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Chinoiserie Bookcases

CHINOISERIE STYLE

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.

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Style: Chinoiserie
19th Century English Black and Gold Chinoiserie Bookcase with Glass Doors
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English black and gold bookcase from the 19th century with Chinoiserie décor and glass doors. This exquisite English black and gold bookcase from the ...
Category

19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Glass, Wood

Black Lacquer Bookcase Display Cabinet
Located in North York, ON
This stunning piece is expertly crafted and made in the USA, ensuring the highest quality and attention to detail. Drawing inspiration from iconic Chinoiserie style, this bookcase ex...
Category

2010s American Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Metal

Lacquered Breakfront Bookcase Chinoiserie
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Eye cathching lacquered breakfront bookcase Features a plethora of hand painted Chinoiserie on all surfaces Designs include pagodas, rustic Chinese ...
Category

1980s Vintage Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Glass

1970s Chinoiserie Drexel Black and Brass Bookshelves – a Pair
Located in Farmington Hills, MI
We are very pleased to offer a set of Drexel bookcases from their ET-cetera collection, circa the 1970s. These exquisite Asian inspired bookshelves exude timeless elegance with thei...
Category

1970s American Vintage Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Brass

Chinoiserie Japanned English Pagoda Bamboo Standing Corner Shelf or Etagere
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
An antique English 3 tier corner etagere of burnt bamboo and black Japanned panels. Each shelf is fan-shaped and Japanned In black, with a red chinoiserie design of birds and flowers...
Category

20th Century Southeast Asian Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Metal

Mid Century Chinoiserie Chrome and Glass Etagere
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Exceptional vintage mid century modern chinoiserie chrome Etagere. Features 5 glass shelves.
Category

1980s Vintage Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Chrome

Wonderful Pair Chinoiserie Faux Bamboo Arch Shape Glass Etagere Bookshelf
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Pair Of Chinoiserie Faux Bamboo Arch Shape With Glass Insert Etagere / Bookshelf's Painted White
Category

20th Century Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Metal

English 1880s Black and Gold Breakfront Two Part Bookcase with Chinoiserie Décor
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English two part black and gold breakfront bookcase from the late 19th century with Chinoiserie décor, gilded Greek Key and floral décor, chicken wire doors, drawers and additional wooden doors. Created in England during the last quarter of the 19th century, this tall bookcase attracts immediately our attention with its tall proportions and stunning black and gold colors. Made of two parts, this breakfront bookcase is adorned with a molded cornice with carved dentil molding and a gilded Greek Key frieze, sitting above four doors presenting chicken wire. These doors open to a light painted interior with convenient shelves. The lower section, decorated with an exquisite Chinoiserie décor, is made of three drawers followed by four doors with red lacquered interior. Peaceful and traditional scenes present Chinese figures in landscapes and architectures, engaged in their daily occupations: crossing a narrow bridge, horse riding, net fishing, one can imagine the serenity of such a life. The sides are also adorned with lovely foliage and the back is plain. With its breakfront lines and skillfully executed décor, this English Chinoiserie bookcase...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Wire

Chinoiserie Wedgewood Blue Pagoda Étagère
Located in Essex, MA
Chinoiserie Wedgewood blue pagoda étagère or shelf. Elegant étagère to display Chinese porcelain, blue and white collections, plants, or storage.
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Metal

Antique Chinese Lacquered Elm Bookcase Etagere Dry Bar Cabinet Room Divider
Located in Dayton, OH
Early 20th century Chinese elm etagere cabinet. Features a modernist open form with three shelves over two dovetailed drawers and lower cupboard for storage. Constructed via mortise ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Elm

Pair Baker Far East Collection Michael Taylor Natural Elmwood Colonnade Cabinets
Located in Topeka, KS
Wonderful vintage Asian Style chinoiserie Baker Furniture Far East Collection by Michael Taylor pair of cabinets. Comprised of natural ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Brass

Antique Golden Tortoise Bamboo and Woven Wicker Etagere Bookshelf
Located in Germantown, MD
Antique tortoise bamboo and Woven Wicker Etagere bookshelf. Bamboo rods and woven wicker shelves make this etagere shelving unique. This Boho c...
Category

19th Century American Antique Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Bamboo, Wicker, Plywood

Red Japanned Bureau Bookcase
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a highly decorative and stylish Chinese red painted bureau bookcase decorated overall with gilt chinoiseries. The top section contains a broken arched pediment over two confo...
Category

20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Wood

English 19th Century Black and Gold Secretary Bookcase with Chinoiserie Décor
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English black lacquer secretary bookcase from the 19th century, with glass doors, drop-front desk and gold Chinoiserie décor. Created in England during the 19th century, this secr...
Category

19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Glass, Wood

Davis Cabinet Co Teakwood Chinoiserie Library Bookcase Cabinet Shelf Commode
Located in Dayton, OH
"Vintage Davis Cabinet Company bookcase commode. Made of teakwood featuring asian styling with upper book shelves and lower cabinet. Circa late 20th century, Nashville Tennessee. #1515 These words of our venerable leader introduce this short history of our firm which began in 1929. There are certainly older furniture companies ---- and obviously younger ones, but quite likely, none with a more romantic history or a more Horatio Alger-like history than ours. Davis Cabinet Company began as the dream of one man, Lipscomb ""Lip"" Davis, and as is the case with most dreams, this one ---- the impractical idea of building fine furniture from solid wood ---- was thought to be an impossibility. Wood, like steel and iron and most other substances, expands and contracts with climate changes. Furniture built of solid wood must of necessity rack itself to pieces through the inexorable changes of expansion and contraction. Lipscomb Davis thought otherwise. His personal philosophy might be expressed as ""Anything can be accomplished if it is done correctly"", and to this end he had already conceived and engineered a startling new concept of free floating construction that would allow the solid wood case construction to move at will . . . . naturally . . . and thereby avoid the stresses of climatic change. The opportunity to test the idea came dramatically in 1929 ---- but we're getting a bit ahead of our story. While Davis Cabinet Company was formed in 1929, it really had its beginnings around the turn of the century as a sawmill located near Fifth Street on the banks of the Cumberland River. The mill produced lumber from logs rafted down the river from neighboring forests. A ready market existed for most of the high grade lumber turned out by the mill. But, in order to utilize their entire production, the enterprising mill owners formed a subsidiary business, Standard Furniture Company. Here, they manufactured primarily veneered bedroom suites and sewing machine cabinets...
Category

Late 20th Century Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Teak

Italian Painted and Giltwood Chinoiserie Cabinet
Located in Houston, TX
Italian painted and giltwood chinoiserie cabinet. Stunning versatile Italian painted and gilt wood chinoiserie 2-door cabinet, bookcase, bar or cu...
Category

1920s Italian Vintage Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Wood

Unusual Baker Chinoiserie Modular Chest Bookcase Shelf Mid-Century Modern
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Unusual Baker Chinoiserie style 2-piece modular bookcase chest. The top shelving unit sits on top of a Tansu-style 4 drawer chest. We love the blackened iron hardware along with th...
Category

1970s American Vintage Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Iron

19th Century English Black Lacquered Bookcase with Raised Chinoiserie
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful decorative 19th century black lacquered bookcase with raised Chinoiserie design. Features interesting Asian designs. A true work of art!
Category

19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Wood

English 1870s Chinoiserie Waterfall Bookcase with Soft Yellow Painted Finish
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English painted Chinoiserie waterfall bookcase from the late 19th century. Attracting our eyes with its soft yellow painted color adorne...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Wood

Hand painted Faux Bamboo Breakfront Bookcase
Located in Norwalk, CT
A lovely cabinet with hand painted decoration in gold over a very dark green, detailed with faux bamboo trimming. The upper section behind mullioned glass doors has glass shelves and...
Category

Late 20th Century Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Wood

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Mid-Century Modern Chrome Smoked Glass Étagère Bookcase Shelf Baughman Style
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19th Century English Style Mahogany Bookcase
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Sheraton Display Cabinet Antique Bookcase 1880
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Drexel Black Lacquered Chinoiserie Pagoda Top Armoire Wardrobe Cabinet
Located in West Hartford, CT
Stunning and breathtaking black lacquered chinoiserie style armoire that features a gold pagoda with faux bamboo accent detail all around. It alos features hand painted landscape sc...
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Mahogany Breakfront Library Bookcase
Located in Cheshire, GB
Figured mahogany library bookcase. The molded cornice above four glazed doors open to reveal an adjustable shelved interior. To the base fitted with four paneled doors...
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Mahogany Breakfront Library Bookcase
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19th Century Door Frame Bookcase with Copper Lined Shelves
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Pair of Mid-Century Chrome, Brass and Glass Etagere Bookshelves
Located in Shippensburg, PA
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20th Century Chinoiserie Bookcases

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Rare Kim Moltzer French Lacquer and Brass Shelves, 1970s
Located in Paris, IDF
Functional and stylish, this shelving unit or bookcase has a brilliant brass structure, blue smoked glass shelves, and black lacquer cabinets. Designed by Kim Moltzer in the 1970s th...
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English Bamboo Corner Display Shelf
Located in Wilson, NC
This shelf has six levels each of which is decorated with red lacquer embossed paper mache. The main central shelf has a central lacquer panel decorated with a bird on a limb. The lo...
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1880s English Antique Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Bamboo, Lacquer

English Bamboo Corner Display Shelf
English Bamboo Corner Display Shelf
H 68 in W 31.25 in D 22 in
George III Style Breakfront Bookcase
Located in Greenwich, CT
Very fine quality Georgian style breakfront bookcase in the manner of Thomas Chippendale, the swan neck pediment with pierced foliat...
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1920s English Vintage Chinoiserie Bookcases

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Drexel Chinoiserie Campaign Style Off White Lighted Display Cabinet Faux Rattan
Located in Topeka, KS
Lovely vintage Chinoiserie or Campaign style off-white lighted display cabinet with faux wrapped rattan edges by Drexel. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear. There are a few dings or nicks in the finish and along the bottom edge of piece at floor but nothing major. There is also an overall yellowing or fading to the finish which we consider patina. The inside is purposefully a lighter color than the outside. Please see photos and zoom in for details. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, Mid-20th Century. Is this a marvelous Display Cabinet? Yes! What about a stunning Bookcase? Yes! Could it be a wonderful China Hutch? Also, YES!! This gorgeous cabinet is comprised of a one-piece off-white painted unit with four lower doors (or 2 double doors) with antiqued brass plated rings or handles and open storage with a shelf behind each set of double doors. The top portion is lighted and features two tall narrow double doors with glass...
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Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Bookcases

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Previously Available Items
Chinoiserie Style Faux Bamboo Gilt Iron Bookshelf Étagère
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Elaborate faux bamboo gilt iron fretwork étagère having heavy gold finish, glamorous chinoiserie style and super heavy .5" thick glass shelves. Wonderful deep detail in bamoo design....
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1970s American Vintage Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Iron

Hand painted Faux Bamboo Breakfront Bookcase
Located in Norwalk, CT
A lovely cabinet with hand painted decoration in gold over a very dark green, detailed with faux bamboo trimming. The upper section behind mullioned glass doors has glass shelves and...
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Late 20th Century Chinoiserie Bookcases

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Wood

Early 20th Century Chinoiserie Mahogany Book Rack
Located in Waxahachie, TX
Presenting a fabulous and rare early 20th century American Nouveau book/ magazine trough/ console. Made of mahogany with a lacquer finish.. It is based upon the earlier concept of a ‘Canterbury’ from the English Regency Era...
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1910s Vintage Chinoiserie Bookcases

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DIXIE Aloha Faux Bamboo Asian Chinoiserie Hand Painted Bookcase with Cabinet
Located in Charlotte, NC
An Asian chinoiserie style bookcase hutch with cabinet chest by Dixie Furniture, from their Aloha Collection. Faux bamboo wood with hand painted chinoiserie scene on the doors & top,...
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Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Bookcases

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Brass

19th Century Chinoiserie Secretary Bookcase
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Outstanding quality with an unusual blue hue including a blue leather writing surface.
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19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Bookcases

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Metal

L & JG Stickley Chinoiserie Etagere Bookcase Console Having Brass Gallery
Located in Southampton, NJ
A beautiful multifunctional J & G Stickley Etagere, Bookcase or Console Table having carved Chinoiserie details throughout with brass gallery. Feature...
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21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinoiserie Bookcases

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Brass

Baker Furniture Chinoiserie Dutch Baroque Breakfront Bookcase or China Cabinet
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Dutch Baroque Chinoiserie style breakfront bookcase or dining cabinet By Baker Furniture USA, Late 20th Century Black lacquer, with Asian scenes painted in gold r...
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Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Bookcases

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Burl, Lacquer, Glass

Georgian Style Chinoiserie Decorated Secretary Bookcase by Baker
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Handsome English Georgian style secretaire bookcase cabinet made by Baker Furniture. The two-part secretary features a dark green lacquered case embellished with parcel gilt Chinoiserie reserves. The top portion is fronted by two large arched doors opening to a four-shelf storage area. The doors are surmounted by a conforming cornice top with mounts for finials. The slant front desk opens...
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20th Century American Chinoiserie Bookcases

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Brass

Black Lacquer Chinoiserie Étagères with Hand Painted Gold and Floral Details
Located in Morristown, NJ
A pair of late 20th C. four-shelf black lacquered Chinoiserie étagères with hand painted gold with red floral detail and brass finials. The decoration is mirrored front and back and ...
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Brass

Georgian Style Chinoiserie Decorated Secretary Bookcase by Sarreid
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Gorgeous secretaire bookcase by Sarreid Ltd. featuring a Georgian style Japanned case decorated in the chinoiserie revival taste. The two-part bookcase is fronted by two large doors inset with antiqued, beveled glass opening to reveal a shelved storage area. The case has a domed top with a cornice flanked by decorative finials on each side. The lower dresser features a slant front or fall front writing table measuring 37 inches wide by 14 inches deep. The inside is fitted with stepped storage...
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Vintage Drexel Et Cetera Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Pagoda Curio Display Cabinet
Located in Dayton, OH
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1980s Vintage Chinoiserie Bookcases

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Glass, Hardwood, Lacquer

Important Antique Victorian Chinese Chinoiserie Revolving Bookcase Side Table
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare, Victorian circa 1880 Chinese Chinoiserie revolving bookcase table. An exceptionally well made and highly decorative library book table...
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1880s Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Bookcases

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Wood

Chinoiserie bookcases for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Chinoiserie bookcases for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage bookcases created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Chinoiserie bookcases made in a specific country, there are Europe, England, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original bookcases, popular names associated with this style include Baker Furniture Company, Baker Far East Collection, Century Furniture, and Davis Cabinet Company. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for bookcases differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $900 and tops out at $16,500 while the average work can sell for $4,600.

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