Chinoiserie Fabric By The Yard
Vintage 1960s American Chinoiserie Chairs
Cane, Wood
Vintage 1960s American Chinoiserie Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Recent Sales
Late 20th Century North American Chinoiserie Curtains and Valances
Cotton
Late 20th Century English Chinoiserie Wallpaper
Paper
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Vintage 1960s American Chinoiserie Armchairs
Cane, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
2010s Italian Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Alabaster, Brass
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Bamboo
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Walnut, Burl
Vintage 1960s American Armchairs
Wood
Vintage 1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Clay, Teak
20th Century Federal Sideboards
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Blown Glass
Vintage 1970s Post-Modern Chairs
Stainless Steel
Vintage 1980s American Georgian Dining Room Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Console Tables
Wood
Vintage 1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofa Tables
Ceramic, Teak
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Side Chairs
Fabric, Bamboo, Cane
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Steel
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Armchairs
Faux Bamboo, Wood
A Close Look at Chinoiserie Furniture
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.
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