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.
Pair of Vintage Italian Chinoiserie and Faux Bamboo Tole Serving Carts
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Chic pair of vintage Italian tole off white serving or bar carts having two tiers of removable trays, with galleries, decorated in Chinoiserie on faux bamboo supports with casters.
Faux Bamboo
Chinoiserie Jacobean Hand Painted Sideboard Server, Bar Table, or Center Table
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous hand painted Chinoiserie Jacobean bar height sideboard server, bar table, or center table In the manner of Theodore Alexander Circa Late 20th Century Carved walnut, wit...
Brass
$2,320Sale Price|20% Off
Indonesian Fret Work Alter Console Table
Located in Pasadena, TX
Indonesian fret work alter console table Intricately carved teak table that folds down for portability. Mother of pearl inlay on table top. M...
Teak
Josef Frank Folding Bar Cart or Side Table by Svensk Tenn
By Josef Frank
Located in Munich, DE
Light and easy to store foldable table with a nice print by Josef Frank.
Formica
$1,751
H 30.71 in W 33.86 in D 3.15 in
Space Age Vintage Red Orange Serving Table or Bar Cart 1960s Germany
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age vintage serving cart or bar cart or gueridon in a happy making color tone red orange from laminate and metal. The bar cart shows a foldable feature. For a good mobility th...
Metal
Antique Jacobean Style Turned Oak Tiered Server
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A tiered Jacobean Server with bold form, great age patina and three tiers. Made in three tiers, the top and second tier with carved friezes in a pattern of textured squares and small...
Oak
$2,695
H 27.25 in W 53.75 in D 15.75 in
English Chippendale Console Table, Mahogany, Fret Work Design, 1980s
By Kindel Furniture, Baker Furniture Company
Located in Southampton, NJ
A refined 20th C. English Console table with Chinese Chippendale styling in the pierced fret work, gorgeous fiery Mahogany wood grains and larks tongue chamfered detailing to the leg...
Mahogany
Large Gray Painted and Limestone Console Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Large console table with a limestone top and caved wood acanthus leaf legs with a gray painted finish.
Limestone
Italian Console Table with Marble Top
Located in Woodbury, CT
This handsome neoclassical table in cream paint and parcel-gilt has a fluted apron with foliate carvings while the rose marble top has a cream marble beaded edge. Perfectly sized for...
Marble
Coastal Long Console Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Coastal long console table with a white limestone top, wire-brushed cerused pine in our Sea Salt finish with two long drawers accented with four org...
Wood
$9,200 / set
H 36.75 in W 54.5 in D 21 in
Italian, Veneto, Walnut Neoclassical 1-Drawer Console Table (1 available)
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Italian walnut neoclassical one drawer walnut consoles, Veneto Region.
Walnut
$1,457
H 25.6 in W 16.15 in D 18.9 in
Franco Albini Round Serving Bar Cart in Bamboo, Rattan and Wicker, Italy 1960s
By Franca Helg
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful French Riviera-style round serving bar cart entirely made of bamboo, curved rattan and hand-woven wicker. This stunning organic cart is attributed to the mastery of Franco ...
Metal
$3,964 / item
H 31.5 in W 47.25 in D 15.75 in
Console Table, High Gloss Laminate & Brass Details, Burgundy - M
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Julieta Collection. Console Table with High Gloss Top, Brass Tape Framed, Black Powder Coating Conical Legs with Brass End Introducing the stunning console table with black powder...
Brass
19thC Primitive Elm Pine Butchers Work Table
Located in Staffordshire, GB
Circa 1890. 19thC Primitive elm pine butchers work table, elm legs and thick rustic pine top. Well suited as a kitchen island or prep table. ...
Elm, Pine
Italian Midcentury Rattan Cane and Bamboo Drinks Cart
Located in Austin, TX
A fine Italian handcrafted mid-century rattan and bamboo bar cart or drinks trolley. Featuring a two-tiered body with decorative accents - the top tier with a gallery and handle over...
Metal
$4,375 / item
H 31.5 in W 70.87 in D 21.66 in
Console Table, High Gloss Laminate & Brass Details, Burgundy - L
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Julieta Collection. Console Table with High Gloss Top, Brass Tape Framed, Black Powder Coating Conical Legs with Brass End Introducing the stunning console table with black powder...
Brass
George III Chinese Chippendale Console Table
Located in Greenwich, CT
Very fine George III mahogany Chinese Chippendale console/serving table, the richly patinated top over blind fretwork carved apron and legs, joined by open fretted brackets and standing on blocked feet...
Mahogany
$89,500
H 35.25 in W 104.5 in D 24.25 in
George III Serving Table or Console Server with Matching Pedestals of Mahogany
Located in Austin, TX
A rare and important period English serving table or console server with matching lead-lined dining room pedestals of mahogany from the George III Era. Featuring handsomely carved f...
Metal, Lead
20th Century Oriental Tray Table on a Bamboo Stand
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Serving Table - Chinese Measures : 64x37cm H:75,5cm Very refined tray table with removable tray with oriental origins, probably from 1920s China.The frame looks pleasantly fragile a...
Bamboo, Wood
Vintage Chinoiserie Hand Painted Butler Tray Side Table
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Vintage Chinoiserie Hand Painted Butler tray side table Versatile end table with exceptional Chinoiserie painting on a removable hardwood tra...
Metal
Chinoiserie Painted Serving Table
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Superb 18th century pine serving table. This pine table features a superb 19th century Chinoiserie decoration throughout. To the top of this table, there is a variety of cartouch...
Giltwood
Sold
H 10 in W 23 in D 12.75 in
Burnt Tiger Wood Bamboo Breakfast Bed Tray with Magazine Rack and Cup Holder
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Breakfast in bed never looked so good! A gorgeous burnt bamboo or tiger bamboo bed tray with a magazine rack and cup holder. Created from pieces of bro...
Bamboo, Rattan, Wood
Sold
H 29.25 in Dm 35.25 in
Baker Historic Charleston Japanned Leather Round Tilt Top Tea Table Chinoiserie
Located in Dayton, OH
Baker Furniture Company Historic Charleston Japanned tilt-top tea table, in the Regency or Empire style. Features a circular top with embossed gilt landscape and figural decoration, a secondary band of embossed gilt foliate and figural vignette decoration with a fret border, over a turned baluster that terminates into a triangular base with gilt decoration and gilt paw feet. Label en verso of top reads "Baker Historic Charleston Reproductions...
Leather, Hardwood
Sold
H 31 in W 37.008 in D 22 in
Mastercraft, Mid-Century Modern Serving Wagons, Gold Brass, Black Lacquer, 1960s
By Mastercraft
Located in Stamford, CT
A pair of Mid-Century Modern master-craft brass acid etched bar-carts or serving wagons. This one of a kind pair of simply stunning bar carts or ser...
Brass
Sold
H 38 in W 30.25 in D 18 in
Chinoiserie Style Cinnabar Red Two Tier Bar Cart with Removable Tray Top
Located in Hopewell, NJ
An elegant cinnabar red and gold chinoiserie decorated bar or serving cart having a removable tray that's aged mirror with black and gold painted decoration. The body of the cart has...
Wood
Elegant French Brass Faux Bamboo Bar Cart with Removable Tray Top
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A stylish French bar cart or drinks trolley. Clever design allows for top to lift off and become a serving tray. Faux bamboo-very well made, vintage ca' 1970's, in the style of Bague...
Midcentury Asian Console Table or Server
Located in Atlanta, GA
Midcentury Asian console table or server, Asian, circa 1950s. This piece is a versatile size and can be used as a console or sofa table, server, or b...
Metal, Brass
Sold
H 22 in W 30 in D 23 in
Scalloped Tole Metal Serving Tray Coffee Tea Table Black Faux Bamboo Chinoiserie
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Beautiful hand-painted tole metal serving tray table. Item features removable tole metal scalloped tray, hand-painted details, wooden faux bamboo base, and elegant style and form, ci...
Metal
Two-Tier Bar Table with Brass Bamboo Detailing
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Polished brass faux bamboo frame with a gallery around the top shelve and polished black shelving inserts are the highlights of this lovely bar table. T...
Brass
Set of Four Elegant Japanese Black Laquer Nesting Tables
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A set of four (4) Japanese black laquer nesting tables with gilt trim. Largest one measures 17" H, 16 x 22". Signed "Japan", circa 1960s.
Sold
H 27.5 in W 29 in D 15.5 in
English Chinoiserie Trolley on Casters with Ebonized and Giltwood, circa 1920
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English chinoiserie revival trolley with two shelves from the early 20th century. This English trolley features an exquisite ebonized wood body, delicately highlighted by giltwood...
Giltwood, Wood
Sold
H 33 in W 37 in D 19 in
19th Century Red Lacquered Chinese Desk Altar Table with Carved Detailing
Located in Houston, TX
Very early 19th century red lacquered Chinese desk or altar table featuring brass hardware with a perfect patina and beautiful carved detailing. Very high quality in construction.
Sold
H 34 in W 40 in D 17 in
Mid-Century Modern Ebonized Chinoiserie Decorated Demilune Server or Chest
Located in Stamford, CT
Chinoiserie decorated demilune server or chest. A small demilune with fine paint decorated scenes on an ebonized background. Sitting on tapering legs a...