Antique Terminology: Chinoiserie Part I
Posted on Jun 5, 2009 by Buzz Kaplan
Today Decorati guest blogger and antique expert Buzz Kaplan of The Buzz on Antiques, explains the unique history of the Chinoiserie style and clarifies the origins of this misnomer.
Chinoiserie is one of my favorite antique terms because it’s so much fun to say–“shin nwahz REE”.
Chinoiserie is from the French meaning “in the Chinese taste” and it was a European style of ornamentation popular in the late 17th and 18th centuries.
All forms of furniture were done in Chinoiserie, not to mention porcelain, wallpaper, rooms, and entire buildings.
An 18th century Italian commode:
Little known factoid: most Chinoiserie furniture didn’t actually come from China at all. The fanciful designs were actually the work European artisans’ and reflect how they imagined the cultures of China, Japan, Persia and India, all of which they lumped together as “Chinese.” So you often see tassels, bells, and ornamentation that look and are more Turkish than Chinese:
Look at the Royal Brighton Pavilion in England:
What’s also fun to see is that the “Chinese” people depicted on many of these pieces appear distinctly Caucasian (European buyers felt more comfortable with this) although they’re still dressed up as mandarins and geishas. Look at these “Anglo” images on an 18th century Italian credenza:
The origins of Chinoiserie can be traced to Marco Polo, the first Westerner who traveled to the Far East in the 13th century, returning 17 years later to Venice with tales of exotic and other-worldly designs.
By the 16th century, Eastern trade routes opened again, and members of the Dutch and English East India companies added to the tales of fantastical imagery in the mind of the Europeans. Here’s an 18th century Dutch linen press:
The result was Chinoiserie furniture motifs depicting people in elaborate robes with long pigtails, coolie hats, and odd mustaches. Not to mention oddly shaped pagodas towers, trees, and mountains populated with monkeys, lions, and elephants dressed in weird human costumes.
Read Antique Terminology: Chinoiserie Part II
Other posts by Buzz:
Get a Leg Up: How Legs Can Help Identify Antique Periods & Styles
Antique Terminology: SETTEE and CANAPÈ
The Little French Farm Table that Could
To read more about the Chinoiserie style, click here.
Buzz Kaplan is a graduate of UCLA where he earned both Bachelor’s and Juris Doctorate degrees. Buzz began collecting antiques in the late 1970’s, while he was still practicing law and for the last 28 years has been a principal of Kaplan & Co., a consulting firm specializing in antique and other investment grade tangible asset collections. His clients have included dealers, major banks, foundations and other institutions seeking guidance in the acquisition and deaccession of 17th and 18th century European antiques as well as investment portfolios in gold, silver and platinum commodities. He is currently Executive Director of C. Mariani Antiques, Restoration & Custom in San Francisco.
Great article on girandoles-I always wondered if I was pronouncing it right...
Dena
I’ve never known how to pronounce “Chinoiserie” and found myself avoiding the word in front of clients. Now I know the correct pronunciation and even a little history on this style- and look forward to sounding like a pro! Great images.
I love Buzz. The most useful information presented in easy to understand language.
More BUZZ please!!
These are fabulous representations of chinoiserie! I’ll add that there are two versions (of the same)I use in my style reference vocabulary_ “niave” and “refined”. Both of which have equal merit in quality and decorative style.
Best
Thanks, Christian. Glad I could help and thanks for the comment!
Buzz
And thanks Jeff and Raymond too!
B.
Buzz knows his stuff!! He has the most exquisite antiques and is passionate about sharing all he knows with anyone who wants to learn about really good antiques. Great article on Chinoiserie!!
I’ve always loved our conversations on furniture Buzz, I’m so glad to see you publishing articles. Your passion for these specifics on craft and technique is contagious. I love Chinoiserie and am excited to pass on this new found knowledge to coworkers and clients. MORE BUZZ!
Thanks for the mini lesson on Chinoiserie. Great pictures to illustrate your facts. Looking forward to more!
Buzz,
I always love that you are able to make these obscure terms so much more understandable and accessible. Thanks for the great background information, as always.
Scot
[...] Today Decorati guest blogger and antique expert Buzz Kaplan of The Buzz on Antiques, continues to elaborate on the history of the Chinoiserie style. Click here to read Antique Terminology: Chinoiserie Part I. [...]
Ok, I’m hooked. Love this blog and can’t wait to read part 2. Please keep these posts coming-they’re so useful. It’s like getting a private mini-course in antiques!
Jenny-
p.s. thanks for answering my question about antique feet styles on The Buzz on Antiques! Very infomative as always.
Always informative, always enjoyable. Keep them coming.
Cheers,
Claudia
Your posts are great refreshers in the history of antiques and the decorative arts. Please continue your little lessons - perhaps once a week.
Heather
Finally, a succinct explanation for clients who don’t understand why chinoiserie belongs in their european interiors ~ Thank you Buzz!
Buzz,
Thanks to a tweet on twitter (per Charise) I became aware of your blog and most recent entry.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and supported with such gorgeous images. Many misnomers about the chinosiere ornamentation and nice to have it so succintly expressed here. I too look forward to part 2.
Ruth
I just love this mini-history lesson filled with interesting facts and tidbits, and of course, the style that Buzz himself brings to the writing…I can’t wait to hear more!!!
Carrie
Buzz,
your accessible, bite-size bits of edification may lead to a new appreciation for ideas and images from before the 20th century. Not a year too soon!
Greg
Well Buzz, you’ve done it again! Excellent, easy to read explanation. I do so look forward to your antique coverage here. Keep up the good work! Let’s hear a lot more from you.
Andrea
keep ‘em coming! the more i can speak to a piece of furniture’s history, the more satisfied I am with the things I design. I LOVE this stuff. colorful, whimsical, and inspirational for new ideas. woo hoo!
I can’t believe I got TWEETED.
Yay (I think) and thanks to everyone for the nice comments!
Buzz
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