistent with age and use. This Chinese Peking rug f...
Wool
$12,600
Antique Chinese Peking Rug
Located in New York, NY
An antique Chinese Peking deco carpet from the first quarter of the 20th century.
Cotton, Wool
Zabihi Collection Early 20th Century Antique Chinese Small Runner
Located in New York, NY
an early 20th century Chinese Peking Small Runner Measures: 3'1'' x 7'
Wool
Natural Fiber Carpet, Chinese Floral Black Background Hand Knotted Indian Rug
Located in Ancona, Marche
“Chinese Bouquet” is a unique handmade example. This rug, hand-knotted with a high knot density, is offered in 100% Tencel in different pile heights cut with scissors to give it a th...
Natural Fiber
Zabihi Collection Narrow Long Vintage Chinese Runner. 2'6'' x 16'6''
Located in New York, NY
a mid 20th century Chinese Runner in beige and soft green tones 2'6'' x 16'6'' item j5411
Wool
Antique Chinese Embroidered Panel
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Late 19th century Chinese embroidery with silk and metal on silk foundation, entirely hand embroidered, some damages on metal wires.
Metal