Plate 34: Procession, from "A New Book of Chinese Designs"

Plate 34 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 represents a procession. On the left, a man with a straw hat, jacket and short trousers carries a quiver of arrows an his back and a halberd on his right hand. In front of him, a man wearing a hat and mustache, and a long robe with long, wide sleeves and a belt, holds a flag in the left hand, following a couple of men with helmets and short robes, carrying halberds behind their shoulders and on their hips. In front of them is another man, with pointed hat, mustache, short robe and pants, carrying a bow, quiver of arrows, and shield on his back, and a sword in his hands. On the right, leading the procession, are two men with queues and mustaches, wearing short robes with trousers, and carrying a processional stand with two large vases on their shoulders.