Skip to main content

Chinoiserie Decorative Art

CHINOISERIE STYLE

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.

to
8
59
22
56
26
Height
to
Width
to
1,592
926
371
340
321
238
193
190
117
95
95
71
61
54
45
32
29
29
3
23
30
26
6
12
7
3
2
1
2
2
39
20
18
10
5
52
34
17
16
16
82
80
82
24
3
2
2
2
Style: Chinoiserie
Original Antique Print of a Chinese Vase, 'Detail', France, circa 1860
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful print of the decoration found on an antique Chinese vase Lithograph Published by A.Morel, Paris, France. circa 1860 Unframed.  
Category

1860s English Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Chinese and Japanese Plate, France, circa 1860
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful print of a Chinese and Japanese plate Lithograph Published by A.Morel, Paris, France, circa 1860 Unframed.
Category

1860s English Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Set of 6 Small Blue & White Small Plates Dragons Sarreguemines
Located in Austin, TX
Set of 6 small blue & white small plates dragons signed Sarreguemines. Measure: 6 inches diameter.
Category

1880s French Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

Original Antique Print - The Road of Pillars, China, C.1820
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great print of the Road of Pillars, China Copper-plate engraving Published by Thomas Kelly, C.1820 Unframed.
Category

Early 18th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Screen Att. Decorative Crafts, 4 Panel Wall Art
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a late 20th century chinoiserie screen attributed to Decorative Crafts. It has four panels that would make it versatile to wor...
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Wood

4 Mid-20th Century Asian Cast Bronze Figures on Black Wood Plaques Signed Gansu
Located in Topeka, KS
Marvelous vintage Asian plaques of cast bronze figures mounted on black painted plywood backgrounds signed Gansu, set of 4. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that these are vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear even if it has been refinished or restored. Specifically, each plaque background has had a fresh coat of black paint however, they still have nicks, dings, and chiggers appropriate with age. We added new hangers, and the bronze figures retain their original patinated finish. Please see photos, zoom in for details, and see long description as they are part of the condition report. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, Mid-20th Century. If you are a lover of arts and culture, we have the perfect plaques for you!! We have four marvelous cast bronze Asian figures articulating extraordinary expressions of what we believe to be visual arts, culinary arts, musical arts, and performance arts. Each cast bronze figure is mounted upon a rectangular freshly painted black plywood base plaque, each bearing differing patina or signs appropriate with age such as nicks or dings that we feel only enhance the beauty of their presence. As a matter of fact, this particular set of four was among my mother’s personal collection for many years, so it holds a special place in my heart for sure!! In our research we discovered that Gansu is a province in north-central China. Its city Jiayuguan is best known for the magnificent Great Wall. Awesome!! Each cast bronze figure exudes their own form of art, celebrating life and all of the beauty that comes with it. One holds a serving tray with a couple of glasses and a carafe… in my world there is probably a delicious red wine inside that carafe just waiting to pass through my lips!! Whatever it may be, it must be something lovely, delicious, and a bit mysterious! Another figure embraces an incredible sculpture that drapes from the tip of her shoulder, under her arm, and secretly swoops behind her. Behold… a vision of loveliness left to your imagination … a puzzling and optically pleasing piece of artistry. While another figure proudly plays a flute, twinkling their fingers across the keys… filling the air with joyful notes & sounds that tickle your ears… But let’s not leave out the last figure dancing blissfully to the beat… skipping and shuffling her bare feet in the sand. And did you notice everyone is dressed to the T’s!! Gorgeous cloaks, gowns, Hanfu, headdresses, obis, wraps, and jewels!! What a PARTY...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Bronze

Italian Hand Painted Japanese "SATSUMA" Vase Print with Wooden Bamboo Frame
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Extra Large Art Print of a Japanese "SATSUMA" vase. Printed by hand on engraving paper with an antique star press. Completely handcoloured by our skil...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Wood, Paper

Teak Wood Decorative Panels with Japanese Kimono Figures
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Series of three decorative panels made of teak hardwood; they have a pleasing elongated hexagon shape; on each one is depicted a Japanese woman wearing a Kimono; they have an attachment so they can be arranged on the wall in a personal way. They were produced in Denmark between 1960 and 1965. The top one (see photo) and the bottom one present the "Furisode" Kimono, while the middle one is the Uchikake Kimono...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Teak

Italian Hand Painted Japanese "SATSUMA" Vase Print with Wooden Bamboo Frame
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Extra Large Art Print of a Japanese "SATSUMA" vase. Printed by hand on engraving paper with an antique star press. Completely hand-coloured by our ski...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Wood, Paper

Schumacher by Mary McDonald Chinois Palais Wallpaper Mural in Aquamarine
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by an antique Chinese silk panel, this design features exotic birds and cherry blossoms and is true to the original scale. Available as a printed linen and a wallcovering. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary British Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Large Chinese Imports Oval Brass Tray Chinese Collector Metal Platter
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Asian Chinese imports oval metal brass tray, hammered and chiseled, engraved with dragons and different scenes of wild animals, ancient pagodas homes an...
Category

Mid-20th Century Hong Kong Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Brass

Ceramic Famille Rose Chinoiserie Jar or Urn Lid
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A round ceramic famille rose bottle or urn lid. Although the base of this piece is missing, we love the idea of hanging it on a wall as a decorative chinoiseri...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic, Paint

Schumacher by Mary McDonald Chinois Palais Vinyl Wallpaper Panel in Blush
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by an antique Chinese silk panel, this Mary McDonald design features exotic birds and cherry blossoms on a stippled texture background. P...
Category

2010s British Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Schumacher Kanji Sisal Wallpaper Mural in Ochre
Located in New York, NY
The spare simplicity of a Japanese brush painting from the late Edo period inspired this clean-lined meditation on bamboo, captured in an ink-l...
Category

2010s American Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Paper, Grasscloth

Schumacher by Miles Redd Brighton Pavilion Wallpaper Mural in Emerald
Located in New York, NY
Based on a rare 18th-century document and created by one of Europe's premier engravers, this design comes in coordinating panels of fabric and wallpaper with a 12-foot repeat. Pane...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary British Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Schumacher Kanji Wallpaper Mural in Green
Located in New York, NY
A reinterpretation of a woven fabric document from the Schumacher archives, this design features a repeating LOVE motif that is rendered in tight pencil lines resembling the effect o...
Category

2010s American Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Schumacher Yashinoki Crane Wallpaper Mural in Willow
Located in New York, NY
Elegant cranes meander and take flight through an enchanting forest of palm trees, or Yashinoki in Japanese. Based on an original painting by our design studio, the 4-panel Japanese mural...
Category

2010s American Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Schumacher by Mary McDonald Chinois Palais Wallpaper Mural in Tangerine
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by an antique Chinese silk panel, this design features exotic birds and cherry blossoms and is true to the original scale. Available as a p...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary British Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Vintage Big Kaiser Plate “Ming”, West Germany Plate, Chinoiserie Style
Located in Bastogne, BE
Vintage big Kaiser plate “Ming” collection. Famous West Germany manufacture Kaiser. Time-tasted high quality porcelain. Beautiful collection “Min...
Category

1970s German Vintage Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Porcelain

Schumacher by Mary McDonald Chinois Palais Wallpaper Mural in Noir
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by an antique Chinese silk panel, this design features exotic birds and cherry blossoms and is true to the original scale. Available as a printed linen and a wallcovering. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary British Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Emperor, Italy, 1950s, Carved Wood
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Ebonized wood panel with the figure of an empress inserted as an inlay. The figure in relief is in resin, sculpted, finished and decorated. The mah...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Bronze

Emperor, Italy, 1950s, Carved Wood
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Ebonized wood panel with the figure of an emperor inserted as an inlay. The relief figure is in resin, then sculpted, finished and decorated. The 9...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Chinoiserie Decorative Art

Materials

Bronze

Chinoiserie decorative art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Chinoiserie decorative art for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage decorative art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, asian art and furniture, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with paper, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Chinoiserie decorative art made in a specific country, there are Europe, United Kingdom, and Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original decorative art, popular names associated with this style include Schumacher, Mary McDonald, Sarreguemines, and Soicher Marin. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for decorative art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $30 and tops out at $124,500 while the average work can sell for $747.

Recently Viewed

View All