chinoiserie

chi·noi·se·rie

noun \shēn-ˈwäz-rē, -ˈwä-zə-; ˌshēn-ˌwäz-ˈrē, -ˌwä-zə-\

Definition of CHINOISERIE

: a style in art (as in decoration) reflecting Chinese qualities or motifs; also : an object or decoration in this style

Origin of CHINOISERIE

French, from chinois Chinese, from Chine China

First Known Use: 1883

Rhymes with CHINOISERIE

Adar Sheni, advanced degree, Aegean Sea, Agri Dagi, alienee, Amundsen Sea, biographee, bouquet garni, carpenter bee, Caspian Sea, casus belli, charcuterie, charivari, chincherinchee, consent decree, covenantee, cucumber tree, decision tree, dedicatee, delegatee, distributee, East China Sea, ESOP, evacuee, examinee, exuviae, facetiae, fait accompli, felo-de-se, fortunately, HTLV, interrogee, interviewee, jaborandi, Labrador Sea, millidegree, New Jersey tea, omega-3, Pasiphaë, patisserie, persecutee, poète maudit, prima facie, reliquiae, relocatee, Sault Sainte Marie, Simon Legree, skeleton key, South China Sea, to a degree, umbrella tree, wayfaring tree

chinoiserie

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Fanciful European interpretations of Chinese styles in the design of interiors, furniture, pottery, textiles, and gardens. The expansion of trade with East Asia produced a lively vogue for Chinese fashions in the 17th–18th centuries. The most outstanding chinoiserie interior was the Trianon de Porcelaine (1670–71), built for Louis XIV at Versailles. The style featured lavish gilding and lacquering, the use of blue and white (as in delftware), asymmetrical forms, unorthodox perspective, and Asian motifs. In the 19th century, the fashion gave way to Turkish and other styles considered exotic.