Plate 65: Palanquins, from "A New Book of Chinese Designs"
Etched and published by Matthias Darly British
Artist and publisher George Edwards British
Not on view
Plate 65 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 two designs for palanquins. On the left, a closed palanquin, framed with elaborate scrolling motifs, and with an octagonal panel of marble on the bottom and a rectangular window with abstract patterns of circles and undulating lones, flanked by two horizontal poles on the front and back, which are used by two men to carry the palanquin on their shoulders. A second palanquin is represented, on a smaller scale. It consists of an open box with rectangular panels of marble, on which sits a Chinese man. The front and back of the box are flanked by two poles, intersecting on the upper part, and pulled up by a large pole, which is used by two men to carry the palanquin.
