Perhaps decoupage history is not as old, as history of some other kinds of applied creativity, but not less interesting.
In different sources as the decoupage native land or China, or Eastern Siberia are named. It is difficult to determine, who at whom has adopted this technique: whether the Chinese peasants replicated nomads’ way to decorate various subjects by cut out paper pieces, whether nomads began to decorate ancestors’ burials walls by various paper applications, having learnt it from Chinese. One is known for certain – in 12th century in China it was created a bright color paper – cutout - to decorate windows, lanterns and other things. Sometimes there were any inscription calling in the house well-being, health etc. or cords and band decorating.

Later in the Far East (mainly in China) furniture lacquer painting originated and to 17 century it was in full bloom. Thanks to the Great Silk Way this furniture got to Europe where it was appreciated very highly. Really, this techniques was very labor-consuming – at first skilful wood painting was put which then was covered with dozens of lacquer layers. It was necessary years of masters work on separate samples creation. Oriental utensils and furniture, painted with lacquer, became very stylish, and adorned fashionable European homes. Dealers couldn't satisfy to the full Europeans’ orders on painted lacquer furniture from the Far East, but at the same time dealers wished to increase these goods quest, by their cost reduce. As a result the Venetian cabinetmakers and varnish works masters began to make fakes. Handicraftsmen employed pupils toward that they would transfer on paper by the way of colored ink pictures plots and then past these drawings to details of furniture, musical instruments etc. and cover them with several lacquer layers. Such objects were named object d'art and they were very similar to the real things brought by merchants from China and Japan. As the result of cheaper alternative object d'art the whole direction in decorating has developed: cheap drawings were bought, pictures were cut out from them, pasted and varnished.
The things decorated in such a way, have received the name - l'arte del povero that means poor men art.
But not only poor men have taken a great interest in this kind of creativity; the decoupage becomes popular hobby even at court of King Louis XV. Except furniture decorating, the decoupage is used for caskets, toilet accessories and even hats adornment. In 18th century the decoupage technique extends across all Europe. In England in 18th century the decoupage was popular in the higher and prosperous middle class. Combination of cutting and the general skills of varnishing were known in England as Japanning. . In 1760 one of the London publishers even had issued a book with illustrations and instructions under the name “Entertainment of the Lady or to Do Simply Japanning Art (The Ladies Amusement or The Art of Japanning Made Easy)”. In 19th century, at the Victorian England time, the manual painting and cutting art - Japanning, have given way to more sentimental art of the collage, the similar art form. It has coincided with Valentinkas use introduction (Valentine cards), decorative and relief papers and laces were used for surfaces as screens, lamps racks, linen boxes and many others decoration.
  In 20th century this kind of applied creativity has received the present name – decoupage (découpage), came from the French language (decouper - to cut out). Such artists of 20th century as Pablo Picasso and Anri Matisse used decoupage in their works. One of the most known examples of decoupage is the “Blue Nude” of Matisse. New directions raised – decoupage from napkins, the volume decoupage (3D) etc. And decoupage endures today revival all over the world.