This European decorative style was popular due to its exotic feel during a time when travel to the Far East was rare and difficult. This also made its use a status symbol for the wealthy. It's characterized by whimsical and detailed imagery, scenes of nature, and the use of porcelain and lacquer to imitate traditional Chinese and Japanese designs.
More Chinoiserie:
• Trending: Incorporating Chinoiserie in the Home
• de Gournay Wallpapers
• The Victoria and Albert Museum's guide to Chinoiserie
Images:
1. Trending: Incorporating Chinoiserie, Apartment Therapy
2. Sources for Chinoiserie, Apartment Therapy
3. Flickr user Philippe de la Boirie, licensed under Creative Commons
4. Roundup: Modern Chinoiserie, Apartment Therapy
5. Assemblage
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My favorite designs...though I tend to skew more toward Japanese overall. The door handle is amazing, but I wouldn't call it Chinoiserie. I believe it's of Indian origin.(?) Or perhaps Moroccan?
Was just reading your post on the dilemma that is the oh-so-difficult but oh-so-necessary nightstand and decided that I too should check Craigslist. Meant. To. Be. $ 25.00 for a pair of solid wood, "really old, I think", "file cabinets" that just so happen to resemble mini versions of the fabulous green dresser pictured above- I need to remove some old Master Blaster and Atari Stickers, and apply some fresh paint, but they will be spot-on Chinoiserie by the week's end!
Does the green chest really fall under the Chinoiserie category? It looks a touch more campaign-style to me, but doesn't fully embody that style either. Just curious, because I have a hard time identifying decor styles and would like to be much better at it.
I painted a pair of nightstands in a bright green just like the first image and they make me very happy.
http://thenestinggame.com/2011/05/31/campaign-nightstands-done/
Those stools are interesting...can't decide if I love 'em or hate 'em.
Chinoiserie is my design crack. L-O-V-E love it.
I think the chinoiserie referred to in the first picture is the bamboo mirror and the figurine. The campaign-style dressers are a different thing altogether, but they do work well together, and I love the bright green.