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.
Midcentury Jade Matte Glaze Ceramic Ginger Jar Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Jade matte glaze ceramic ginger jar lamp on ebonized wood base. Solid brass Chinese "Double Happiness" symbol finial and hardware. Marbro Lamp Co...
Ceramic
$1,400Sale Price|20% Off
Mid-Century Frederick Cooper Tang Dynasty Horse Table Lamp
Located in San Diego, CA
Original Mid-Century Modern plaster Tang dynasty style horse, with a brass rod supporting a vintage custom square shade. The beautiful finish (faux marble) makes this piece sculptura...
Metal
Antique Chinese Carved Buddha Sculpture Now A Designer Lamp
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Chinese Carved Buddha Sculpture Now a Designer Lamp. It is beautifully mounted and includes the custom made shade illustrated. Additio...
Wood
Chinoiserie Style Gold Brass Table Lamps after Designer James Mont, a Pair
Located in New York, NY
A pair of gold anodized brass desk or table lamps in the Chinoiserie style after designer James Mont, late-20th century, circa 1980s. Lamps have a wood base and brass ball finial. Dimensions: 31.5" height to top of finial 22.25" height to top of socket 9" lamp diameter at widest 7" lamp diameter base Cord: 72" long Black acrylic table...
Brass
Asian Style Art Pottery and Enamel Ginger Jar Lamp
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Asian style is pottery lamp with reticulated body. The ginger jar form with hand enameled peony floral decoration, circa 1930s and high style that compliments a modern or traditional...
Pottery
Pair of Chinese Archaistic Brass Table Lamps, 1940s
Located in Dallas, TX
An impressive pair of chinoiserie-inspired brass table lamps in the manner of Hollywood Regency designer James Mont. Traditional form being...
Brass
$2,500 / set
Indigo Glazed Ceramic Ginger Jar Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Gorgeous pair of 1960s indigo ceramic ginger jar form lamps. Lamp body measures 20" height, overall height 28.5". Shades not included.
Ceramic
Chinoiserie Gold Crystal Chandelier Banci Firenze Italy
Located in Hastings, GB
An exceptionally rare Banci Firenze chandelier, gilt iron frame surmounted with crystal leaves and flowers that sit on spiraling golden gilt arms, to the base sit two solid crystal j...
Crystal, Iron
Black Ginger Jar Ceramic Pottery and Brass Table Lamps, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A stunning and substantial pair of black ceramic pottery 'ginger jar' table lamps with brass hardware and black lacquered wood bases, circa 1970s...
Brass
Chinese White Blue Glazed Ceramic Cock Lamp 1970s Art Vintage Chinoiserie
Located in London, England
A classic Chinese table lamp in white and blue glaze with bird nature design. The ceramic base is hand decorated as vase and eventually top with a wood top and and base. Easy to plac...
Metal, Brass
Large Midcentury Asian Chinoiserie Brass Cranes Table Lamp
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description be sure to click on CONTINUE READING at the bottom of this listing. Offering one of our recent palm beach estate fine lighting acquisitions of a large m...
Brass
Pair of French Ormolu Mounted Chinese Blue & White Porcelain Ten Arm Candelabras
Located in New York, NY
A monumental pair of Chinoiserie style French Ormolu mounted Chinese blue and white porcelain ten arm candelabras. These are truly a beautiful and monumental pair of candelabras. The...
Bronze
19th Century Blue and White Chinoiserie Table Lamp, Hand-Painted
Located in Miami, FL
A fine quality Blue and White French Porcelain Table Lamp This very decorative and fine quality French porcelain table lamp, features ...
Brass
Two Antique Cloisonné Enamel and Gilt Bronze Oil Lamps
Located in London, GB
These beautiful oil lamps were created in France in the late 19th century. They are designed in a wonderful chinoiserie style—a European take on Chinese decorative arts. The lamp...
Ormolu, Bronze, Enamel
Yellow Ceramic Chinoiserie Table Lamp Silk Lampshade
Located in New York, NY
A very beautiful bright yellow Chevron pattern ceramic table or desk lamp with coordinating yellow silk shade, in the Chinoiserie style, circa mid-20th century. Lamp body is a bright yellow ceramic in a Chevron pattern, brass hardware that takes two bulbs and has two on/off button switches (one for each bulb), black base, yellow silk shade with a flared edge, and finished with a brass finial. In Fine working order. Other items shown in images available separately, see details below lamp shade dimensions. Lamp dimensions: To top of finial: 31" H To top of lamp body: 19" H 8" Diameter at widest Silk Shade: 15.5" H 17.75" W White cube end table, search 1stDibs ref. #: LU1314222935752 French porcelain butterfly box...
Silk, Wood, Ceramic
$2,240Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Japanese Imari Porcelain Style Lamps, Signed
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of lamps in Japanese Imari porcelain style decorated with traditional figurative art, flowers and pagodas in pink and green tones on a white background within decorated borders, Made by the Honi Chilo...
Porcelain, Wood
Vintage White Porcelain Ginger Jar Lamps with White Floral Decoration
Located in Morristown, NJ
20th c., classic white porcelain ginger jars with white floral decoration, mounted as lamps, on pierced hardwood stands, unmarked. The scale of these lamps is impressive without being overscaled. They are not being sold with shades as the choice of shade is a personal one but I did try them with silk pleated kelly green and they were stunning. Dimensions: Wooden base 3.5" H x 8.5" W Jar only 16" H x 9" W Total lamp height to top of finial 32.5" H. Condition: Good, metal lamp mounts, harps, and finials with finish wear and pitting Provenance: The Estate of Mary Ann Van Rensselaer...
Brass
$376Sale Price|20% Off
20th C. Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Cylindrical Table Lamp Wood Base 19"
Located in Dayton, OH
Chinese Famille rose porcelain cylindrical vase lamp with wood base and topper, decorated with a design of flowers in pink and purple. 5.5” x 18.75” / Total Height – 28.5” (Diamete...
Porcelain, Hardwood
Asian Bronze Champlevé Dragon Cloisonné Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Bronze champlevé lamp with stylized dragon enameled cloisonné design surrounding and gorgeous patina. Mounted on hand-carved lacquered wood base, China,...
Bronze
Chinoiserie Tea Canister Tole Lamp
Located in Sheffield, MA
Black-on-gold tole lamp is decorated with engravings of doubly repeated Chinese figures in a fantasy garden, as well as bands of Greek Revival motif top and bottom. Lamp sits on black wood base. Height dimension includes harp. Electrified for regular US bulbs. Label reads "Frederick Cooper Lamps...
Metal
French Maison Jansen Style Bronze Orientalist Lamp
By Maison Charles, Maison Charles et Fils, Maison Baguès, Maison Jansen
Located in Houston, TX
French Maison Jansen style bronze Orientalist lamp. Unusual French Maison Jansen inspired bronze orientalist or chinoiserie style figural lamp. This ...
Bronze
Pair of French Chinoiserie Style Faience, Glass, and Gilt Bronze Lamps
By Faïenceries et Emaux de Longwy, Cristallerie de Pantin
Located in London, GB
Pair of French Chinoiserie style faience, glass, and gilt bronze lamps French, late 19th century Measures: Height 75cm, diameter 18cm Each lamp in this pair is wrought from exqu...
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Chinese Porcelain and French Chinoiserie Style Gilt Bronze Candelabra
Located in London, GB
Pair of Chinese porcelain and French Chinoiserie style gilt bronze candelabra Chinese and French, 19th Century Height 72cm, width 47cm, depth 35cm This superb pair of candelabra...
Ormolu, Bronze
Monumental 1950's Italian Stoneware Sculpture Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Monumental incised stoneware lamp. Newly wired single socket with solid brass hardware. Lamp body measures 21 inches height. Overall height 33.5...
Pottery
Sculptural Brass Mid Century Modern Lamps by Frederick Cooper
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural Pair of Brass and Wood Mid Century Lamps, made by Frederick Cooper of Chicago, American, circa 1960s. They have been rewired and are ready to use. The height to the top of...
Brass, Metal
$911
H 8.27 in W 6.5 in D 7.88 in
Bellflower Table Lamp in Murano Glass and Brass by Ercole Barovier, Italy 1940s
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous table lamp made in a combination Murano glass and brass. This incredibly elegant lamp was designed by Ercole Barovier and made in Italy during the early '40s. The shade o...
Brass
Pair of Large Brass Ginger Jar Lamps
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Pair of large ginger jar lamps in antiqued brass finish. 17" diameter by 26" high top of the socket. Total height is 38.
Metal
Vintage Frederick Cooper Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in Pasadena, TX
Vintage Frederick cooper hand-painted porcelain vase table lamp. Hand-painted floral porcelain table lamp. Black wood base. Brass st...
Porcelain
$1,128 / set
H 9.45 in Dm 5.52 in
Pair of Barovier Murano Rostrato Glass and Brass Table Lamps, Italy 1940s
By Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful pair of table lamps in Murano mouth-blown rostrato glass and brass. These incredibly elegant and rare table lamps were designed by Barovier and produced in Murano, Italy du...
Brass
Large Pair of Brass Lamps by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in Houston, TX
Large pair of brass lamps by James Mont. This stunning pair of Hollywood Regency Asian Modern brass lamps are statement pieces and have been n...
Brass
Maison Jansen Carved Wooden Pineapple Table Lamp
Located in Hastings, GB
A superb Pineapple table lamp attributed to Maison Jansen. Carved from a single piece of wood, the detailing and design flourishes on this rare piece are quite exquisite. There are ...
Wood
Pair of Antique Chinese Champlevé or Cloisonné Lamps
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of antique Chinese champlevé or cloisonné lamps. Lovely pair of antique Chinese bronze champlevé or cloisonné table lamps. Offered champleve or cloisonne lamps are executed in a lovely floral pattern of beautiful shades including chartreuse, turquoise, pinks and whites. These lamps are in very good antique condition and have been newly wired to U.S. specifications. Champlevé is an enameling technique in the decorative arts, where troughs or cells are carved, etched, or cast into the surface of a metal object...
Bronze, Enamel
$1,565Sale Price / set|56% Off
H 39 in W 12.5 in D 11.5 in
Vintage Pair of Large Black Lacquer and Brass Table Lamps by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sizeable pair of handmade table lamps with black lacquered wood bases and shades & brass characters by James Mont, circa 1948. Pagoda or Asian temple motif informs this unique design...
Brass
$1,500
H 53.5 in Dm 8.5 in
Hollywood Regency James Mont Style Tall Patinated Bronze Table Lamp Chinoiserie
By James Mont
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Monumental midcentury modern bronze table lamp in the style of James Mont. This tall sculptural Chinoiserie lamp features a hand...
Metal, Brass, Bronze
Frederick Cooper Chinoiserie Table Lamps Vintage Circa 1950’s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Set of two vintage 1950’s Frederick Cooper Chinoiserie table lamps. Vintage Frederick Cooper Asian tea tin canister turned int...
Metal
Italian "Lava" Glaze Table Lamp After Marcello Fantoni
By The Marbro Lamp Company, Aldo Londi, Raymor, Marcello Fantoni, Bitossi
Located in Houston, TX
Most unusual Italian hand decorated "Lava" glaze table lamp in the manner of Marcello Fantoni. This fabulous Italian mid century lamp is primarily orange with brown and white accents which appear to be peeling off the main structure. This Italian Bitossi drip glaze pottery lamp...
Pottery
Pair of James Mont Asian Modern Brass Lamps
By James Mont, The Marbro Lamp Company, Chapman Manufacturing Company
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of James Mont Asian Modern brass lamps. These stunning heavyweight Hollywood Regency brass lamps feature Chinese characters, Greek keys a...
Brass
Pair of Brass Table Lamps by Chapman
By Chapman Manufacturing Company
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Glamorous 1970s pair of polish brass table lamps with black gold tortoise lining by Chapman. Newly rewired, they take two regular Edison lightbulb. Measurements: 13” diameter with ...
Brass
Sold
H 27.5 in W 10 in D 10 in
Vintage Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Melon Vase Ginger Jar Urn Table Lamp
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Chinese famille rose melon vase / ginger jar table lamp. A red field with floral designs over wooden base with unique finial, circa 1970s.
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Soapstone Ship Sculpture Designer Table Lamp, 1910s
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Soapstone ship sculpture Now a designer table lamp. It is beautifully carve and features figures rowing a large ship. It includes the custom ...
Soapstone
Sold
H 16.74 in W 5.71 in D 3.75 in
Pair of Ralph Lauren Blue & White Porcelain Table Lamps Stunning Chinese Design
By Ralph Lauren
Located in Pulborough, GB
We are delighted to offer this for sale pair of Ralph Lauren Chinese table lamps. These lamps are totally brand new; they have been removed from ...
Porcelain
Sold
H 11 in W 4.75 in D 4.75 in
Vintage Blue & White Porcelain Chinese Ginger Jar Wood Base Boudoir Table Lamp
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage blue & white Chinese porcelain ginger jar shaped boudoir / table lamp with dark wood base and white shade. Measures: 4.75” x 11” / Shade - 9.25” x 6.75” / Total Height – 1...
Porcelain, Hardwood
Sold
H 18 in Dm 11.5 in
2 Vintage 1990s Chinoiserie Brass Octagonal Tea Canister Lamps Hollywood Regency
Located in Dayton, OH
Pair of 1990s chinoiserie octagonal brass tea canister table lamps with white shades. Measures: 11.5” x 18” / shade - 18” x 13” / total height – 29” (diameter x height)
Brass
Sold
H 10.75 in Dm 4.25 in
Vintage Chinese Porcelain Bamboo Floral Ginger Jar Boudoir Table Lamp & Shade
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Chinese ginger jar boudoir / table lamp, hand painted with bamboo and flowers with a wood base and white shade. Measures: 4.25” x...
Porcelain, Hardwood
Pair of Ceramic Table Lamps with Faux Bamboo Brass Details
Located in Miami, FL
A very stylish pair of table lamps composed of ceramic and brass with faux bamboo accents including large custom made beige silk blend lamp shades. This handsome pair of beige table ...
Porcelain, Wood
2 Vintage Blanc De Chine Chinoiserie Reticulated Pierced Ceramic Gourd Lamps
Located in Dayton, OH
Pair of mid-century blanc de chine reticulated porcelain table lamps with wood base and cap, featuring a gourd shaped form pierced with a de...
Porcelain, Hardwood
Pair Very Fine Hand Painted Wood & Gilt Bronze Table Lamps
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A Pair of particularly exquisite hand painted cylindrical table lamps with bronze mounts. The lamps have a bird and bamboo cartouche motif and green key border, the base with an embo...
Bronze
Sold
H 27.5 in W 7.75 in D 7.75 in
Vtg Frederick Cooper Chinese Chinoiserie Etched Brass Tea Caddy Canister Lamp
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Frederick Cooper Chinese canister ginger jar or tea caddy table lamp featuring etched octagonal brass body with dogwood floral and bird mo...
Brass
Novelty Crystal Corp Flower Over Beige Pink Table Lamp
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Incredible 1980s table lamp displaying a white flower paint. The glass is over a pink resting on top of the plastic chrome base. Additional information:...
Plastic
Sold
H 34 in W 7 in D 7 in
Pair of Rose Medallion Chinoiserie Hand-Painted Porcelain Lamps, Silk Shades
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of lamps in Canton porcelain decorated with traditional figurative art, flowers and pagodas in pink and green tones on a white background within decorated borders, circa 1940. F...
Porcelain, Wood
Chapman Oriental Bamboo Style and Brass Table Lamp, Signed
Located in Plainview, NY
An exceptional 1970's Oriental bamboo style and brass table lamp by Chapman. The beautiful table lamp has a long body made in brass and framed with Bamboo style wood creating a trian...
Brass
Vintage Gold Oxblood Red and Blue Ornate Chinese Porcelain Lamps
Located in Chattanooga, TN
The shades pictured are NOT INCLUDED with purchase. Shade dimensions below are for purpose of scale. Pair of vintage gold embellished porcelain Chinese lamps with elaborately ado...
Porcelain
1980s Chapman Chinoiserie Brass Porcelain Ginger Jar Urn Table Lamp
By Chapman Manufacturing Company
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Chapman ginger jar table lamp circa 1980’s; white glazed porcelain with orange, blue, pink and green matte painted leaves and flowers, brass base and finial. Measures: 11”...
Porcelain