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Chinoiserie
European decor imitating Chinese style, in lacquer and porcelain.
Chinoiserie & Gilding · Indicative US retail $50–$3,000
At a glance
- Family: Chinoiserie & Gilding
- Periods most often found: Period chinoiserie dates from 1720 to 1780; revivals from 1880 to 1970.
- Typical price: about $300; range $50 to $3,000 and more for exceptional pieces
- What drives value: Technique, age
What it is
Chinoiserie is the European fashion for an imagined China: lacquer panels and furniture, painted wallpaper, blue-and-white porcelain, pagoda-crested mirrors and silks with figures, birds and pavilions. It flourished in France under Louis XV, with lacquered commodes and singeries, and was revived in the 19th and 20th centuries.
How to identify and date it
Black, red or green lacquer with gold figures, painted decoration on wood or tole, and blue and white porcelain; check for lacquer loss, flaking, cracks and repainting; most pieces on the market are 20th-century.
Black lacquer with gold figures; blue and white porcelain.
Periods and styles
Period chinoiserie dates from 1720 to 1780; revivals from 1880 to 1970.
How much is it worth?
On the US retail market, most chinoiserie examples ask around $300. Simple or worn pieces start near $50, while documented, signed or exceptional examples can pass $3,000. The main value drivers are: technique, age. These are indicative ranges, not an appraisal; see our price guide for French antiques for the method.
Before you buy
- Check lacquer
- Inspect decoration
- Confirm age
Living with it
A chinoiserie lamp, mirror or cabinet adds an exotic accent to a French room.
More in Chinoiserie & Gilding
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How we write these guides: identification notes are general guidance written by French Country; a style name, a region or a resemblance does not by itself date or attribute a piece. Price ranges are indicative US retail asking prices for antique and vintage examples in sound condition (dealers, specialist marketplaces and auctions), estimated and rounded as of November 2026; check recent sold results before relying on a figure. They are not appraisals or offers to buy or sell: condition, provenance and documentation can move a value far outside the range. For insurance, estates or sales, ask an independent, qualified appraiser for a written valuation.