Chinoiserie focuses on subjects that were thought by Europeans to be typical of Chinese culture. Chinoiserie entered European art and decoration in the mid-to-late 17th century; the work of Athanasius Kircher influenced the study of Orientalism. Here's what you might not know about the design style, which began in the 17th and 18th centuries and continues with chinoiserie interiors, decor items, and themes today.

Understanding the Context

Chinoiserie, 17th- and 18th-century Western style of interior design, furniture, pottery, textiles, and garden design that represents fanciful European interpretations of Chinese styles. From the late 17th century to the 18th century, a distinctive aesthetic style known as Chinoiserie took Europe by storm. Chinoiserie is characterized by the widespread use of Chinese motifs such as pagodas and dragons and an abundance of natural elements in European artistic and decorative styles. Chinoiserie drew on these exotic, mysterious preconceptions.

Key Insights

Objects featured fantastic landscapes with fanciful pavilions, sweeping lines of the roofs of Chinese pagodas, fabulous birds and figures in Chinese clothes. New and used Chinoiserie for sale in Savannah Beach, Georgia on Facebook Marketplace. Find great deals and sell your items for free. The meaning of CHINOISERIE is a style in art (as in decoration) reflecting Chinese qualities or motifs; also : an object or decoration in this style. Did you know?

Final Thoughts

In visual art, the term "Chinoiserie" ("Chinese-like") describes the pseudo-Chinese decorative style which flourished in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries.