The document summarizes the key elements of the Chinoiserie style, which originated from 17th century European imitation of Chinese artistic motifs and designs. Some of the most common elements included silk and paper wallpaper, blue and white porcelain replacing silver and gold dishware, lacquered furniture, screens dividing interior spaces, use of bamboo in furniture, miniature pagodas as decorations, depictions of fantastical Chinese landscapes, inclusion of Chinese figures in pastoral scenes, ornate birds and flowers as motifs, and symbolic use of dragons and other figures. The style idealized China as a mysterious and exotic land in the European imagination at a time when information about China was limited.

1. Chinoiserie:
style at a glance

2. Chinese
wallpaper
was initially brought
to Europe by the East
India Company and
was incredibly
expensive. Some of
the panels were
made from silk,
another from paper
and hand painted.
Later on Europeans
learned how to
produce its cheaper
imitations.

3. Chinese
Porcelain
replaced golden
and silver
dishware on the
tables: now it is
considered the
indicator wealth
and prosperity.

4. Red, Black
& Golden
Lacquer
was traditional
finish for Chinese
furniture. Later
French
manufacturers
brothers Marten
introduced lacquers
of different colours
as well.

5. Screens
were used to
visually divide the
space. In the XVII
century private
rooms and
boudoirs were very
popular and
screens played an
important role for
creating chamber
and cozy ambience.

6. Bamboo
was one of the most
popular materials
for furniture
production in China.
With emergence of
Chinoiserie it
appeared also in
Europe.

7. Pagodas
were built in the
gardens and their
miniature copies were
used as decorative
objects. The shape of
pagoda roof was used
as a decorative element
for making furniture
and home accessories
such as mirrors,
lanterns and wall lights.

8. Fantastic
landscapes
In the XVII century
information about
China was very
limited: it appeared to
be a very remote and
mysterious land. It
was idealized by
European artists who
pictured it like a
paradise land with
lush vegetation,
colorful birds and
serene landscapes.

9. Pastoral
plots
were very
frequently used in
Rococo. With the
growing popularity
of Chinoiserie
European
personages such as
aristocrats,
shepherds and
shepherdesses
were replaced with
Chinese emperors
and their court.

10. Beautiful
birds
and colourful flowers
were the most
frequently used
ornaments in
Chinoiserie. Pictured
on the wallpapers
landscapes often
reminded of Eden
Garden: this is how
Europeans imagined
China.

11. Chinese
figures
were often pictured
on the
furniture, china and
decorative objects.
Especially popular
were Chinese
shepherdess and
Chinese Idol (a
figure of elderly
Chinese man
nodding his head).

12. Dragon
has a symbolic meaning
in Chinese mythology
and signifies power and
strength. Symbolism
plays an important role
in Chinese decorative
arts: thus, a peach tree
means a wish for
longevity, bats –
happiness, and peonies
– splendor.

13. Featured Products & Photo credits
• Slide 1 – Ralph & Lauren wallpaper
• Slide 2 – De Gournay wallpaper
• Slide 10 - chinoiseriechic.blogspot.com
• The rest - http://www.1stdibs.com
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