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Chinoiserie Cabinets and CommodesChinoiserie is a French term that refers to Chinese lacquered designs. During the seventeenth century a love of all things Oriental swept over Europe. Lacquer furniture was the height of sophisticated design. Lacquer furniture from China was introduced as early as 1613 in England, favored by Louis XIV and made even more popular in France by Madame de Pompadour during the reign of Louis XV. Highly decorated pieces included motifs such as exotic birds and flowers, pagodas and monkeys. Chinoiserie Chests, Armoires, and CabinetsChinoiserie adds a highly decorative finish to any piece that makes it stand out in a room. A single piece can make a dramatic difference.
Pieces imported directly from the Orient were extremely limited. To suit European tastes, European craftsmen refashioned imports to decorate western goods, or sent European furniture to the Far East to be decorated. Soon they were working to replicate these pieces. True lacquer comes from the sap of a tree not found in the West, so they had to invent finishes that would mimic this look. In England this became known as "Japan work" or "japanning." Designs most often have a Chinese look, but can also be Japanese or Indian. In some cases, an antique combines real Chinese lacquer and English japanning. China is considered to be the birthplace of lacquer work, but Japan was the premier producer typically featuring gold lacquer on a black lacquer ground. Go to:Add Asia Africa Pacific to your favorites
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