Traditional Chinoiserie Table
A traditional chinoiserie table brings hand-painted lacquer, oriental motifs and period character into a room.
Traditional Chinoiserie Table
When you search for a traditional chinoiserie table, you are looking at items designed with decorative oriental motifs, often appearing as low coffee tables, nest of tables or console tables. The evidence shows these pieces surface across several periods, including the eighteenth century, nineteenth century, and early decades of the twentieth century.
The version you are most likely to meet on this page is a low coffee table or a nest of three tables finished in black or green lacquer, sometimes paired with marble tops. These surfaces display the distinct aesthetic associated with Georgian, Queen Anne and Edwardian interpretations of Chinese design.
Makers and workshops utilised hardwood, ebonised wood and lacquered wood to build these low tables and consoles. The forms range from compact nests to sturdy low coffee tables designed to anchor a traditional seating arrangement.
How they were made
The construction of these pieces relies on solid timbers like hardwood and ebonised wood, providing a stable frame for decorative treatments. Joinery methods of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries ensured structural durability for tables intended for daily domestic use.
Surface decoration defines the tradition, employing layers of lacquer over wood, often enriched with hand painting and gilt details. Marble tops also appear on console tables, adding a contrasting cool surface to the warm tones of lacquered timber.
Listings feature pieces spanning the eighteenth, nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, constructed from lacquered wood, ebonised wood and hardwood.
What varies in quality
The depth and execution of the lacquering and hand-painted detail separate standard examples from finer pieces. Superior items display meticulous brushwork and rich layers of black or green lacquer that retain their lustre over centuries.
The choice of underlying timber and the crispness of the carpentry, particularly on nests of tables and console frames, dictate the overall calibre. Tables retaining original marble tops or well-preserved hand-painted motifs represent the higher tier of surviving examples.
Chater And Son
The Traditional Chinoiserie Table Glossary
- Chinoiserie
- European artistic styles reflecting Chinese motifs and decorative techniques, popular across the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
- Lacquer
- A protective and decorative coating applied to wood surfaces in multiple layers, frequently finished in black or green with painted details.
- Nest of tables
- A set of graduated tables designed to fit neatly beneath one another when not in use.
- Console table
- A table designed to stand against a wall, often featuring a marble top in period examples.
Traditional Chinoiserie Table: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean a lacquered table?
Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth to protect the delicate painted and lacquered surface.
Avoid chemical polishes and moisture, which can damage the traditional finish over time.
Can I use a console table in a hallway?
Console tables fit narrow spaces like hallways and landings due to their shallow depth against walls.
Period examples with marble tops provide a sturdy surface for lamps and decorative items.
How do nests of tables work?
A nest of tables consists of smaller tables that slide underneath the main table to save floor space.
They offer flexible surface area for entertaining and easily tuck away when not needed.
What periods do these tables represent?
The pieces span various eras from the eighteenth century through the Edwardian period and the early twentieth century.
Stylistic influences include Queen Anne, Georgian and traditional Chinese aesthetics adapted by European makers.