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.
19th-C. English Framed Watercolors Room Study Chinoiserie Demilune & Cabinet S/2
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a set of 19th century English watercolors that are framed in green faux marble frames. They are unsigned. The depict chinoiserie furniture, a demilune and a cabinet. Both are...
Wood, Paper
Gracie Silver Metallic Sepia Garden Wallpaper Panel, Handpainted
By Gracie
Located in New York, NY
A framed Gracie Sepia Garden panel. Gracie, founded in 1898 is known for handpainted wallpapers and antiques. Founded in 1898 in New York, Gracie was...
Paint, Paper
Set of Four Italian Chinoiserie Painted Wood Panels
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Stunning set of four two-sided painted wood panels that were once a folding screen or room divider. The Italian panels feature parcel gilt framed scenes embellished with Chinese moti...
Wood
$1,091Sale Price|20% Off
A.Bouverat Chinese Inspired Lacquered Panel Hand-Painted 20th Century
By A. Bouverat
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very beautiful rare and large lacquer of Chinese inspiration. Representation of a green space with many plants such as cherry trees and magnolia. A bird crosses the lacquer with its ...
Lacquer
$2,960Sale Price|20% Off
Late 19th Century French Chinoiserie Hand Painted Oil on Canvas
Located in Dallas, TX
An elegant late 19th century French Chinoiserie oil painting on canvas, originally part of the decorative scheme of a Georgian townhouse. The ...
Canvas, Paper
Pair of Large Chinese Ancestor Portraits in Gilt Frames
Located in Elkton, MD
Watercolor on paper ceremonial portraits depicting a seated nobleman and noblewoman in richly detailed court attire. Presented in later textile-wrapped frames with gilt trim and glas...
Fabric, Paper
Asian Wood Panel Paintings Diptych Brass Hardware Flora and Fauna Scene Chinese
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Vintage Han Palace Art Co. scroll framed oil painting wood diptych carved panels. The original tag on back. This is a vintage piece from the 1950s or 1960s....
Wood, Paint, Paper
Mid-19th Century Hand Painted Asian Wallpaper Panels
Located in San Francisco, CA
A set of three mounted hand painted wallpaper panels in simple wood frames. Beautifully and elaborate painted scenes with birds, flowers,...
Paper
Large Scale Reverse Glass Chinoiserie Painting by Miriam Ellner 51” x 51”
By Miriam Ellner
Located in Atlanta, GA
Large scale silver leafed and reverse glass eglomisé painting by Miriam Ellner. Signed and dated 2014. Elegantly framed in a J. Pocker of NYC frame. It m...
Glass, Wood
$58,950Sale Price / set|52% Off
Pair French 18th-19th Century Chinoiserie Circle of Jean B. Pillement
By Jean-Baptiste Pillement
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine pair of French 18th-19th century whimsical rococo style chinoiserie oil on canvas, circle of Jean-Baptiste Pillement. (French, 1728-1808). One oil painting depicting an outdoor patio scene of a standing young mother, holding a fan, with her three young children playing with a horse-toy, a parrot and a cat, all surrounded by flowers, plants, trees, planters and flanked by a dragon fountain...
Canvas, Giltwood
18th Century Italian Chinoiserie Scene Painted Panel
Located in Dallas, TX
Lovely 18th century Italian painted panel featuring chinoiserie images. Vibrant colors of blue, pink, green and gold. Such an interesting piece ...
Wood
Chinoiserie Painting in the Style of Tony Duquette with Gilt Wood Frame
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A striking Chinoiserie painting depicting Asian women playing music and dancing among pagodas, rendered in vibrant tones of green, burnt orange, brown, and gold. The composition is s...
Gold
$245Sale Price|30% Off
1979 Cui Tang Pheasants Love Birds Painting on Silk Flowers Peonies Chinoiserie
Located in Dayton, OH
1979 Cui Tang Korean painting on silk showing brightly colored male and female pheasants in front of a bush of pink and white peonies. This art was made in 1979...
Silk, Paint
Antique Painted Porcelain Plaque Depicting an Orientalist Beauty, Signed Vienna
Located in New York, NY
A very large and magnificent antique painted porcelain plaque depicting an orientalist beauty dressed in silk, jewelry, pearls, and 24-karat raised gold and enamel, signed Vienna. Th...
Enamel
Chinoiserie Eglomise Glass Panel, 19th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
A chinoiserie eglomise and decoupage five part glass panel in gilt frame, English, 19th century. 40 inches wide by 30 inches tall
Glass, Wood
Two Vintage Watercolor Faux Bamboo Bird Paintings House of Baldwin - A Pair
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A pair of chinoiserie faux bamboo watercolor paintings of birds. This lovely set was quite the find. We fell in love with the faux bamboo bird frame immediately. Each painting is sig...
Glass, Wood, Paint, Paper
Antique Pith Painting of Birds
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Charming framed and matted antique Chinese painting of birds. Painted on pith paper with gouache in bold colors in a scholastic style...
Paper
Set of Three French Chinoiserie Framed Canvas Paintings
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Magnificent set of three French oil on canvas paintings made in the chinoiserie revival period of 19th century, Europe. The center painting feature...
Canvas, Wood
A large pair of early 20th c framed French Chinoiserie oil on canvas paintings
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine and large pair of late 19th century to early 20th century oil on canvas paintings . Framed with a custom frame. The paintings have scenes of Chinoiserie children at play. Well...
Canvas
1940’s Reverse Chinoiserie Style Painted Glass Wood Panels Screen Divider
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning, wood framed with glass paintings you could hope to find. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to acquire what is, unequivocally, t...
Glass
Original Bali Nyoman Artist Gunarsa (1944-2017) Painting & Handmade Teak Frame
Located in Bensalem, PA
Original I Nyoman Gunarsa painting with handmade teak frame by the artist as well COA included any questions feel free to reach out
Teak, Paint
Vintage Boho Monumental 19th Century Ancestor Portrait
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Commanding a room with its impressive scale and historical gravitas, this monumental 19th-century Chinese ancestor portrait de...
Glass, Wood, Paper
Asian Mixed Media & Water Pastel Painting - Unframed - Vietnam - Circa 1998
Located in Chatham, ON
Asian water pastel painting with watercolor highlights on paper - featuring farmers cultivating a rice paddy - initialled & dated lower left - contained in a vintage matte - unframed...
Paint, Paper, Crayon
Vintage Chinese Watercolor Framed Painting of Flowers & Butterfly
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage watercolor painting depicts pink and red flowers, most probably peonies, with lush green leaves, and white and yellow butterfly, sitting on one of the leaves. Bright, festiv...
Paper
Chi Shing, 'River Boats II', Framed Watercolor Painting, China, Mid-20th C
Located in Chatham, ON
CHI SHING - 'River Boats II' - Vintage watercolor landscape painting - vintage gold tone metal frame - finished with double matte boards - signed lower right...
Metal
$2,360Sale Price / set|20% Off
Large Pair 19th Century Antique Chinoiserie Figurative Distressed Painted Panels
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Impressive large pair of antique distressed original Chinoiserie paintings on wood panels having marvelous weathered patina. Frames are celadon green with silver and gold raised deco...
Wood
Set of Three Chinoiserie Paintings, Watercolors on Silk and Gilded Paper
Located in Eskilstuna, SE
A set of 3 of elegant silk paintings by Swedish house Ennisance, creator of bespoke luxury wallcoverings. Entitled The Orchard in Emerald, Platinum and Gold each piece is handpainted...
Fabric, Silk, Paper
Pair of Vintage Chinese Floral and Bird Paintings on Paper, Framed, Chinoiserie
Located in Bradenton, FL
A Pair of Vintage Chinese Floral and Bird Paintings on Paper, Framed. This beautiful pair are presented as complementary mirrored compositio...
Paint, Paper
Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Unique "Ming" Bronze Wall Sculpture 1960s (Signed)
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Unique and stunning wall-hanging "Ming" sculpture in patinated and engraved bronze and pewter with hand-applied enamels by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne, American 1960's (engraved “P+K...
Bronze, Enamel, Pewter
Chi Shing, 'River Boats I', Framed Watercolor Painting, China, Mid-20th C
Located in Chatham, ON
CHI SHING - 'River Boats I' - Vintage watercolor landscape painting - vintage gold tone metal frame - finished with double matte boards - signed lower left -...
Metal
Vintage Chinese Watercolor & Ink Landscape Painting, Signed, Late 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage traditional style watercolor and ink landscape painting on silk (applied to paper backing) - hand painted - silk damask textile border - signed with a red seal lower right (u...
Silk, Paint, Paper
Oil Painting Still Life Collage on Burlap
By Jacques Lamy
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Oil painting and collage on burlap of a blue and white Chinese jar set in a deconstructed reality with an evocative mixture of techniques. ...
Burlap, Paint
Stylized Oriental Still Life Oil on Board after Hovsep Pushman
By Hovsep Pushman 1
Located in Hanover, MA
This still life framed painting 33" x 35" oil on board came from a home where the interior has been decorated and furnished by James Mont. It is likely that this painting was selecte...
Wood
Still Life Oil Painting on Burlap
By Jacques Lamy
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Oil painting and collage on burlap having a still life composition of two Chinese vases and a deconstructed interior with a warm silent ambiance. Signed Jacques Lamy in the lower right.
Paint
$2,900 / item
Set of Three Chinese Pith Paintings of Fish
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Set of three rare framed and matted antique Chinese paintings of fish. Painted on pith paper with gouache in bold colors in a scholastic style. Having...
Paper
Still Life Painting with Chinese Vase and Scroll by Frederick Roberts Johnson
Located in Nantucket, MA
Vintage Still Life Painting with Chinese Vase and Scroll, by Frederick Roberts Johnson (British: 1900 - 1986), circa 1940, an oil on canvas still life painting with an antique Chines...
Canvas
$320Sale Price|46% Off
Postmodern/Chinoiserie Framed and Signed Oil Painting of Lady With Fan
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Incredible Patrick Nagel style vintage postmodern/chinoiserie oil painting. Displayed in a pink frame, subject is a woman with black hair in a...
Canvas, Wood, Paint
XX century, Pair of Italian Oil Paintings with Chinoiserie Landscapes
Located in IT
XX century, Pair of Italian Oil Paintings with Chinoiserie Landscapes Provenance: Pietro Accorsi collection, Turin (Italy) This delightful pair ...
Canvas