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.
Mongolian Red Lacquered Buffet with Hand Painted Floral Décor
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
An antique Northern Chinese/Mongolian red lacquered cabinet. This exquisite cabinet features a vibrant red lacquered façade. The doors open to reveal inner cabinetry offering conveni...
Wood, Lacquer
$2,925Sale Price|25% Off
Antique Tibetan Hand Painted Sideboard Cabinet circa early 20th Century
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Spectacular hand crafted and painted sideboard cabinet from Tibet. 5 drawers total with a roomy double door cabinet space. Ancient wooden sides and top. A wonderful piece of functio...
Wood
1960s Chinoiserie Inspired Sideboard in the Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet Style
By Adrien Audoux and Frida Minnet
Located in Miami, FL
Mid Century Modern Chinoiserie Inspired Rattan Buffet / Sideboard in the Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet Style. C 1960s. Features a compact size that will work in any small area or room,...
Brass
Museum-Level Chinoiserie Pagoda China Cabinet in Light Walnut
By Alexander's Collection
Located in Hong Kong, HK
Museum-Level Chinoiserie Pagoda China Cabinet in Light Walnut This exceptional chinoiserie-style display cabinet (горка) is a masterpiece of conte...
Gold Leaf
Original James Mont Cabinet in Asian Style
By James Mont
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Rare cabinet by James Mont in chinoiserie style. Original black lacquer and red painted interior. Original gilded wood handles.
Mahogany
French Style Carved Fruitwood and Chinoiserie Sideboard / Credenza / Desk
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a French style fruitwood credenza or sideboard with a lovely chinoiserie pastoral scene painted throughout all surfaces. It has three felt lined drawer. The feet are optional...
Iron
$1,050Sale Price|30% Off
Vintage American of Martinsville Chinoiserie Rolling Sideboard
Located in Waxahachie, TX
American of Martinsville mid-century Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie sideboard, credenza or rolling bar cart. Lived the entirety of its life with one couple at one house until it was ...
Wood
20th Black Lacquer and Hand Painted Open Altar Table or Sideboard
Located in Miami, FL
This incomparable chinoiserie black lacquer sideboard depicts figures in various typical traditional scenes. What more can you as...
Wood
Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie Demilune Sideboard Console Table Server
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Large six-drawer Chinoiserie demilune server featuring a gloss black finish with hand painted gilt Asian scenes. This Hollywood Regency style sideboard console table has an extra de...
Brass
Umberto Mascagni 1950s Italian Chinoiserie Faux Leather Sideboard
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Mid-Century (1950s) chinoiserie decorated sideboard covered in a black faux leather (skai) and trimmed with anodized aluminum with 2 doors ...
Aluminum
Michael Taylor for Baker Furniture Chinoiserie Elm Wood Sideboard or Bar Cabinet
By Michael Taylor, Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Mid-Century Modern Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie sideboard buffet or bar cabinet By Michael Taylor for Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1970s Carved solid elm wood, wit...
Brass
Vintage Italian Chinoiserie Eglomise Mirrored Cabinet, Sideboard or Bar
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Glamorous 1930s art deco Italian chinoiserie cabinet featuring four reverse painted Asian figures on a silver foil background, two cabinet doors in front with bronze seashell hardwar...
Glass
20th-C. Patina Style Hand Painted Marble Top Chinoiserie Sideboard / Credenza
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a hand painted chinoiserie credenza or sideboard with a rich brown marble top that is not attached. The finish is a Palm Beach green with brown glaze. It has quite a bit of s...
Marble
Display Cabinet attributed to Michael Taylor for Baker Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
This unique cabinet came out of a north shore estate that had the entire dining room done in pieces from Michael Taylor's Far East Collection for Baker. The family said the owners pu...
Wood
Asian Chinoiserie Flip Top Server Drexel Ming Style
By Drexel
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Drexel Heritage style Asian style flip top server in light oak wood with burl wood faced doors with engraved markings. Features brass hardware and ming...
Brass
19th Century Carved Hand Painted Red Green Chinese Sideboard
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning and rare, red and green painted sideboard storage cabinet you could hope to find. Outstan...
Brass
19th Century Nailhead Cowhide Red Mini Sideboard Cabinet
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Indulge in the timeless elegance of this exquisite small sideboard cabinet, dating back to the 19th Century. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this piece showcases a stunn...
Brass
Maitland Smith Fine Carved Two Drawers Carved Chinoiserie Console Sideboard MINT
By Baker Furniture Company, Maitland Smith
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Maitland Smith Fine Carved Two Drawers Carved Chinoiserie Console Sideboard MINT
Mahogany
Mid-Century Modern Chinoiserie Credenza or Sideboard
Located in Dallas, TX
This stunning exceptionally sized sleek credenza or sideboard, channeling old Hollywood with a touch of the orient. Made of solid wood, featuring a cust...
Brass
$2,737Sale Price|30% Off
Stunning Chinoiserie Marble Topped Sideboard in the Chinese Chippendale Taste
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer this stunning hand painted marble topped Chinoiserie Chinese Chippendale taste sideboard A very good looking and decorative sideboard, its hand painted ...
Marble
$479Sale Price|46% Off
H 24 in W 27 in D 13 in
Antique Asian Chinoiserie Pagoda Shaped Tea / Apothecary Cabinet
By Beaufort
Located in East Freetown, MA
Antique Asian tea/apothecary cabinet.. Pagoda shaped cabinet has two doors and four drawers. Wood with detailed brass fittings. Painted Chinoiserie ...
Wood
$10,360 / item
H 20 in W 84 in D 20 in
Modern 'Credenza Three' Cabinet by Last Workshop in Natural Walnut
Located in Chicago, IL
"Credenza Three" by Last Workshop. Made-to-order in Chicago, IL. A sturdy yet elegant credenza featuring a matching case and door combination with a steel base. The tear-drop steel ...
Steel
Oak Slatted Credenza / Sideboard - Fully Customizable
Located in Portland, OR
Solid wood credenza / sideboard with slatted screen doors in white oak built by Material in Portland, Oregon. The clean modern lines and quiet texture o...
Oak
$2,948
H 30.71 in W 86.62 in D 18.9 in
Italian Sideboard, 1960s Design in Style of Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Vintage Italian sideboard. Great design. Two sliding doors with four drawers (the first one is not origin).
Rosewood
$1,440Sale Price|30% Off
H 43.51 in W 40.16 in D 17.33 in
Antique circa 1880 French Hand Painted Duck Blue Pine Kitchen Sideboard Buffet
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer this very nice antique, made in France, hand painted duck egg blue, antiqued sideboard or buffet cupboard in pine ...
Pine
Mae Credenza, Sideboard by Crump and Kwash
Located in Baltimore City, MD
Mae Credenza by Crump and Kwash Solid wood case / hand-turned legs / hand rubbed oil finish / solid brass pulls / premium, full extension, soft close ...
Brass
Italian Colored Glass and Brass Sideboard or Credenza
Located in London, London
Colored glass sideboard Brass base and details Postmodern mix of colors Contemporary, Italy.
Brass
Elegant Early 20th-Century Sideboard in Mahogany
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Elegant Early 20th-Century Sideboard in Mahogany This refined early 20th-century sideboard is a beautifully crafted piece, showcasing exquisite workmanship and timeless elegance. Ma...
Mahogany
$6,300
H 43.25 in W 59.5 in D 20.5 in
Early 19th Century Swedish Gray Painted Sideboard Buffet Cabinet
Located in Round Top, TX
The attractive soft color pallet of this Swedish pine cabinet or sideboard comes from the original hand-painted light gray finish which has been gently scraped and softly distressed ...
Pine
$1,927
H 27.56 in W 47.25 in D 16.93 in
Vintage 1960s Danish Brutalist Oak Sideboard, in the style of Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Store Heddinge, DK
Presenting this unique Danish sideboard crafted in the 1960s, a masterclass in the Brutalist aesthetic as interpreted through Mid-Century Scandinavian design. Rendered in beautifully...
Brass
Sideboard in the Style of Ice Parisi, 1960
By Ico Parisi
Located in Budapest, HU
Fine sideboard in elmwood. The doors have two figures inlaid women in ceramics. The four drawers have ceramic handles. Of the same furnishings are the cabinet bar with mirror.
Ceramic, Elm
$7,300
H 37.41 in W 90.16 in D 2,026.78 in
Gio Ponti - Inspired - Sideboard - Macassar - 1960s - Italy
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Italian Macassar Sideboard with Brass Details, in the Style of Gio Ponti, Vittorio Dassi, 1960s Cinematic glamour distilled to line and sheen — a collector’s piece of Italian mid-cen...
Teak
Sold
H 38.39 in W 50.01 in D 24.81 in
STUNNiNG LARGE MARBLE TOPPED CHINESE CHINOISERIE SIDEBOARD WITH SPACE FOR FRIDGE
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very attractive Contemporary Chinese Chinoiserie sideboard with thick marble top and central space to h...
Marble
Chinese Elm Wood Sideboard
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Chinese elm wood sideboard, circa 1950's. With a rectangular top, 4 frieze drawers with iron drawer pulls, resting on square legs.
Iron
Sold
H 35 in W 55.5 in D 21 in
Maitland Smith Chinoiserie Style Ebonized and Gilt paint Decorated Sideboard
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions - H: 35 in W: 55 1/2 in D: 21 in This spectacular Maitland Smith Chinoiserie style ebonized and gilt paint decorated sideboard, representing the pinnacle of the company’...
Metal, Brass
1960s Mid-Century Chinoiserie Lacquered Wood Small Server
By Permacraft
Located in Charleston, SC
A stunning mid-20th century Chinese red, black and brass lacquered small server, credenza or sideboard cabinet. The double doors open to reveal one drawer on top and an adjustable/r...
Brass
Sold
H 34 in W 72 in D 24 in
Burl Wood & Carved Solid Rosewood Rolled Edges 3 Door Compartment 72" Sideboard
By Baker Furniture Company, Kittinger Furniture Company
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Art Nouveau Style Legs Burl Wood & Carved Solid Rosewood Door Rolled Edges 72" long Sideboard Credenza Console MINT
Walnut, Burl
1980s Chinoiserie Style Oval Painted Black Green Sideboard Cabinet
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Transport yourself back to the sleek and sophisticated 1980s with this exquisite hand painted, lacquered, oval mini sideboard storage cabinet. The ultra rare sideboard gives an air o...
Glass, Wood, Lacquer, Paint
Sold
H 33.08 in W 47.25 in D 13.78 in
Mid Century Italian Chinoiserie Lacquered Sideboard Cabinet Circa 1950
Located in Norwich, England
Mid Century Italian chinoiserie lacquered and ebonised sideboard. Circa 1950. The sideboard is of good proportions and shows superb chinoiserie red-lacquered and gilt embossed doors...
Brass
Sold
H 31 in W 72 in D 18 in
Vintage Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Hand Painted Floral Credenza Cabinet Sideboard
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Hand Painted Floral Credenza Cabinet Sideboard. Item features hand painted raised floral detail on the front and sides, black lacquer finish, 4 swin...
Wood, Paint
Antique Chinese Style Lacquered Chinoiserie Sideboard
Located in London, GB
A beautiful antique Chinese style lacquered chinoiserie sideboard. This was likely made in England in around the 1970’s. We obtained it privately from a stunning property in Knights...
Wood
Chinoiserie English Green Cabinet on Stand
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive mid century two door cabinet on stand, lacquered in an alluring green and hand decorated in chinoiserie with elaborate brass hardware on a hand decorated black stand with ...
Hardwood
Sold
H 80 in W 55 in D 14 in
Drexel Heritage Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Breakfront China Cabinet Sideboard
By Drexel
Located in West Hartford, CT
Stunning Drexel Et Cetera liine china cabinet circa 1978. Features Chinoiserie japanned black lacquer hand painted motif with gold detail showing landscape of florals/flowers/animal...
Glass, Wood, Lacquer
Sold
H 33.67 in W 37.8 in D 16.93 in
Antique Raised Chest, Korean, Elm, Pear, Side Cabinet, Brass, Victorian, C.1880
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique raised chest. A Korean, elm and pear wood side cabinet with brass fittings, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1880. S...
Elm, Pearwood