Plate 111: Two Doors, from "A New Book of Chinese Designs"

Plate 111 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 doors. The first, on the left, has a geometric pattern on the center; the sides are flanked by thin poles, and the upper arch is flanked above by thin, scrolling leaves, and a cartouche made up of scrolling motifs with a seated Buddha next to it. At the side of the door is a column with geometric motifs, a square base flanked below by short, scrolling leaves, and with a bundle of scrolling leaves making up the capital. Next to it is an elongated dragon, and the side of the house is made up of a thin bar with scrolling motifs on the bottom, on which the dragon stands. The ceiling has scrolling tips, and is flanked above by bundles of short scrolling leaves.

The second door has three marble panels, and is framed on the side by a thin column with bundles of leaves forming the base and capital, and with a strip of tassels and a ribbon bow on it, and with scrolling motifs with fringes above the arch, flanked above by a window with geometric patterns. A column stands at the side of the door, with scrolling motifs on the base and a bundle of leaves with stylized dragon heads on the capital, which holds the ceiling of the house, and has pointed edges.