Chinoiserie Antiquities
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.
Early 20th Century Asian Chinoiserie Antiquities
Wood
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Boxwood, Lacquer, Paint
Early 20th Century Hong Kong Chinoiserie Antiquities
Soapstone
1720s Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Pottery
17th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Ceramic
1720s Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Ceramic
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Brass
15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Stoneware
1690s Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Ceramic
1720s Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Ceramic
1720s Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Ceramic
1720s Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Ceramic
1720s Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Ceramic
1720s Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Ceramic
1690s Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Ceramic
20th Century Japanese Chinoiserie Antiquities
Ceramic, Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Bronze
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Antiquities
Jade
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Antiquities
Jade, Agate
19th Century Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Antiquities
1910s Chinese Vintage Chinoiserie Antiquities
Brass, Enamel
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Glass
1930s Asian Vintage Chinoiserie Antiquities
Porcelain
1880s Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Satin
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Wood
Early 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Mother-of-Pearl
Early 19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Metallic Thread
Early 1900s English Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Lacquer
19th Century Burmese Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Wood, Glass, Mirror, Giltwood
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Antiquities
Wool
18th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Antiquities
Gold