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
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
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
$3,880Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Chinoiserie Cast Bronze Table Lamp Italian Midcentury
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful vintage chinoiserie table lamp, Italian, midcentury. This sculptural piece is urn shaped from cast bronze and is mounted on a carved wood base. The structure is covered in a low relief chinoiserie design with a beautiful patina. The table lamp is complemented with a chinoiserie lamp shade...
Bronze
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
$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
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
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
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, GB
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
$446Sale Price|25% Off
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
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
Blue and White French Porcelain Table Lamp
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
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
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
$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
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
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
Vintage Asian Jewel Tone Chinoiserie Ceramic Lamps - a Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Stunning pair of vintage Asian ceramic lamps. Beautiful jewel tone composition in classic Chinoiserie scenes. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Ceramic
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
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
French Maison Jansen Style Bronze Orientalist Lamp
By Maison Baguès, Maison Jansen, Maison Charles et Fils, Maison Charles
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
$5,500
H 26 in W 18 in D 6 in
Table Lamp by Tommaso Barbi, Italy, Tall Midcentury Italian Brass Lamp, C 1950
Located in New York, NY
A very decorative brass, midcentury table lamp by Tommaso Barbi, circa 1950. The lamp is in the shape of a large lotus leaf. The lamp gives out a beautiful light to set the mood in y...
Brass
$934
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
$2,850 / set
H 18 in W 7 in D 6 in
Beautiful French Dore Bronze Marble Cherub Ormolu-Mounted Candelabra Lamps, Pair
Located in Roslyn, NY
A beautiful pair of French gilt doré bronze and marble cherub ormolu-mounted candelabra / three branch lamps.
Marble, Bronze
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
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
Antique Italian Beaded and Crystal Chandelier
Located in Houston, TX
Stunning antique Italian beaded and crystal chandelier from the 1920s. This unusual Italian crystal chandelier has a crown at the to...
Crystal
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
$8,400 / set
H 22.84 in W 4.73 in D 4.73 in
French 1940s Pair of Parchment Table Lamps, Andre Arbus attributed
Located in CA, CA
An elegant pair of French table lamps from the 1940s attributed to Andre Arbus. Of neoclassical obelisk form on low square basses wrapped in parchment and finished with brass ball and upturned cup...
Parchment Paper
$18,763 / set
H 28.35 in W 18.51 in D 13.78 in
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
$1,156 / 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
Italian Antique Crystal Chandelier, 1950s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An elegant and sculptural Italian antique crystal chandelier from the 1950s, featuring a refined tapered silhouette and exceptional light play. This chandelier is crafted with a warm...
Crystal, Brass
Barovier Murano Glass and Brass "Bell" Table Lamp, Italy, 1940s
By Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Spectacular table lamp in Murano blown glass and brass. This romantic table lamp was produced by Barovier in the early 1940s in Italy. This finely crafted lamp recalls the the shape...
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