Chinoiserie Furniture
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.
1870s French Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Ormolu
Early 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Ironstone
Early 20th Century Chinoiserie Furniture
Metal, Enamel
1940s Vintage Chinoiserie Furniture
Wood, Lacquer
Late 20th Century North American Chinoiserie Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
20th Century Chinoiserie Furniture
Wood
19th Century Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Teak
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Hardwood
20th Century Chinoiserie Furniture
Wool, Cotton
1910s Chinese Vintage Chinoiserie Furniture
Wood
Early 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Ironstone
Early 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Porcelain
20th Century Hong Kong Chinoiserie Furniture
Pewter
1930s Vintage Chinoiserie Furniture
Lacquer
1980s American Vintage Chinoiserie Furniture
Mirror, Walnut, Burl
Late 19th Century British Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Bamboo, Lacquer
Early 19th Century Asian Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Lacquer
1930s American Vintage Chinoiserie Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Furniture
Ceramic
Late 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Ironstone
1970s North American Vintage Chinoiserie Furniture
Walnut
Late 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Ironstone
Mid-20th Century English Chinoiserie Furniture
Porcelain
1980s Chinese Vintage Chinoiserie Furniture
Wool, Cotton
20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Furniture
Crystal, Rock Crystal
1970s American Vintage Chinoiserie Furniture
Walnut
Late 20th Century Chinoiserie Furniture
Wood, Lacquer
Late 20th Century Dutch Chinoiserie Furniture
Brass
Mid-18th Century British Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Faience
Late 20th Century Chinoiserie Furniture
Porcelain, Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Furniture
Mirror, Wood
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Furniture
Wool, Cotton
1970s Unknown Vintage Chinoiserie Furniture
Ceramic
1880s English Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Bamboo
1890s English Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Furniture
Marble
Mid-19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Ironstone
1890s Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Wood, Lacquer
20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Furniture
Beech
2010s Asian Chinoiserie Furniture
Bamboo
Late 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Ebony
Mid-20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Furniture
Cast Stone, Metal
Late 18th Century Scandinavian Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Furniture
Wood
1980s American Vintage Chinoiserie Furniture
Bronze
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Wood
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Chinoiserie Furniture
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Furniture
Rattan
20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Furniture
Wool
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Furniture
Wool
Late 18th Century Dutch Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Delft
1970s American Vintage Chinoiserie Furniture
Brass
1920s French Vintage Chinoiserie Furniture
Bronze
19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Furniture
Bronze
20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Furniture
Wool
19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Pottery
Late 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Furniture
Pottery
1970s Chinese Vintage Chinoiserie Furniture
Enamel