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.
19th Century French Chinoiserie Center Table with Marble Top
Located in Bradenton, FL
French Chinoiserie Carved Marble Top Center Table. Serpentine marble top rests above a conforming giltwood base. The apron is decorated with a hand-painted Chinoiserie scenic band de...
Marble
Regency Style Center Table with Chinese Red Lacquered &Gold Decor
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This is a beautiful Red Lacquer with Gold decor, apron and gallery center table, in the Louis XV Chinoiserie style. The gold design is very delicately done. Very elegant Cabriole L...
Wood, Lacquer
Vintage Victorian Chinese Export Lacquered Center Hall Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This remarkable vintage Victorian Chinese export center hall table is a richly decorative example of cross-cultural craftsmanship from the 19th century...
Gold Plate
Asian Bamboo Fretwork Hexagonal Table With Removable Lacquered Top
Located in Locust Valley, NY
A bamboo fretwork center table crafted in the Chinoiserie style, constructed of bamboo and wood with a warm honey-toned finish. The table features a hexagonal silhouette, with bamboo...
Bamboo, Lacquer
19th Century French Chinoiserie Style Mahogany Table Attributed Gabriel Viardot
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent 19th century French hand-carved chinoiserie style mahogany center-table with mother-of-pearl inlaid marquetry top attributed to Gabriel Viardot. This magnificent mahogany table has been hand-carved with Chinese chinoiserie decor depicting chinoiserie figures holding umbrellas and other Chinese motif inlaid. Around the edges of the rectangular table is magnificently detailed and adorned open wood work, which gives the piece a different dimension of class and elegance. The top of the table is beautifully designed with a mother-of-pearl inlaid marquetry. Tinted wood table with rectangular tray with Asian decor inlaid with mother-of-pearl depicting peaches and beauties holding umbrellas. The carved openwork crosses of Chinese motifs rests on four magnificently carved curved legs with lions feet holding up the table. Found at the top of each leg are beautifully chased doré bronze mounts depicting foo dog masks. France, circa 1890. Gabriel Viardot is a famous Parisian cabinetmaker who inherited the family factory in around 1860. He manufactured carved wood furniture...
Bronze
Chinese Style Leaf Table in Black Lacquered Wood, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Chinese style leaf table in black lacquered wood with a gilt decor. Two leaves adorned with large cartouches framing Chinese-style landscape scenes with pagodas, junks, etc. They sta...
Wood, Lacquer
Chinoiserie Oriental Drum Table with Four Stools, Central Asia, 1960s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Love this oriental style Drum table. Made of Wood .comes with a surprise .inside the table ,behind the curved panels ,little stools 4 off them . comes with Brass rings . all comple...
Wood
Pair of Carved Oriental Console Tables or Centre Table This is an unusual piece
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Pair of Carved Oriental Console Tables or Centre Table This is an unusual piece, we have a large rustic oriental centre table, this is a very ...
Elm
$17,267
The Pavillion Hexagon Table
Located in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset
Fine Japanese inspired oak and exterior painted hexagonal garden/pagoda table. Can be painted to the clients specified colour. Please note we are currently working to a 30-36 week l...
Mahogany
FINE ANTIQUE CIRCA 1820 CHiNESE CHINOISERIE MOTHER OF PEARL CENTRE DINING TABLE
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely circa 1820-1840 hand made Chinese Chinoiserie centre occasional or dining table with Mother of Pearl inlay...
Hardwood
Regency Period Center Table
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality Regency period breakfast table, raised on a square section pedestal, platform base with carved scrolling feet.
Mahogany
$5,000
H 29.5 in Dm 33.5 in
19th Century French Empire Style Walnut Pedestal Center Table with Marble Top
Located in Astoria, NY
An elegant late 19th-century French Empire-style pedestal table, sourced from Provence and expertly restored. Crafted from solid walnut with beautiful grain character and warm tones,...
Marble, Brass
Regency style Italian Made Center table
Located in Nashville, TN
Elevate your living space with this exquisite Italian Regency style center table, a true masterpiece of craftsmanship and design. Featuring a striking top inlaid with rich rosewood a...
Rosewood
20th Century English Regency Mahogany Round Center Table, Lacquered
Located in Queens, NY
English Regency style (20th Century) round mahogany center table with a pedestal base resting on a gilt trimed square shaped platform with four round feet
Mahogany
$5,440Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.5 in W 52 in D 52 in
McGuire Organic Modern Bamboo Rattan Hexagonal Dining Table
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Amazing genuine McGuire organic modern bamboo rattan dining table or center table featuring a hexagonal base. Genuine McGuire, not a reproduction with an iron frame painted golden gate orange...
Iron
Antique Italian Regency Style Center Table
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive antique Italian center table having a top crafted in a kaleidoscopic burled walnut design with a floral center medallion on an ebonized pedestal set on a tripod base with ...
Walnut
$4,600
H 17 in W 53 in D 46 in
Large Hexagon Walnut & Egyptian Motif Copper Minting Top Coffee Table Ebonized
By Adrian Pearsall, Harvey Probber
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Large hexagon walnut & egyptian motif copper minting top coffee table ebonized gate shape legs base.
Copper
Mid-century Lane Furniture Hexagonal Coffee Table, Smoked Glass Top
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-century Lane Furniture Hexagonal Coffee Table, Smoked Glass Top Offered for sale is a 1970s walnut hexagonal coffee table by Lane Furniture. The frame is on casters and fitted w...
Glass, Walnut
19th Century French Chinoiserie Side Table in Lacquered Wood
Located in Stockbridge, GA
19th century French chinoiserie side table.
Wood
19th Century Georgian Bleached Mahogany Pie Crust Tripod Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rare and exceptional late 19th century Georgian style pie-crust occasional or center table featuring a bleached mahogany finish. The round top has a galleried edge. Supported by a turned, fluted column with tripod legs ending with pad feet. The table has a bleached finish that showcases the aged patina on the wood grains and gives the piece a distressed aesthetic. Provenance: Purchased from Ralf's antiques in Los Angeles...
Mahogany
$4,850
H 61 in W 30 in D 61 in
Late 20th century Italian handcrafted inlaid center hall table /dining table
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a magnificent handcrafted in laid Italian center hall table or dining table. This table stands on an inlaid tripod base with a hand carved gilded pedestal. This table has wal...
Wood
$2,290
H 28.94 in W 28.35 in D 17.13 in
French 19th Century Table Louis XV Style with Floral Marquetry and Gilt Bronze
Located in Miami, FL
French 19th century table Louis XV Style with floral marquetry and gilt bronze Beautiful violon-shaped side table or center table in marquetry and gilt bronze. French furniture of th...
Bronze
Victorian Chinoiserie Style Mahogany Center Table with Alabaster Inset Top
Located in Astoria, NY
Victorian Chinoiserie Style Mahogany Center Table, with white alabaster inset circular top above bamboo motif supports. 31.75" H x 30.5" Diameter. Provenance: From a New York City ...
Alabaster
Early 19th Century Painted Slate Japanned Pontypool Table
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Early 19th Century painted slate japanned Pontypool table. Circa 1840.
Slate
19th Century Red Lacquered Centre Table
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A stylish early 19th Century Italian centre table.This table is wonderfully decorated in red lacquer with gilt chinoiserie highlighted scenes in the form of people, buildings and fol...
Lacquer
Mario Buatta for Widdicomb Painted Parcel Gilt Chinoiserie Table C1990
By Mario Buatta, John Widdicomb
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous center or side table (31 diameter) by Mario Buatta for Widdicomb furniture. Dark green base coat with gilt decorations throughout the top and base. Fantastic carved lions p...
Hardwood, Giltwood, Paint
Chinoiserie French Chinese Export Style Gilt Table
Located in Kingston, NY
Chinoiserie French Chinese export style gilt table from the late 19th century. This elegant piece features a marbleized wood top with a rectangular design...
Marble
chinoiserie Decorated Oval 2 Tier Table, circa 1900
Located in Dereham, GB
Chinoiserie Decorated Oval 2 tier table circa 1900. Black & gilt Chinoiserie decoration, Top decorated with, figures, Houses, birds & foliage, & Pain...
Lacquer
19th-C. English Chinoiserie Japanned Tilt- Top Dining / Center / Tea Table
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a special piece! It is a large scale ebonized tilt-top 19th century English chinoiserie table. It would work well as a ...
Wood
Kelvin & Laverne Center Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Kelvin and Laverne CHAN center table.
Bronze
Charcoal Gray Painted Wood Table, France, 19th Century
Located in Austin, TX
63" round wood dining or center table with carved pedestal base, in gray paint with authentic wear and excellent patina. Dark gray to off black in color with some visible wood grain....
Wood
Sold
H 20 in W 70 in D 30 in
Antique English Chinoiserie Style Oval Coffee Table with Faux Bamboo Legs
Located in Plainview, NY
A versatile English Regency Chinoiserie style oval coffee table in black ebony and gold design. The table features intricate hand painted floral design and has two brown leather tool...
Wood, Paint
Red and Gold Lacquer Mid Century Chinoiserie Ming Style Console Table
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This elegant mid century lacquered chinoiserie Ming style console table features a waisted top decorated with gold finish bands and edge above...
Wood, Lacquer
Sold
H 33.5 in W 37.25 in D 37.5 in
18th Century Chinese Eight Immortals Table with Carved Apron and Legs
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This 18th century, likely Qianlong period, Chinese 'Eight Immortals' table features a framed plank top resting on four slightly splayed legs. The abstract cloud carvings...
Wood, Lacquer