chinoiserie

noun

chi·​noi·​se·​rie shēn-ˈwäz-rē How to pronounce chinoiserie (audio)
-ˈwä-zə-;
ˌshēn-ˌwäz-ˈrē,
-ˌwä-zə- How to pronounce chinoiserie (audio)
: a style in art (as in decoration) reflecting Chinese qualities or motifs
also : an object or decoration in this style

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.

Examples of chinoiserie in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But instead of leaving it all to the chinoiserie, Gurney added additional pops of saturated colors that made the curling vines read almost like a neutral backdrop. Madeleine Luckel, Architectural Digest, 16 July 2024 Its stunning chinoiserie pattern will make this piece a statement in your home. Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2024 Photographed against a bamboo forest, his chinoiserie felt a tad on-the-nose, but was no less heartfelt. Emily Mercer, WWD, 19 June 2024 The pick of the new suites is the Georgian, an impeccable meld of English heritage and subtle chinoiserie. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Dec. 2023 See all Example Sentences for chinoiserie 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chinoiserie.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from chinois Chinese, from Chine China

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chinoiserie was in 1883

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Dictionary Entries Near chinoiserie

Cite this Entry

“Chinoiserie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chinoiserie. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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