Chinoiserie Side Chairs
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.
Early 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Beech
Mid-20th Century Philippine Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Bamboo, Rattan
Mid-20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Teak
Late 19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Mother-of-Pearl, Bamboo, Rattan
20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Rosewood
Early 2000s American Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1960s Southeast Asian Vintage Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Textile, Wood, Paint
1960s American Vintage Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
1970s American Vintage Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Brass
1970s American Vintage Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Lacquer
Early 19th Century Antique Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Cane, Paint, Softwood
Mid-20th Century Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Cane, Elm
Mid-20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Fabric, Cherry
1930s English Vintage Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Early 19th Century Antique Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Hardwood
Mid-20th Century Southeast Asian Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Bamboo
1970s Unknown Vintage Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1890s English Antique Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Upholstery, Velvet, Wood
1970s American Vintage Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Linen, Wood
1970s Italian Vintage Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Brass
Late 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Gold Leaf
1950s American Vintage Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Upholstery
1980s American Vintage Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Wood, Upholstery
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Metal
19th Century Belgian Antique Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Twig
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Fabric, Wood, Lacquer
1880s French Antique Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Cane, Beech
19th Century Antique Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Elm
Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Late 19th Century American Antique Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
Late 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Oak
Mid-20th Century Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Rosewood
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Fabric, Cane, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Cane, Rattan
Early 1900s French Antique Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Rattan
1960s North American Vintage Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Cane
Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Rush, Maple
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Rosewood
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Fabric, Wood, Lacquer
1980s American Vintage Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Wood, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Enamel
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Wood
19th Century Antique Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Cane, Wood
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Fabric, Maple, Lacquer
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Fabric, Maple, Lacquer
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Fabric, Maple, Lacquer
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Maple, Lacquer, Fabric
Mid-20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Brass
1990s Philippine Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Brass
1930s European Vintage Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Lacquer