Chinoiserie Tea Sets
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 Century English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
1760s English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
1880s English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
19th Century Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Pottery
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Ceramic
Mid-19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
1820s English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
Mid-19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
1980s Chinese Vintage Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
1770s English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Asian Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Ceramic
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Silver
20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Metal
19th Century Austrian Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Silver
1980s Hungarian Vintage Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
1980s Portuguese Vintage Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
Early 20th Century English Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
Late 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Gold
1770s English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
Early 20th Century English Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Pottery
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
18th Century and Earlier English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
Late 20th Century English Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Majolica
1920s English Vintage Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
1980s Swedish Vintage Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
1810s English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
1880s English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
20th Century Belgian Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Ceramic
1980s Chinese Vintage Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
20th Century Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Clay
1810s English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Creamware
Late 18th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Pearlware
1810s English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Creamware
1990s Unknown Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
Mid-18th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Stoneware
Early 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
Early 19th Century English Antique Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
1970s German Vintage Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain