Plate 85: Canopy, from "A New Book of Chinese Designs"
Etched and published by Matthias Darly British
Artist and publisher George Edwards British
Not on view
Plate 85 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 canopy, with a round crown on the top, flanked by a small canopy made up of two pearls and two thin, scrolling motifs over two columns, with a frieze of scrolling leaves flanked above by scrolling motifs, from which extends the ceiling of the canopy, which scrolls outwards and ends at the level of a second frieze, also with scrolling motifs, with thin rails with abstract geometric motifs on top of it, and C-curves with patterns of lozenges and scrolling leaves on the bottom. A rolled-up curtain is attached to the lower part of the canopy, with its loose edges hanging from the sides.
