chinoiserie Chinoiserie originated in France during the 18th century and shares many stylistic

chinoiserie 

Chinoiserie originated in France during the 18th century and shares many stylistic similarities wth the undulatingly fluid and organic rococo movement. One of the most obvious and practical parallels is that it encompassed many mediums, from interior design, furniture, garden follies to painting textiles and ceramics. Indeed chinoiserie was everywhere in Europe and was of course drenched with colonial symbolism.

As a concept this style is completely entwined with orientalist principles. It is inspired by ‘the orient’ yet makes no geographic or artistic distinctions between influences and countries. What emerges is a strange idea of China which draws upon imagery from Turkey, India, Egypt and Japan, creating an elaborate exotic fantasy, more a depiction of the designers own imagination than anything resembling reality.

The truth was outside academia in the superficial world of fashion, there was little interest in really exploring and understanding a different culture, what really mattered was following the latest trend. With the influx of Asian products like silk, porcelain and tea, via the East India Company, goods from the 'orient’ were the new symbol of power and wealth. With this mania Europe’s own cultural landscape changed and with it its visual identity.