Tropical Chinoiserie Bamboo Stoneware Picture Frame

The Tropical Chinoiserie collection is inspired by the Chinoiserie style, developed by European manufacturers as a lower-cost export to the Western market, particularly the American colonies. The designs were roughly copied from originals from Asian cultures, including, but not limited to, China. Western artisans also incorporated their own motifs, including animals not native to Asia and mystical birds such as the phoenix. The design was more a reflection of what they interpreted as an exotic, unknown land rather than reality. Of course, the traditions and motifs that inspired the Chinoiserie style were far from new, having been developed and refined over thousands of years in Asia.  Chinoiserie is more commonly rendered in blue; however, examples of Chinoiserie in many colors are on display at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg.