Cisterns, from Chippendale Drawings, Vol. II 1760

"Cisterns" is a design drawing by renowned English furniture maker Thomas Chippendale, dated 1760. The drawing, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, presents four detailed sketches for silver or metal cisterns. The designs showcase Chippendale's masterful use of Rococo ornamentation, characterized by flowing lines, shell-like forms, and intricate scrollwork. His signature style blends French elegance with a distinctly English sensibility, evident in the graceful curves and delicate details. These designs would have served as blueprints for crafting ornate and functional vessels used for holding water or other liquids.