Chinoiserie Paintings
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
Rare 19th Century Chinoiserie Hand-Painted Panels Circa 1820
Located in Richmond, London
A rare and superbly decorative set of four Chinoiserie wallpaper panels, exquisitely hand-painted with exotic birds and butterflies in the garden, on a pale pink/peach background. Each panel is beautifully framed in a modern simulated bamboo frame.
Chinese, Canton, Qing dynasty, early 19th century.
Why we like them
The exquisite quality of decoration and the miraculous state of preservation for a decorative artwork on paper make these panels a truly rare find. The subtlety of colours, bold yet not garish, lend a 'noble' look to the piece.
History
Such luxurious items were popular in England during the height of fashion for oriental exoticism, called chinoiserie in Europe.
The young Prince of Wales (future King George IV) was often described as having a wildly extravagant taste in decorating his palaces. As early as 1801, the Prince had been completely taken by Oriental tastes and began to expand his existing Brighton retreat. Having been presented a gift of Chinese wallpaper, he ordered a Chinese Gallery to display the new paper. The 162-foot long room was contrived of painted glass decorated with flowers, insects, fruit and birds. The Prince's desire for additional structures in the Oriental manner resulted in commissioning the fashionable architect John Nash and the designer Frederick Crace...
Category
Early 19th Century Asian Antique Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Paper, Faux Bamboo, Paint
Pair of Hand Painted Wood Chinoiserie Panels in White Gold Giltwood Frames
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Pair of Hand Painted Wood Chinoiserie Panels in White Gold Giltwood Frames
Category
1990s American Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Giltwood
Pair of Gustav Carroll Hand Painted Chinoiserie Panels in Giltwood Frames
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Pair of Gustav Carroll Hand Painted Chinoiserie Panels in Giltwood Frames
Category
Early 2000s American Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Giltwood
Mid-19th Century Hand Painted Asian Wallpaper Panels
Located in San Francisco, CA
A set of three mounted hand painted wallpaper panels in simple wood frames.
Beautifully and elaborate painted scenes with birds, flowers,...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Paper
Large Pair 19th Century Antique Chinoiserie Figurative Distressed Painted Panels
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Impressive large pair of antique distressed original Chinoiserie paintings on wood panels having marvelous weathered patina. Frames are celadon green with silver and gold raised deco...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Wood
1979 Cui Tang Pheasants Love Birds Painting on Silk Flowers Peonies Chinoiserie
Located in Dayton, OH
1979 Cui Tang Korean painting on silk showing brightly colored male and female pheasants in front of a bush of pink and white peonies.
This art was made in 1979...
Category
1970s Korean Vintage Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Silk, Paint
19th century French school, oil on panel painting in the spirit of Pillement
By Jean-Baptiste Pillement
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
Late 18th century or early 19th century French school circa 1800, Louis XV style oil on panel picturing Chinese people in an ideal garden with a pagoda, a harpsichord : a beautiful 18th century style chinoiserie, showing an idyllic vision of China seen by 18th century European people.
Our work was painted in the spirit of Pillement ; it brings to mind 18th century lifestyle and softness.
Jean Baptiste...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Wood
Pair French 18th-19th Century Chinoiserie Circle of Jean B. Pillement
By Jean-Baptiste Pillement
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine pair of French 18th-19th century whimsical rococo style chinoiserie oil on canvas, circle of Jean-Baptiste Pillement. (French, 1728-1808). One oil painting depicting an outdoor patio scene of a standing young mother, holding a fan, with her three young children playing with a horse-toy, a parrot and a cat, all surrounded by flowers, plants, trees, planters and flanked by a dragon fountain...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Giltwood
Set of Three Robert Crowder Chinoiserie Landscape Panels
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fantastic set of three framed chinoiserie decorated landscape panels painted by Robert Crowder (1911-2010 American). The paintings feature a flora a...
Category
20th Century American Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Silver Leaf
Vintage Chinese Watercolor & Ink Landscape Painting, Signed, Late 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage traditional style watercolor and ink landscape painting on silk (applied to paper backing) - hand painted - silk damask textile border - signed with a red seal lower right (u...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Silk, Paint, Paper
Antique Pith Painting of Birds
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Charming framed and matted antique Chinese painting of birds. Painted on pith paper with gouache in bold colors in a scholastic style...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Paper
A Hand Painted Chinoiserie Design Wallpaper on Board Panel
Located in New York, NY
A hand painted Chinoiserie design in oil on rice paper, mounted on board. Depicting village figures in a scene with buildings, mountains, and greenery. The design is based on an exam...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Paper
18th Century Italian Chinoiserie Scene Painted Panel
Located in Dallas, TX
Lovely 18th century Italian painted panel featuring chinoiserie images. Vibrant colors of blue, pink, green and gold. Such an interesting piece ...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Wood
Chinese Gentleman Portrait Painting
Located in Savannah, GA
A gouache on silk portrait of a Chinese gentleman in the manner of Chinnery, 20th Century.
37 ¾ inches wide by 60 ¾ inches tall
Category
20th Century Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Silk, Glass, Wood
A.Bouverat Chinese Inspired Lacquered Panel Hand-Painted 20th Century
By A. Bouverat
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very beautiful rare and large lacquer of Chinese inspiration. Representation of a green space with many plants such as cherry trees and magnolia. A bird crosses the lacquer with its ...
Category
20th Century French Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Lacquer
Large Scale Chinoiserie Painting Attributed to Maitland Smith 66"H x 54"W
Located in Atlanta, GA
Large Scale Chinoiserie Painting, attributed to Maitland Smith, American, circa 1980s. It measures an impressive 66“ height x 54“ width. It has an overall craquelure finish as origin...
Category
1990s American Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Chinoiserie Hand-Painted Panel on Canvas
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Chinoiserie hand-painted panel on canvas was originally a decorative panel in a lavish home, resurrected and newly stretched and framed by our expert in-house sta...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Paper
Set of Three French Chinoiserie Framed Canvas Paintings
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Magnificent set of three French oil on canvas paintings made in the chinoiserie revival period of 19th century, Europe. The center painting feature...
Category
19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Wood
A large pair of early 20th c framed French Chinoiserie oil on canvas paintings
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine and large pair of late 19th century to early 20th century oil on canvas paintings . Framed with a custom frame. The paintings have scenes of Chinoiserie children at play. Well...
Category
Early 20th Century French Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Canvas
Vintage Chinese Watercolor Silkscreen Framed Painting of Cats and Flowers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Chinese Watercolor silkscreen Framed Painting of Cats and Flowers. Circa Mid to late 20th Century. Measurements: 21.5" H x 13.5" W x...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Glass, Wood
Antique Painted Porcelain Plaque Depicting an Orientalist Beauty, Signed Vienna
Located in New York, NY
A very large and magnificent antique painted porcelain plaque depicting an orientalist beauty dressed in silk, jewelry, pearls, and 24-karat raised gold and enamel, signed Vienna. Th...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Enamel
Asian Wood Panel Paintings Diptych Brass Hardware Flora and Fauna Scene Chinese
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Vintage Han Palace Art Co. scroll framed oil painting wood diptych carved panels. The original tag on back. This is a vintage piece from the 1950s or 1960s....
Category
Late 20th Century Taiwanese Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Wood, Paint, Paper
Chi Shing, 'River Boats I', Framed Watercolor Painting, China, Mid-20th C
Located in Chatham, ON
CHI SHING - 'River Boats I' - Vintage watercolor landscape painting - vintage gold tone metal frame - finished with double matte boards - signed lower left -...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Metal
Vintage Chinoiserie Painting
Located in Saint-Ouen (PARIS), FR
Old painting "Chinoiserie" with a wooden and sculpted frame especially made for the painting. France, 19th century.
Category
19th Century French Antique Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Wood, Paint
Pair of Decorative Vintage Signed Oil on Canvas
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A Pair of exquisitely detailed Paintings of Asian Porcelains with lovely and subtle color. By F. de Villeonoute depicting polychrome oriental vessels...
Category
20th Century Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Canvas
Vintage Blue and White Waterscape Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Blue and white waterscape painting featuring a boat on water and architecture. Newly framed in a gilt wood frame. Signed at lower left: ...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Giltwood, Paint
Chi Shing, 'River Boats II', Framed Watercolor Painting, China, Mid-20th C
Located in Chatham, ON
CHI SHING - 'River Boats II' - Vintage watercolor landscape painting - vintage gold tone metal frame - finished with double matte boards - signed lower right...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Metal
A Rare Large Chinese Export oil on canvas, att to Tingqua, China circa 1830
Located in PARIS, FR
Large Chinese Export oil on canvas, att to Tingqua, circa 1830
Oil on canvas attributed to Tingqua representing figures by a waterfall.
Old Christie's New York tag on the back
Origin...
Category
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Paint
Two Vintage Watercolor Faux Bamboo Bird Paintings House of Baldwin - A Pair
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A pair of chinoiserie faux bamboo watercolor paintings of birds. This lovely set was quite the find. We fell in love with the faux bamboo bird frame immediately. Each painting is sig...
Category
20th Century American Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paint, Paper
Still Life Oil Painting on Burlap
By Jacques Lamy
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Oil painting and collage on burlap having a still life composition of two Chinese vases and a deconstructed interior with a warm silent ambiance. Signed Jacques Lamy in the lower right.
Category
20th Century American Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Paint
Oil Painting Still Life Collage on Burlap
By Jacques Lamy
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Oil painting and collage on burlap of a blue and white Chinese jar set in a deconstructed reality with an evocative mixture of techniques. ...
Category
20th Century American Chinoiserie Paintings
Set of Three Chinese Pith Paintings of Fish
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Set of three rare framed and matted antique Chinese paintings of fish. Painted on pith paper with gouache in bold colors in a scholastic style. Having...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Paper
Postmodern/Chinoiserie Framed and Signed Oil Painting of Lady With Fan
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Incredible Patrick Nagel style vintage postmodern/chinoiserie oil painting. Displayed in a pink frame, subject is a woman with black hair in a...
Category
1980s Vintage Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Wood, Paint
XX century, Pair of Italian Oil Paintings with Chinoiserie Landscapes
Located in IT
XX century, Pair of Italian Oil Paintings with Chinoiserie Landscapes
Provenance: Pietro Accorsi collection, Turin (Italy)
This delightful pair ...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Paintings
Materials
Canvas
Chinoiserie paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Chinoiserie paintings for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage paintings created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, asian art and furniture, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with paint, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Chinoiserie paintings made in a specific country, there are Europe, Asia, and East Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original paintings, popular names associated with this style include Jacques Lamy, Paul Montgomery, A. Bouverat, and Ira Yeager. 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 paintings differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $200 and tops out at $124,500 while the average work can sell for $2,725.