CHINOISERIE

Chinoiserie is a generic French term referring to an artistic style which imitated Oriental design. The adaptation of oriental designs throughout Europe became very popular during the late 17th century, and Chinese-style decoration featured on furniture, wallpaper, fabric, faience and tinware. Landscapes containing pagodas and oriental-inspired figures were commonly used. The style is still popular with today’s decorative painters and is seen painted on ceramic and wooden items, often with a high gloss finish to imitate porcelain. Blue and white is a common colour combination, as is the use of metallic paints or powders over a black background.