What is Chinoiserie?

What is chinoiserie?

Chinoiseries is a highly decorative design style that fuses elements of Asian design with European Baroque and Rococo sensibilities. The word “chinoiserie” itself derives from the French word chinois, or “Chinese.” Chinoiserie is an extremely versatile style that can be applied to everything from porcelain to furniture to rugs. Chinoiserie style originated in Europe in the 17th Century. As intercontinental trade routes opened, Asian goods began trickling into Europe. Europeans immediately fell in love with these “exotic” goods. To meet the public’s insatiable demand, Europeans began to manufacture their own decor in the Asian style. Craftsmen replicated Asian designs on cabinets, porcelain vessels, and textiles that had been imported from Asian countries. Likewise, factories were set up in Asia to produce designs specifically tailored to European tastes. These pieces were typically characterized by over-the-top decoration, a focus on materials, and stylized nature and leisure scenes. Among the most popular examples of chinoiserie today are ginger jars, wallpaper, and screens.