Chinoiserie - the distinctive taste for decoration and architecture based on Chinese design - has its origins in the age-old fantasy of 'Cathay', the mysterious land of the East. This beautifully illustrated book shows the development of the style from its very beginnings, demonstrating its continuous influence in all of the decorative arts. With sumptuous photography showing all aspects of Chinoiserie, the book clarifies the ways in which the exotic East was incorporated into Western taste, in a way that still is relevant to all those involved in interior decoration today.