This collection of Chinese Ornamental Art was
first
published in 1867. It compiles a wide range of examples of this art
form which had recently become popular in Europe. It draws from
examples of Chinese ornament selected from objects in the Europe's
South Kensington Museum and other collections.
As indicated by Owen
Jones, the Plates "represent the great number of truely
magnificent works of Ornmental Art, of a character which had been
rarely seen before that period, and which are remarkable, not only for
the perfection and skill shown in the technical processes, but also for
the beauty and harmony
of the colouring, and general perfection of the
ornamentation."
It was Owen Jones' hope that the publication of this style of Ornament
would be found by all those in practice of Ornamental Art, a valuable
and instructive aid in building up what we all seek,-- the progressive
development of the forms of the past, founded on the eternal principles
which all good forms of
Art display.
Enjoy!
Ornamental Title, arranged from a painted china dish.
From a blue-and-white china dish. Note the Persian influence in the
flowers around the edge, and in the form of the external rim of the
dish.
From a blue-and-white china bottle. This composition is a fine example
of the conventional representation of natural flowers; but for the
peculiar character of the termination of some of the leaves, it would
pass for Indian or Persian.
From a gourd-shaped painted china Vase. We have here an example
of the continuous-stem principle.
From a copper Dish in the form of a shell; surface
enamel. This composition is also in the mixed style. On the radiating
lines the flowers and ornaments are detached. In the intermediate
spaces one continuous stem starting from the base embraces all the
flowers. In the drawing of the flowers, also, we see evidences of this
mixed style: some of the flowers are Chinese in character, while others
are drawn in the Persian and Indian manner.
From a painted china Bottle. This composition is so completely after
the
Persian and Indian manner, though Chinese only from their scheme of
colouring.
Jones, Owen, 1809-1874. /
Examples of Chinese ornament
selected from objects in the South Kensington Museum
and other collections.
(1867)
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