20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Nodding Head Figures
Vintage 1960s Italian Chinoiserie Figurative Sculptures
Porcelain
20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Figurative Sculptures
Porcelain
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1930s Chinese Qing Ceramics
Porcelain
Early 20th Century German Art Deco Porcelain
Porcelain
Antique Early 1800s English Neoclassical Dinner Plates
Porcelain
20th Century Chinese Ceramics
Porcelain
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Chinese Ming Antiquities
Ceramic, Porcelain
Antique 17th Century Chinese Qing Antiquities
Ceramic, Porcelain
Antique Early 18th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics
Porcelain
Antique 17th Century Chinese Chinese Export Vases
Ceramic, Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Chinese Louis XVI Urns
Brass, Ormolu
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Table Lamps
Brass
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Table Lamps
Brass, Gold Leaf
Antique 19th Century English Chinese Chippendale Vitrines
Glass, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Chinese Qing Sculptures and Carvings
Porcelain
Antique 1840s English Porcelain
Porcelain
Antique Late 18th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Bowls
Iron
Early 20th Century Chinese Art Deco Chinese and East Asian Rugs
Wool
A Close Look at chinoiserie Furniture
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.
Finding the Right figurative-sculptures for You
Figurative sculpture is a modern art form in which artists create work that is typically representative of the visible world. However, sculptures that are considered to be figurative in style can definitely be inclusive of abstract elements. A wide range of antique, new and vintage figurative sculptures has been made over the years by both well-known and emerging artists, and these pieces can prove striking and provocative as part of your home decor.
Realistic representation in visual art has a very long history. And while figurative artists, whether figurative painters or sculptors, find inspiration in humans, animals and real-life objects, good figurative sculptures can make us think differently about how the real world should look. Just as figurative paintings might include Photorealistic human likenesses, they can also include elements of Surrealism and can suggest a creative and alternative reality. Figurative sculptures aren’t always realistic impressions of our world — depictions of the human form in classical Greek sculpture, for example, might emphasize beauty and physical perfection.
There are a variety of figurative sculptures on 1stDibs created by artists working in a number of styles, including Art Deco, Art Nouveau, mid-century modern and more. A large figurative sculpture can introduce an excellent focal point in a guest bedroom, while smaller works might draw the eye to spaces such as wall shelving or a bookcase that people may otherwise overlook.
When decorating your living room, dining room, home office and study areas with figurative sculptures, don’t be afraid to choose bold colors to inject brightness into neutral spaces. Texture is another factor to consider when purchasing figurative sculptures. A highly textural work of ceramics or wood will catch the eye in a sleek modern space, whereas a smooth, flat glass sculpture can offer an often much-needed contrast in a room that already has many textures.
On 1stDibs, find antique, new or vintage figurative sculpture or other kinds of sculpture for your home decor today.