Venetian explorer Marco Polo sparked a fascination with China with his sensational account of his visit in the 13th century. Its allure seized the European imagination and never let go. Its appeal was only strengthened by subsequent traders (first from Portugal in the 16th century and then Holland and England, among others), who imported its porcelain, tea, and silks. The lure of the exotic, mysterious Far East, which most people would never see, led to a romanticized idea of China and its landscapes, people, and animals in the decorative arts, including teaware, furniture, wallpaper, art, and textiles, by Europeans and, later, Americans. Often, the designs in the style dubbed “chinoiserie” (derived from the French word chiniois, meaning “Chinese”) were pure fantasy, featuring palm trees, monkeys, and an empress cultivating pineapples—although…
