Chinoiserie Tapestries
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.
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Tapestries
Wool
Early 20th Century Chinoiserie Tapestries
Textile
18th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Tapestries
Textile, Wool
Early 20th Century Chinoiserie Tapestries
Silk
Late 20th Century Chinoiserie Tapestries
Silk
Late 20th Century Chinoiserie Tapestries
Silk, Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Tapestries
Silk
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Tapestries
Wool, Cotton
Mid-20th Century Chinoiserie Tapestries
Silk
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Tapestries
Silk
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Tapestries
Silk
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Tapestries
Cotton, Wool
Mid-20th Century Turkish Chinoiserie Tapestries
Cotton
Mid-20th Century Indonesian Chinoiserie Tapestries
Silk
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Tapestries
Silk
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Tapestries
Silk
Mid-20th Century French Chinoiserie Tapestries
Wool
Mid-19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Tapestries
1920s Asian Vintage Chinoiserie Tapestries
Fabric
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinoiserie Tapestries
Wool
18th Century and Earlier Belgian Antique Chinoiserie Tapestries
Wool, Silk
Early 20th Century French Chinoiserie Tapestries
Wool
Early 20th Century Moroccan Chinoiserie Tapestries
Silk
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Tapestries
Silk, Wood
Mid-19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Tapestries
Wool, Canvas
Late 19th Century Korean Antique Chinoiserie Tapestries
Fabric, Silk, Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Tapestries
Wool
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinoiserie Tapestries
Wool
Early 20th Century Japanese Chinoiserie Tapestries
Cotton, Linen
19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Tapestries
Wool, Silk
Late 20th Century Belgian Chinoiserie Tapestries
Wool
20th Century Belgian Chinoiserie Tapestries
Fabric
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Tapestries
Fabric
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Tapestries
Wool
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Tapestries
Silk
18th Century Japanese Antique Chinoiserie Tapestries
Silk
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Tapestries
Silk
1950s Chinese Vintage Chinoiserie Tapestries
Fabric
Early 19th Century Burmese Antique Chinoiserie Tapestries
Velvet
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Tapestries
Silk, Wood
Late 18th Century European Antique Chinoiserie Tapestries
Canvas
1920s Chinese Vintage Chinoiserie Tapestries
Silver Leaf