Two French Chairs, in Chippendale Drawings, Vol. I 1753

Here we see a design for ‘Two French Chairs’ sketched by Thomas Chippendale in the 18th century. The drawings are replete with chinoiserie, a style echoing motifs from China and East Asia. The chair on the left features a scene of figures near a pagoda, while the chair on the right depicts people in a more rugged, mountainous landscape. These scenes are not mere decoration; they reflect a deeper fascination with the ‘Orient’, reminiscent of earlier works, like Marco Polo’s descriptions of Kublai Khan’s court. Such images often carried projections of exoticism and luxury, which in turn reflect the psychological needs and desires of the European aristocratic class. Remember how porcelain, silks, and other goods flowed westward? The motifs changed over time, and became a part of the collective memory. These elements still carry meanings today, as tastes evolve in a non-linear progression, and cultural symbols resurface, continually renewed.