London silversmiths specialized in flat-chased Chinoiserie scenes, which were created by stamping a pattern into the silver with small sharp tools. The motifs were directly copied from imported Asian goods, English design books, and maybe even theatrical set designs. The Chinoiserie objects shown here, however, also include unmistakably English imagery. While some figures wear Asian headgear and moustaches, their knee-length trousers match English fashion at the time. Similarly, the tankard seen here features strange birds and extraordinary foliage alongside a European-style double-tiered fountain. This mug and gold-washed cup both illustrate a tall man followed by a turbaned companion carrying a bamboo parasol, a popular Chinoiserie motif that connotes wealth and power.
Tankard, 1683
Marked "TC"
London, England
Silver with flat-chased decoration
Lent by a private collection
Mug, 1683
George Garthorne
London, England
Silver with flat-chased decoration
Lent by a private collection
Chocolate Cup, 1686
Marked "TEB"
Silver with flat-chased decoration
Lent by a private collection
Two-Handled Cup, 1684
Robert Cooper
Silver gilt with flat-chased decoration
Lent by a private collection
Monteith, 1687
Marked "TA"
London, England
Silver with flat-chased decoration
Lent by a private collection