Plate 62: Candlestand, from "A New Book of Chinese Designs"
Etched and published by Matthias Darly British
Artist and publisher George Edwards British
Not on view
Plate 62 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 candlestand, made up of a bundle of stylized acanthus leaves, which scroll upwards and slightly to the right, where three stylized flowers appear, each holding one candle. A Chinese man with pointed straw hat and mustache is seated on the acanthus leaves, and another man, with a queue on his head, stands on the left side, holding a halberd above his right elbow. A smaller acanthus leaf scroll is on the lower right, below the candles. The base of the candlestand is designed to represent a piece of land.
