Antique Terminology: Chinoiserie Part II

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.

This European interpretation of the mysterious Orient combined real elements with pure fancy. The result was often wildly whimsical and even silly, which makes it even more appealing.

Chinoiserie as a design motif became a decorative fairyland where madarins lived in fanciful mountain landscapes and lolled around in flimsy bamboo pavilions haunted by phoenixes, and dragons.

There were also half monkey-half human mandarin creatures called “magot” (pronounced “mah GO”), all dressed in colorful costumes.

Did you really think that the famous Café Deux Magot on the Left Bank really meant two maggots? Ichhhh. It’s actually named after a pair Chinoiserie mandarin figurines that sit overlooking the famous bistro named for them:

The curvy and feminine style of Chinoiserie fit perfectly into the late 17th century move away from the Baroque and into the Rococo. In fact, the Chinoiserie style became something of a mania, with the English, French and Italians clamoring for all things “Oriental” peaking in the full rococo stylings of 1740-1765. Look at this 18th century Italian credenza:

Over time, as trade continued to expand with the Far East, the Europeans did begin to distinguish between different regions and nations. For example, Imari ware would reflect distinctly Japanese designs and when those designs were used in later (19th c.) lacquered furniture, it is called Japonaiserie (pronounced “jap uh NEZ uh ree” or “zha poh neh ZREE”-both are correct). Here’s an example of the Japonaiserie styling:

The mania that was Chinoiserie faded with the rise of the more linear and somber style known as Neoclassicsm, as represented by the Louis XVI and Empire periods (approximately 1765-1830). But even the classicists couldn’t completely resist the charm of Chinoiserie, as demonstrated by these exquisite late 18th century Louis XVI commodes:

Other posts by Buzz:

Antique Terminology: Chinoiserie Part I

Get a Leg Up: How Legs Can Help Identify Antique Periods & Styles

Antique Terminology: SETTEE and CANAPÈ

The Little French Farm Table that Could

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.