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.
Sarreid Round Chinoiserie Gueridon Side Table
By Sarreid Ltd.
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Sarreid Round Chinoiserie Gueridon Side Table. Brass framed table with a circular painted center with chinoiserie decoration depicting men in fields. The circular brass top with thre...
Brass
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
Chinese Chinoiserie Pedestal Table, Hardwood & Breccia Marble, 1919
Located in Miami, FL
Chinese pedestal carved in tropical wood with very elegant marble-top.
Breccia Marble
Chinese Lacquer and Bronze Table & Green Dragon Vase the Style of Tony Duquette
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Chinese lacquer and bronze table with green dragon vase the style of Tony Duquette. Dimensions listed are the overall dimensions of the table plus...
Bronze
French Hand-Carved Oriental Style Side Table with Dragon Motif, c. 1890
Located in BŘECLAV, CZ
French hand-carved Oriental style side table with dragon motif, antique Chinoiserie gueridon, late 19th century craftsmanship define this striking decorative piece. Richly carved fro...
Wood
Royal Vienna Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Circular Side Table
Located in London, GB
Royal Vienna porcelain and gilt bronze circular side table Austrian, c. 1870 Measures: Height 84cm, diameter 56cm This circular occasional table is a truly exquisite piece of design, which will make a superb addition to either an antique or contemporary home. The table features a beautiful porcelain top, which was crafted by the Royal Vienna factory in Austria. The Royal Vienna company was founded in 1718, making it one of the earliest manufactures of true porcelain in Europe. In the 18th and 19th Centuries, the Viennese factory produced beautiful, high-quality porcelain items, which were popular with the European elite. These antique items continue to be sought-after by decorative art connoisseurs and amateur collectors. The porcelain table top features a charming painting of a young woman and man seated together in the wooden panelled interior of a house. They are dressed in traditional Austrian costume: the moustached man wears leg warmers, lederhosen, a jacket and tyrolean hat...
Bronze, Ormolu
$1,320Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 38 in W 11 in D 11 in
Pair of Chinese Export Hardwood and Marble Pedestals
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Chinese export hardwood and marble pedestals, each one of square form with inset marble tops, on subtly carved pedestal bases with lower stretchers.
Marble
$1,500
H 32 in Dm 20.5 in
Antique French Louis XVI Style Round Painted Side Table with Marble Top Gold
Located in Atlanta, GA
Antique French Louis XVI style round side table with marble top. Painted with Distressed Gold Gilt Accents Gorgeous marble top with carved wooden features. 32"h x 20 1/2"diameter
Marble
ZEL ITRI — Brass Side Table with Hand-Cut Zellige Mosaic
Located in Paris, FR
Hand-cut zellige tiles are set into a polished brass rim and paired with our ITRI bell base. The surface reads like jewelry—faceted glaze, subtle grout lines, a soft metallic halo. E...
Brass
$3,675
H 23.63 in W 11.82 in D 11.82 in
Drinks Side Table Gueridon in Gilt Iron with Foliage Detail, Spain 1940s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching Spanish Hand-forged Gilt Iron Drinks Table, Martini Table, End or Side Table with Foliage Decorative Detail. Spain, 1940s _______________________________________________...
Gold Leaf, Iron, Wrought Iron
Art Deco Rustic Wood Gueridon Side Table
Located in New York, NY
A small rustic round wood and glass side or drinks table, in the Art Deco style, circa late-20th century. This side or drinks table has all the hallmarks of Art Deco design including...
Glass, Wood
Spanish Carved Alabaster Gueridon Table / Side Table, 1940s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Spanish Carved Alabaster Art Deco Gueridon Table Spain, 1940s Outstanding Gueridon Side Table / Drinks Table in Turned Alabaster. Manufactured at the Late Art Deco Period. Elegant al...
Alabaster
$1,073Sale Price|20% Off
H 23.63 in Dm 13.39 in
Chinese Hardwood Carved Pedestal Table with Marble Inlaid Top, 1920s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and elegant Chinese pedestal table. Striking Chinese design from the 1920s. hand carved "Hongmu" wood (Chinese hardwood) base with original multicolored marble inlaid top. T...
Hardwood
French 1940s Wrought Iron Arrow Motif Table
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Elegant French Art Deco table from the 1940s, raised on a tripod base, with original red and yellow polychrome finish. The legs end in large arrowheads. Beige/grey resin top. The wro...
Wrought Iron
French Art Deco Alabaster Gueridon Table / Side Table
Located in Barcelona, ES
Outstanding Alabaster Gueridon Table France, 1930-1940 Gueridon Side Table / Drinks Table in Turned Alabaster. Manufactured at the Art Deco Period. Rare find. Amazing color! Elegant ...
Alabaster
$2,450
H 24.02 in W 11.03 in D 10.63 in
Drinks Table / Side Table / Gueridon in Gilt Iron with Metal Top, Spain 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Iron and Metal Spanish Drinks Tripod Table ____________________________________________________________ Wrough iron small guéridon end / side table or stand with tripod base and silv...
Metal, Iron, Brass
$4,850
H 30.5 in Dm 20.5 in
Fine French Louis XVI Style Gilt Wood Carved Guéridon Side Table with Marble Top
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A French Louis XVI Style Gilt Wood Carved Guéridon Side Table with Marble Top. The circular gilt wood carved apron with an acanthus tied leaf wreath, raised on four fluted carved leg...
Marble
Mahogany Faux Bamboo Galleried Leather Top Gueridon Side Table
Located in Germantown, MD
Beautiful faux bamboo mahogany gueridon Bouillotte style with leather top with brass pierced gallery. Very good condition. Measures 18.25" in diameter and stands 28" tall. W605...
Metal
Pair of Chinoiserie Painted Faux Bamboo Yew Wood Gueridon Side Tables
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delivery needs! They offer a reasonable flat-rate fee for delivery and set up to the ground floor of your home. They deliver to the vast majority of the lower 48 states. They offer a flat rate for most of our items with exclusions for the largest or most complex items such as breakfronts or crystal chandeliers or other items of greater complexity. For those items please ask for a shipping quote prior to purchase as these rates are different from our stated pricing. For those items please ask for a shipping quote prior to purchase. Most deliveries to the East Coast will be 295.00, to the mid-west and Southern mid-west 395.00. To the areas west of Kansas 495.00 and the farthest points to the West coast will be 595.00. Again, some areas we can't cover, however we can deliver to most of the lower 48 states so please inquire to be sure! Delivery times range from as fast as 1-4 weeks for the east coast to 5-9 weeks to the farthest areas of the west coast, sometimes longer and sometimes even shorter. If it is a time sensitive purchase, we may be able to accommodate you for a higher price. It is our goal to please each and every one of our customers with the highest standard of service possible. You must realize and accept that we are shipping antique, vintage and quality used furnishings...
Yew
Pair Maison Jansen Style French Chinoiserie Gueridon Side Tables
Located in New York, NY
A Magnificent Pair of Maison Jansen Style French Chinoiserie Gueridon Side Tables in the manner of Adam Weisweiler. Each with Chinese lacquered Coromandel...
Ormolu
Sarreid Round Chinoiserie Gueridon Table, a Pair
By Sarreid Ltd.
Located in Bradenton, FL
Sarreid brass entrance, side or center table. Decorated with Chinoiserie scenes and faux marble accents. The brass with three rings around the top and paw feet. Sarreid label attache...
Iron
Gilt Metal Bamboo Round Tripod Side Table
Located in Stamford, CT
1960s gilt metal faux bamboo tripod style round accent or side table. Inset clear beveled glass top.
Metal
Midcentury French Chinoiserie Guéridon or Center Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
A French chinoiserie Guéridon, or center table, with parcel giltwood base and red lacquer top. Ornately carved base with gilded foliate relief on pale green ground. The top has lands...
Giltwood, Lacquer, Paint
Sold
H 23.75 in Dm 15.75 in
English 1880s Black and Gold Chinoiserie Guéridon Side Table with Mirrored Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English black and gold chinoiserie guéridon table from the late 19th century, with mirrored top and tripartite base. Created in England during the last quarter of the 19th century...
Mirror, Giltwood, Wood
Sold
H 29.25 in W 19.25 in D 19.25 in
Antique Asian Pedestal Table Rosewood Color Hand Carved Cherry Blossoms
Located in Topeka, KS
Stunning antique Asian pedestal table with hand carved cherry blossoms rosewood color and comprised of multiple Asian hardwoods. It is in beautiful vintage condition, it is sturdy and intact and has been completely re glued and touched up. Age appropriate cracks and patina add to its beauty. Please see photos, circa mid-19th to 20th century. Shipping is possible via parcel which may reduce shipping costs, please contact Seller for a quote. What a gorgeous table!! This is a stunning Asian/Oriental...
Wood
Sold
H 28.75 in Dm 16 in
English 1850s Black Chinoiserie Guéridon Table with Gilt Motifs and Turned Legs
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English chinoiserie guéridon table from the mid-19th century, with traditional scenery, turned legs and lower shelf. Born in England during the 1850s, this guéridon table features...
Wood
Gilt Metal Bamboo Tripod Round Side Table
Located in Stamford, CT
1960s gilt metal faux bamboo tripod style round accent table. New clear beveled glass top is 14” diameter.
Metal
Early 20th Century Chinoiserie Decorated Bureau in Black Wood
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Early 20th century European chinoiserie decorated bureau in black painted wood with a fully fitted interior containing four drawers in black. The bureau has a highly decorative fall ...
Wood