Plate 114: Alcove and Garden Gates, from "A New Book of Chinese Designs"
Etched and published by Matthias Darly British
Artist and publisher George Edwards British
Not on view
Plate 114 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 an alcove with tiled floor and a seated Buddha on the back wall and a chair against it, under a canopy standing on the back wall and two columns on the front. The canopy has scrolling tips with hanging bells and is flanked above by four columns, above which stands a second, canopy of smaller size, also with scrolling tips and bells hanging from them. Half of the canopies are decorated with one pattern, and the other half have a different pattern; the same is true for the back of the sofa. The sides of the alcove are flanked by two benches with different designs on the legs, flanked above by rails with different sorts of geometric designs.
