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.
Hollywood Regency Ornate Chinoiserie Polished Brass Bar Cart c. 1955
Located in Saint Louis, MO
This chic bar cart is most certainly not the shy one in the room with an ornate dragon themed frame of golden brass that's attention grabbing without apology...
Brass
Vintage Korean Carved Wood Marble Top Asian Chinese Liquor Cabinet Dry Bar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Korean Carved Wood Marble Top Expanding/Fold Away Asian Chinese Liquor Cabinet Dry Bar with Fitted Interior and Rolling Casters. Circa Late 20th ...
Marble
19th Century English Black and Gold Japanned Cart with Chinoiserie Décor
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English black and gold japanned bar cart from the 19th century with Chinoiserie décor depicting figures in landscapes, glass top and sides, on bra...
Brass
Early 20th C. French Red Lacquer Bar Cart with Gilt Chinoiserie Decor
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a living room or dining room with this charming antique serving cart, crafted in France circa 1920. Rectangular in form, the cart stands on two large spoked front wheels wit...
Glass, Wood, Paint
Brass Bar Cart with Aged Mirror and Leather
By Loyzaga
Located in Mexico, Ciudad de México
The Vendôme Bar Cart is perfect to style any room. That's why it remains one of our bestselling pieces. It is made by our craftsmen in brass, with age mirror and leather making it ...
Brass
$3,255Sale Price|30% Off
H 37 in W 48 in D 23 in
Antique Victorian Walnut Marble Top Barley Twist Washstand Dry Sink Server Bar
Located in Dayton, OH
A large antique Victorian washstand, dry sink, server or dry bar, circa 1870. Featuring a white marble top with an arched and caged backsplash over a walnut base with two hand doveta...
Marble
$3,250
H 28.5 in W 24 in D 16.75 in
Vintage English Bar Cart Trolley Drop Leaf Chinoiserie Butterfly Lacquer Table
Located in Shreveport, LA
Vintage English Bar Cart Trolley Drop Leaf Chinoiserie Butterfly Lacquer Table. Direct from England, a beautiful hand-decorated English chinoi...
Hardwood
$2,332
H 25.6 in W 28.75 in D 17.72 in
1930's Modernist Chromed Art Deco Bar Cart with Mirrors and Cylindrical Handles
Located in Ulm, DE
Strict, simple bar cart Original chrome plating With intermediate shelf, both levels mirrored Original Art Deco, France 1930s Also available as a pair Dimensions: Width: ...
Metal, Chrome
Late 19th Century English Mahogany Drinks Cart
Located in High Point, NC
Late 19th century mahogany drinks cart from England. There are two shelves, both with galleries around three sides, leaving one side open for the ability to slide serving trays. The...
Mahogany
$2,273
H 27.56 in W 37.01 in D 17.33 in
1950s Art Deco Mid-Century Italian Wood and Brass Dry Bar Cabinet Liquor Cart
By Ico & Luisa Parisi, Gio Ponti, Paolo Buffa, Guglielmo Ulrich, Vittorio Dassi
Located in Carimate, Como
Unique and very elegant Italian Art Deco dry bar cabinet cart with top glass tier and highlighted by the great wooden structure design and overall shape completed by the details of t...
Brass
English 19th Century Oak Butler’s Trolley
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A gorgeous serving trolley, made of richly figured oak planks and barley-twist posts from 19th century England, circa 1840s. This beautiful antique has a wonderfully patinated and in...
Brass
Vintage Custom Italian Metal Bar Cabinet with Blush Marble Top
Located in Chicago, IL
Spanning over seven feet in width, this extraordinary bar cabinet embodies the spirit of postwar Italian design, when furniture was conceived as both functional object and artistic s...
Marble, Metal
Aldo Tura Brown Goatskin Round Bar Cart Removable Tray, Italy, 1960s
By Aldo Tura
Located in Munich, DE
Fine bar or serving cart by Aldo Tura Milan, Italy 1960s in very good vintage condition. The wooden frame is covered with brown colored goatskin, varnished in clear acrylic lacquer a...
Brass
Hollywood Regency Faux Bamboo Brass Bar Serving Tray
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Hollywood chic' round faux bamboo brass/copper bar tray. Gorgeous aged patina showing copper and brass. 15-1/2" wide.
Brass, Copper
$1,312
H 30.32 in W 27.56 in D 16.93 in
Original Art Deco Chrome Modernist Hostess Trolley Bar Cart, c1930
Located in Devon, England
Now this really is a fabulous hostess bar cart. Original 1930s Art Deco chrome two-tier trolley. A tubular chromed frame makes up the skeletal body of the cart with thick acrylic ins...
Chrome
Mid-20th Century Heavily Hand Carved Wood Cocktail Bar Cabinet
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautiful craftsmanship and hand carved aromatic wood cocktail bar cabinet. the bar cabinet features heavily urban chinoiserie carved scenes detail with rounded rectangular top and a...
Wood
Vintage Chinoiserie Faux Bamboo Gold Gilt Metal Rolling Bar Cart
Located in West Hartford, CT
This small gold faux bamboo metal bar cart is the perfect size for any room where you want to entertain your guests. Features glass shelves and wheels. Top tray is removable. No more...
Metal
Chinoiserie Bar Cart / Tea Trolly
Located in Southampton, NJ
Black lacquer Chinoiserie two tier tea trolly or bar cart with brass gallery & especially interesting bright white Vitrolite glass top. In addition the lower tier has a notched cut g...
Brass
Sold
H 30.5 in W 28.5 in D 19.5 in
Vintage Italian Tole Painted 2 Tier Beverage Serving Cart Removable Tray Tables
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Italian Bar cart, beverage trolley or dry bar, circa 1970s. Features a two tier removable tray table design with pierced galleries and hand painted oriental scenes. Finished ...
Metal
Sold
H 29.5 in W 45 in D 45 in
Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Hand Painted Rolling Tea Dry Bar Cart Barcart
Located in West Hartford, CT
Beautiful vintage black lacquered bar cart expands to a round table when sides are raised. Elegantly hand painted with a classic Chinese landsca...
Wood, Lacquer
Pagoda Style Bamboo Bar Cart
By Calif-Asia
Located in Southampton, NJ
Two tier bent bamboo & glass Pagoda influenced bar cart or serving cart on casters attributed to Calif-Asia. Versatile understated design, generous in size.
Bamboo, Glass
Sold
H 29 in W 19.25 in D 19.25 in
Mario Buatta for John Widdicomb Chinoiserie Two-Tier Tea Table/Etagere
Located in San Francisco, CA
Chinoiserie style two-tier tea table/etagere on casters. Carved wood in faux tortoise shell finish, with gold gilt accents. By Mario Buatta for John Widdicomb Circa 1980's
Wood
19th Century Beechwood Faux Bamboo Bar Cart / Side Table
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
An elegant two-tier serving trolley or side table. The three legs are made of beech wood in the shape of bamboo, also called "Faux Bamboo". Trimmed with a copper gallery rim. The top...
Copper
Italian Brass and Black Faux Bamboo Bar Cart, Billy Haines Style
Located in Stamford, CT
Black painted, brass trimmed, wood faux bamboo bar or drinks cart on ball casters. In the style of Billy Haines or Tony Duquette. Glass surfaces. Clean lines.
Glass, Wood
Sold
H 31 in W 37.008 in D 22 in
Mastercraft, Mid-Century Modern Serving Wagons, Gold Brass, Black Lacquer, 1960s
By Mastercraft
Located in Stamford, CT
A pair of Mid-Century Modern master-craft brass acid etched bar-carts or serving wagons. This one of a kind pair of simply stunning bar carts or ser...
Brass
Sold
H 32.13 in W 37.75 in D 18.25 in
Baker Furniture Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie Faux Bamboo Bar Cart
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Mid-Century Modern Hollywood Regency bar cart by Baker Furniture. The cart features stunning book-matched walnut wood grain, with a unique faux bamboo frame. It offers goo...
Faux Bamboo, Walnut
Sold
H 38 in W 30.25 in D 18 in
Chinoiserie Style Cinnabar Red Two Tier Bar Cart with Removable Tray Top
Located in Hopewell, NJ
An elegant cinnabar red and gold chinoiserie decorated bar or serving cart having a removable tray that's aged mirror with black and gold painted decoration. The body of the cart has...
Wood
Elegant French Brass Faux Bamboo Bar Cart with Removable Tray Top
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A stylish French bar cart or drinks trolley. Clever design allows for top to lift off and become a serving tray. Faux bamboo-very well made, vintage ca' 1970's, in the style of Bague...