chinoiserie

noun chi·noi·se·rie \ shēn-ˈwäz-rē , -ˈwä-zə- ; ˌshēn-ˌwäz-ˈrē , -ˌwä-zə- \

|Updated on: 13 Jul 2018

Definition of chinoiserie

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

chinoiserie was our Word of the Day on 01/15/2014. Hear the podcast!

Recent Examples of chinoiserie from the Web

In the court of Versailles, during the 17th and 18th centuries, chinoiserie motifs were highly prevalent, and many, if not most, textile techniques in existence first originated in Asia.

— madeleine luckel, Vogue, "You Can Now See Some of Marie Antoinette’s Most Cherished (and Tiny) Possessions," 20 Jan. 2018
To equally memorable effect, Bikoff chose a Mimi chinoiserie wallpaper by Voutsa alongside powder blue banquettes and Venetian glass mirrors for the restaurant's main dining room.

— jessica cumberbatch anderson, ELLE Decor, "This Instagram-Worthy Restaurant Never Opened, And Now You Can Buy The Decor Right Off The Walls," 21 June 2017
Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images The dress featured a softly pleated skirt and is made from pure Italian silk with a delicate floral print inspired by chinoiserie.

— marina liao, Marie Claire, "Pregnant Pippa Middleton Stole the Show at the Royal Wedding," 19 May 2018
Louis the 16th armchair, and a wonderful vintage yellow Baker desk with chinoiserie decoration.

— joanne kempinger demski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Tour for a cure: Architectural treasure is this year's Breast Cancer Showhouse," 18 May 2018
Introduce the East to the West Blending chinoiserie and clean midcentury lines keeps either from becoming themey.

— kathryn o’shea-evans, WSJ, "Interior Design That Will Let You Party Like a President," 23 Mar. 2018
Hartig’s sensibility is always slightly punk, and his collection veered from delightfully chic flapper-era gowns with chinoiserie embroidery to army jackets emblazoned with the image of Cher, yes, Cher.

— booth moore, The Hollywood Reporter, "When the Runway Is a Party," 14 Feb. 2018
Many of the season’s ready-to-wear pieces reference period textiles like chinoiserie and brocade, with additional textural layering from leather, knits and plumage.

— sophia markoulakis, San Francisco Chronicle, "Style Pairing: Dare to wear patterns," 1 Feb. 2018
The production design remains a fairly static pageant of hand-me-down chinoiserie, with a set and costumes that have been passed among four companies before winding up in Chicago.

— john von rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Lyric Opera greets new year with an improved 'Turandot'," 11 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chinoiserie.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

In 1670, King Louis XIV had the Trianon de Porcelaine erected at Versailles. It was a small structure-a pleasure house built for the king's mistress-and it was decorated with chinoiserie and faced with faience tiles with a blue and white chinoiserie pattern. The building persists in history as the first major example of chinoiserie-the English word is borrowed straight from French, which based the word on chinois, its word for "Chinese"-but the trend it began long outlasted the building itself, which was destroyed a mere 17 years later to make way for the Grand Trianon. Chinoiserie itself was popular throughout the 17th and 18th centuries and enjoyed a brief revival in the 1930s. And people still enjoy it today.