Chinoiserie, the name is taken from 'chinois' the French for Chinese, and Chinoiserie wallpaper was a style inspired by art and design from China, Japan and other Asian countries. In the 18th century porcelain, silk and lacquerware imported from China and Japan were extremely fashionable. Asymmetry, scrolling forms and an element of fantasy characterise both styles. Chinoiserie was closely related to the Rococo style. Rococo and Chinoiserie styles were often used together in interior decoration or even combined in a single object. The increased use wallpaper in European homes in the 18th century also reflects the general fascination with Chinoiserie wallpaper motifs. With the rise of the villa and a growing taste for sunlit interiors, the popularity of wallpaper grew.'The demand for wallpaper created by Chinese artists began first with European aristocrats. The luxurious wallpaper available to them would have been unique, handmade, and expensive. Later wallpaper with chinoiserie motifs became accessible to the middle class when it could be printed and thus produced in a range of grades and prices. The patterns and designs on Chinoiserie wallpaper are similar to the pagodas, floral designs, and exotic imaginary scenes found on chinoiserie furniture and porcelain. Like chinoiserie furniture and other decorative art forms, chinoiserie wallpaper was typically placed in bedrooms, closets, and other private rooms of a house. The patterns on wallpaper were expected to complement the decorative objects and furniture in a room, creating a complementary backdrop.