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.
$960Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Chinoiserie Rosewood Corner Chair
Located in Pasadena, TX
Vintage Chinoiserie rosewood corner chair Lovely rosewood chair with intricately carved floral motifs. Measures: 27 Width x 22 Depth x 32 Hei...
Rosewood
$1,852Sale Price|35% Off
Wicker Bamboo Chair Chinoiserie Style
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and well-made all-bamboo armchair with 'spindle' sides and back and a light-blue upholstered seat cushion, in the Chinoiserie design style, circa mid-20th century. A grea...
Upholstery, Bamboo, Wicker
$495Sale Price|44% Off
Chinese Mother of Pearl Intricately Inlaid Corner Chair
Located in Miami, FL
Chinese Mother of Pearl Fine Intricately Inlaid Corner Chair Offered for sale is a lovely Chinese mother-of-pearl inlaid padouk wood corner chair with sturdy cross stretchers suppo...
Mother-of-Pearl, Padouk
Vintage Chinese Carved Hardwood Corner Lounge Chair with Mother of Pearl Inlay
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Vintage Chinese Carved Hardwood Corner Lounge Chair with Mother of Pearl Inlay. Item...
Wood, Mother-of-Pearl
$1,873
H 33.08 in W 21.07 in D 16.54 in
Antique Dutch Armchair Triangular Turned Bobbin Corner Chair Rush Seat Rustic
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Late 19th century bobbin turned wood armchair with rush seat, ca 1900 Manufactured in The Netherlands. Beautiful antique bobbin/ knitting chair with t...
Wicker, Oak
Chinese Hongmu Corner Chair, 19th Century
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A Chinese Hongmu corner chair, 19th century. The horseshoe-form back with molded crest above a pair of open carved splats with fruiting and fl...
Wood
Charles I Three-Legged Turner's Chair
Located in Greenwich, CT
Rare early 17th century English ash three-leg turner's or "thrown" chair (so called because almost all elements are turned on a lathe - thrown as in the way clay is manipulated on a ...
Ash, Oak
Louis XV Style Walnut and Caned French Provincial Bergere
Located in Montreal, QC
This shapely corner armchair has unusually positioned legs. The curving arms ,legs and caned sides and seat all contribute a sense of lightness , the carving is excellent.
Cane, Walnut
$24,850Sale Price / set|29% Off
H 58.5 in W 32.5 in D 29 in
Pair of Italian 19th Century Renaissance Style Carved Figural Throne Armchairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine and palatial pair of Italian 19th century renaissance style carved walnut figural throne armchairs. The intricately carved Baroque frames with the backrests depicting a pair o...
Velvet, Walnut
Pair of 19th Century Carved Oak Corner Chairs
Located in High Point, NC
Pair of 19th century carved oak corner chairs from England with a wonderfully carved back, supports and arms, all depicting acanthus leaves and scrolls. The seats have wonderful carv...
Oak
1950s Chinese Corner Chair Rosewood Mother-of-Pearl Inlay
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, Chinese solid rosewood corner side chair carved mother of pearl inlay. No label. Dimensions: 32.75" H x 27" W 21" D. Seat 1...
Mother-of-Pearl, Rosewood
$6,900
H 31.5 in W 20.48 in D 22.45 in
Adolf Loos Corner Chair, F.O. Schmidt, Oak Wood Leather, Jugendstil, 1898-1900
By Adolf Loos, Friedrich Otto Schmidt
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A corner armchair designed by Adolf Loos (1870-1933) and manufactured by Friedrich Otto Schmidt, Vienna, Austria, circa 1900. The condition of the wood is very good. The leather seat...
Leather, Wood
American Georgian Walnut Upholstered Corner Chair, Circa 1770
Located in Charleston, SC
American Georgian walnut corner chair with carved splat backs, carved decorative molded edge, scrolled arms, turned ringed columns, carved corner fret...
Upholstery, Walnut
$2,025Sale Price|55% Off
H 33.5 in W 26.5 in D 26.5 in
18th Century Chippendale Corner Chair with Marquetry Inlay
Located in Savannah, GA
This outstanding 18th century Chippendale walnut corner chair features intricate marquetry inlay in a delicate floral motif. Even the back of the top rail, splats and the back of the...
Walnut
1970s Rattan & Wicker Handcrafted Emmanuelle Peacock Chair
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Classic 1970s Bohemian rattan and wicker "Emmanuelle" Peacock Chair. This iconic chairs popularity skyrocketed in 1974, after actress Sylvia Kristel was featured topless in the chair in the French erotic...
Rattan
$575Sale Price|52% Off
H 34 in W 23.5 in D 17 in
Chinese Export Oriental Hand Carved Rosewood Corner Chair
Located in Plainview, NY
A beautiful Chinese export oriental corner chair. The chair is finely hand-carved of quality rosewood with shiny lacquer finish and is made using...
Rosewood
Chinoiserie Lacquered Tub Chair with Cane United KIngdom 1920s
Located in Sakskøbing, DK
This early 20th-century Chinoiserie tub chair, crafted in the United Kingdom, features a cane seat and back for both comfort and style. The chair is made from black lacquered wood, d...
Cane, Wood
Chinese Hand Carved Mother of Pearl Inlay Corner Chair
Located in Delray Beach, FL
amazing vintage Chinese lacquered and hand carved corner chair. Features ornate and detailed mother of Pearl inlays.
Wood
Decorative Chinoiserie Tub Chair with Cane United KIngdom 1900s
Located in Sakskøbing, DK
Antique hand-painted chair in Chinoiserie style. United Kingdom, 1900s. The sturdy chair with cane is decorated with Chinese scenes and has 2 legs like a claw at the front. Nicely we...
Cane, Wood
Antique Bamboo Corner Chair, 19th Century
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Rare antique 19th century bamboo corner chair. Superb quality and in excellent condition. Additional information: Materials: Bamboo Color: Brown Period: 19th Century Styles: ...
Bamboo
19th Century English Chinoiserie Bamboo Corner Chair
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rare English bamboo corner chair made in the chinoiserie revival taste of the late 19th century Europe. Features a frame made entirely of bamboo in a square form reinforced with doub...
Linen, Wood, Bamboo