Plate 55: Bridge with fishing stages, from "A New Book of Chinese Designs"

Plate 55 of 'A New Book of Chinese Designs', consisting of a title page, index, and 120 plates, etched and published in 1754 by the British caricaturist, printseller and ornamental engraver Matthew Darly, in collaboration with George Edwards. The book consists of a variety of ornamental and costume designs of Chinese inspiration, some of them copies of the original works (including the title).

This plate consists of a design for a bridge with representations of different stages of fishing. The bridge stands on columns with geometric patterns, made up of thin, squared, pieces of wood (?), on a river with rocks on either side. The river is fenced with rails of different geometric patterns, possibly intended to show different variations of the design. Two Buddhas are seated on top of the central columns, their heads flanked by trees. Between them is a statue of a winged dragon with a long, scrolling tail. On the egdes of the bringe are two chambers with windows with different patterns, ceilings with scrolling tips, and flanked by flags on the top. On the left is a staircase to access the river, and a platform that floats on the river, both fenced with different sorts of rails.

Men are represented in different fishing activities: two men are on a boat, on the river, on the right side, one of them rowing and the other fishing with a cane; two other men are fishing with a cane on the left platform under the bridge, and a thir one is approaching them, going down the stairs, carrying a cane on his shoulder. On the upper part of the brigne, another man is standing with a fishing cane on his hand.