'a$

Wge-t's ru e CrrrNssERoom? 2o'" CsNTuRv

CnINoIsERrp,, MoIERNITY AND FsurNrNrrv

lhc lir.t thrce decarlcsof thc .10'i ccrtur\ sr$ r rich resurgcnce ot
clirr:,reric ln popular and clire clcsi'rnln Lurrrye anll i\nrericr' llo\cr ancl
b u rt.rth n ol i ts,l n(.LU er€dl Lmi turc. red ti !\el s and ker part$ns cm$ged
as (olourlul ind .\oti. asP(.is of Br irish modenit\ that, in |ranr $ a\ s ti)ox
i ts r,\fi ra l i ot .h.cLh l rom the C h .se stl hs ofthc l 8' b ccrtun' fhi ne se
d ra q o rsd rn (d acrossth. .ul hi oD s,curtrnrs.rn' lsal l papers ol l l rl ti sh
dnr ng roons. rnd la.htnable s onrr:n sportd Clijrt';e coars and cr cn
Clircse hiifsrlles. BLrtthis r rs a srftnqeli Pafr'loxicrl treDd, 'tuii' {lisljnct
lrom inrthiirg that had gon. bet{!c
C|nr.s!!.ss \\ is r ssociit(d s ith li mniinil \ and Drcxlernit\' As \\tst$n
crLltureerpc' ienctd the socirl rphtar rl o|\\o'lf \ir I rtl th' 'r'itcnfnt
o f ti i c J a z zA gc. hi cL l bl l orci l , c[nri se' s rs Li ni < cd \1tl i \\cal r]r\ sL\Llsh
\o m.n . a n d nl th nt\ l ocati onsofma:s entcrti nncD l , su' has cl nemas
j rhi n thc desi gnrfo\emcni
l l o rc re r. C hi nesesrrl rs sl fr nl soi nl l rcnti i L \
ofi\l:iernism, r hcrr rashionable'fcfiininit\' \'as crhcs ed nr larour oLa
strlppccl bacl mrscullne' lool. Lasrli, ( hncsc desiqn \ !s s'!D irsa st\l'
lerci of thc l8 h ccnLfir', so Lhnr10" .utur\ chnriscrir I as gr catlr nost;Lqic
{or thc sqToscd qncc anrltlcgDce ol Ritish 18" ccnl!rr\ aristo(trtic l|in{
I Io\\c\cr, int.r.sr in Chirese lLinqs also prestrrcd sDc Powerfull\ exoti'
mvths r bout Ctrnra'sprsr it .1tinr e \ hln Chnitsc socicl\ \ rs bcn ig translorm ed
{ion a lanrl ol orpcrors rnd paqodasrr:,a modcrn' scdcrniscd rffublic The
{ord'.hinojsciie dcs..ibes sonethnrg rfiich ltrs b"'D ruthor'd in thc\\'csr
lrtrt..hch rcprcsents C|nra lhc celeLrrtion oi Chmesc ltirres n l0'' ccnrLln
British idtern)rs, { h.th$ ther uscd Clucse or nr:'r Chjn(s' madc orj'cG,
s ere th.mehc\ a pi..c ol Lrhjnoilcriethrl .reatc(l fotcnl Lantrsiciol Cliin'

l h c $ i c k cdness ofthe 1920sC hi nese R oom

T h e Orl c n t t.n{l \ t.r b.l rsed as r si te ol Lhenral l onrl aud ol dcsnc an
c d i { m i l l . f l ac. outsi dt hi stor\ and rnod$ni t\ \l i i ' h suP P Li es a sari st\ ing

s c n s l ti l i l \ n ot i orn.l i n i f dusi ri al i i ed\\l sl .rn i .' i ' tl ln l i ' ti on s' m' n

s h o p o s s e ss ori cntrl nrcri ors d c ol ttn !.du(1r\ and & t to

' ' ounl o 'i
rThc f,:,LrvthL'or:'k]n l oli n orth\
the int!r.sts oi'.i\iliscd socict.
';il$\
F o rs rtc S a gr.l l .l l /rr..U @ l .,r ( 19.14),P ff senr\ 1| e chrrrcter ot I cur
i\ uncon,promiliigh modern anJ ertrcn':li fastrioneblc rirlsror thi
fis6.r Qr.tu rr,rn' ||rr,\. al,iffdrdrl
gn.s Lrsa (lcscnplion of hcr erchiLcrt dlsisn ed \\:c liminsl $ homc,
& o),ril l rirri,i! br ltlrh J r d J 1. [ . ] 92i jn iD xrn-iglrnrg ('rnblr ion ol
lianrmg r Chn$r dr \j.g roon
loxl(.ll..tnr ,. l1 l0SI nf , \ hjAt r
a n .i e n t a n .l nl od(ml

ll
 \\r{ r \ r\ 1CF Nr)r k r nl r . r ( r Nr ulr CJ ! \ . r Fr r , ! t , u r \ J r t \ \ n F r ! r \ r J y

'Thc N.n rc tb l4i

4 ttu.li.ii .idr., Ju,niDJ ,r. irrdrt ,/ !1. A.,tr.. rrJ al,nnl
t' rLrrn ir.r t.n.lJ. r ..pp.l ll..t. nn&tl hrina, rnd .!i ,rl^ h,,.! /r .o,rdxrtJ
.rl a/r,ur rie orlL ,ri,r/ ;r nl,ri l,r /,,rir ial i..-,.r JdirrrtrJ
-/d, finlrj
ri r.l ,r.? 1r.., rLi .1.drJ,,| .,. i rJ Ll ,rcr. Jqtj !r.i ai ,n,.1rh
l .r D r!idii,
1 r.,,/tn . J.h./l 4Fde #r.Tha.rcr.n o r.,J.,/dl .l J l r,.t f.d i ./ , , t t r t i
u t n ,./r J nd,J.,i dr/ol ,& Dl ! mrdl j ,a.D .Irarnarnrp,orc.paai r ir an
' D rr-r
p i d D .Jn ! r. r., ufdntr' -,rD !l r .ti Jcntal .d^| p. l t hadrl rn, Jl .r L. ir ld
up r.h rc.n . . Th. htht. rdnnl .l h\ r,D dorJ.r !' rl , d,, nl J i ,,/i ,fr! , ir . lr

In 1l,i! roon fleln- .rl\.i u\!d i chmois.r i. looLstd)l ind r I c{Llicqu.rel ir.l
ta b l c ,u d shr usedonc ol thc l acquercdLhc:Lsto hrl e thc tcl cphonc,n lnc
\irli rontcni|ofirr (lcsigDad\ire ro.lisgr isc rh. mechrnicrl During t|e e}i,
I 9llX , (lcpaf tnent st.rcs sucli as Li bertr \ c.c scllinq bor .hapcd poutii:
1i ith lpi ulq scits ..\ frrd in r rarie ol rhiuoistlie rhmrsk: .rrl brocrrles,rhrL
ot.ircd up ti) rererl i l ldcn stor.lgc .onipl rni.nt lerilicallr iir srimottirnr
rc .o rd s . I Il on- i l v, kfpl .i 1' cknqesrdog, ancrl extr-eD rl rhshnnablem r l
o\ c, th alhniesep.1, s hicL rts seento'r ourd the roori ol1' dcch: I

'| ,l ll. , , , . . rh - r, . , , . , . t . , , . ,
'
i, , , . 1 , . . . , ,
,rp p .rfc nthduti i nL\oung nother, arrl thc C hi neseroonr undcrgoesa ; t m ilaL
l r,rD s fomati
r on i nro a L(i ui s Quj n,f i oom nr gol d rnrl si h cr, compl et c r r Lh
c l l l c h o rrl ; the P chl ugcscdos i s r.pl Jccd br a D ar.l j ! D i nn!' rt terrj. r .
Po $ .\n )n ofi ( hi n.s! dnsmg roo,), rh.frl i !e.aJJs rrc,cl ucsti on ar lc;
rb i l i l \ 1 o mtri ntl i r r spi ri tui l l r l ul l i l l l ng i D d r.spe.rJhl c l i nl \ honr. :
A d c c entand trcl l ni nrrere.l hoi u! \oul d .,errai nl rharc been rt r : , t lJs
. . t . r. t,. .n t, ..t ,..
l o o n c h om. i d\ i (r Lx!)k. G.oJ l /dr,.,r i l rl + ), i C hi ncscroom gi rr s
' a n n n p r e$i on .,1$ i .kcl hress' Tl rc I 910s.{meri rrn l i l m star,( hrr Bor ,
r r crrcd a Chncsc r oon thar s es .r sr nbol of her-rrl, rxciting ruro, r1itr,
s i l h n a tl s.l e.o, i l cd i n rcrl , qol d ard Ll ack hcqu$, r cd ani l sotd ori cr r Lr l
drapcries a li)g( fld ind {old !.,l;, Chnrese.]rtcrs, cibniers Dd t.tr,p,!,
i n d .l l a c qu.r(l B uddha(,n a..rr\fd sraD (I.she crcl udci l nrturat l tqh r ,
b u rD e dnr..i i !c and rei i rred t tl i c roon as a/orarproonr.norrl i rnrg
ro o m , e n..Li ,rgxi g her fubl t. 10 r i cn her C hi r(s! foom rs r d.h ol
i l i q u i t\, ard .o.\l r ucti nq herscl l rs a thoroughh l i Lcratdron:n '
S tu d i esol l i cl bni l rel res.nl ati ds ofl rte 19, rnrl c.i rl i 10, cc,,tu r r
,i r" l , .' ... r' 6 (
' \.
n n o h e n rcrl c/ shi te r onrrn s i th C bnresenr.r., i D d C l l i nes. ( ul l u., $$
i re q u e n t l r tl rr catrhst l or rl i c mofi l i sti . ..,n(l rD rni ti onol C h ,,c!. pract i. es
th a t h a d h i rl i cfl o Lcen tol o,l cd, N ch esl l l egalganLl i n{. ! S i \ R ohn ir 's

I
t!
D o \e l s ftc)i //.r al Jtr (l 9l 5tri rd D .t.l l 919l d.pi (rrd the.l .\nj .l l
o ldr x{
ad(li.te.l s liiLc somen in I o,nlon s Chnrar.,$. d1Lxncholsc, pl lh nlsl,tr

;(l

fi! ri I rrdrirL! tiFnn.urlir nr blLrr:l k
n!tr drl, 1)nlu a I rlh {hit. drr!o$,
t lqli Rl)rrlPrl L|,ri r i \ ' lus . uDs .
br tlie rcal lifc scrndrl causcrl br the cleathofthe rctress Billic C.irlloi nr
1 9 i 8 . i n sl i ch Li mcl ou!. C l hl n.\. $ere j rnfl i cated as drug suppl l c r s Dopr
1latrrtrl thc Chimtor r r(l\ fhlnr.s ot Rjta l)resden, a rlrug addlctrd rclrcs:.
fi th ! c o nP i n\ ol \{ol l \ Grftna,' notori ous {ci ctr ,Lorci c, l orcrn osl iir r hf
1 i n o f c \ cr\ (rarc. r pri L m sl f f ssot the stranqestr j crs' for Ihom L hcuc, c
s i g h to fChhcstpcopl cl as' rl el i cj r:,rsl rsi nl uL' .r S LI.hneqati \c r.act ior \ 1o
tashx,nablcsonicn ind CLnrclr rhi,,{. ('ir.e r\idelr liurltu tht popular
c u l tu re ol tht ti mc, and prrl ,.trs L nas l rc.i seh becauseofthc subr cr snc
natru e ol Clhinrsc things 1lu1 (hini,injle slr..esstullr becinc i prrt of
detient modcrn lcnnrnrlll(s, lb.1rse.lon a ne\ generatrn olhcrcrsinglr
i n d e fe n d.nt soncn $Lo rnokci l , rot make rp, bobbedthci rl ui r r nd
s o u g h ta c cessto l i qhcr cdu(atj o,i ,pfol i rsi onal .-ai ni ng,and thc \ot..
riL sort c1/tlr Hoa,; rcconrncnJcrl a'Chire.e roon lor erprcssng
in.Liricllnliti, usjng i srriking papcr <lcsst.d alier-the mrnner ofred hcqucr,
or one bepattcrnrrl h oring.5 or.rdl:,n1,:.1 ( ith hlrls ofperrdist ... ni pancl
lorm . ' Clnncst dngon ndili tr cf. .,rtsidere.l eren more dnrnlg. ' Dra\ nrq
rooms sere oiicn considcrcd as a'bccr:r,,inq ard adnrinble brcl<rround ior a
j
hostes. r that intcrior dccorilion irj.l dr..s lashloD.\?re interconncctcd.
l-a*,ionrble clothins r asbling sold \ iLliin .r 'lili \1r Lr' packrge,i" rnd r tlic
daringdragons of tht Clnncsc' roor l,rr:lutd easlh to the latest p\jnmi
l o u rg n g outfi ts,drtsscs,.\ cni rg gr^\ i s.rD .l .orts (t]{ 6.1). I
( hinese dress harl had rn nllucrcc on\\i'.tt*n lashionsironr jL,st i1t.f
190(1,\']th the emersencc oI Chincsc coal rlc:igns. The nrrnr .hiracte.istic
o l th r' ( hnese oat n as i * r i dc sl co c: ard arnLol cs, \' hi .h i i ere c ut in ont
piccc u th the bodi of the rrrmcnt. As cll as tillnc:c s cning coats. ancl
"
.\ c n C h ine.enotor .orts, C hi ncscrcr gor ns antl drcssi rqgos ns ap per r ed,
a rd rrh desi gnsrerc sai d to l i i \ c i ' str(.i rl !rnrt " sa.ki nesi " rt r tim . \ hcn
l l i c b.,.l r, l bl L:rruq the l i nesof a
i ,i r,!r l rrhi onsi i ere .l osel r tai l )rcd to 111
!c x )r,r:,ll i n{.orset. thi s ne( f.l shnD aLrlboscncss
. t,l r cl l hare see m edr er r
d i fi n g , c sp..i rl l r as thi s L.hl rrdi i n noti di ol sni fLn(5s' .rl \o hna delm it e
s c x u a la n rlscnsrti onalo\ertones.productuga garmcnLs i l h i Li sll hc r it ht
n o u ,,r o l cxoti . nauqhti ness. Loos., unstrucrurcdor i cnt,:l garment sm or e
fi n ' o u s l r crme to dre l ore i n l ' .ml l ' o!cl ' s S i (]( tl rcssol l 9I l , ancl th em or e
L u b u h r dr css* r' l es ofthe l 9l 0s contD urrl Lhi sl ccl i ng ol ni oderni t\ t hr ough
c mrn c i p .ti on ol the bo.h. Ihi scrcnrxtrndcdtol Lchc..l i n l 9l (1, \'hen r
C h n c ,.c l rrl rstrIr brcrme i ashi onrbl e.
\' as Ier.e' \ed as i thfc.i t to thc \rr\ l i \cl i ho ods . , 1
T h c Chnrfscl i ai r-.i \' 1,:
l u l rd rc s s crsand hal rpl ecerearers, hecausci Lrasl al a,ra' rni dorte . l. t he
lulr bcng pullrd *talsht back lioni tht facc and rhcn lircrl simp| in r Los
r? ,,p fu au:nrg rn onate comb. rl trasrornhatl csi i nd.ombi ,i ..l $it h
p c n d a n l c l rrl ngs, pcrhrpsprorl dmg a usefultransi ti oi bcrrccr Ll ,cligh, t r LL
rnd elaborarc *rLcs o rhc pre lar era. and the sinplc boL,sand clo'c 1)ttlng
c l rc h c h atso1tl i c rri f l ' 120.. U .i ng the i e ri nol ogr of r arl arc,hrl r ilr r s$
i hr:rlhos ' thi s rccursei lC hi ntst no,l c ..
L m i l t L o ng < l cscr Lc,l , c r hc
" rs
71
\ \ 'H \ r'. r \ r ( H r \ J i r r o .\r r r o "' | r L Nr xRr CHr J.tr u l, \ 1'D i R \Ir \\D fl rl N r\Irr

r'
ruin of 1li! proftslitn jn gcnja! and lr1 hairdrcilers in ]rnrtlcular' I Ioncitr,
sdising Lhatresislan.e {oul,l be lutih, he r(l\ iwl all liai resscrs 1.) kno\
l i e e n c m\ ' l nst€ad,Jn.l to ol l i ' r th. U hmes!' stl l ersaIa-rtoscl l taheir air
a eapcnsi\ e car\ c(l conibs. Such diaLribesag.iilst thc 'Clhinesccoltlrre'
pfialleled 18'' centLLryanxitrics orer llic nttlltratj.'r ofchinoiserif stlles
inio Britanr, but Long $rs also nobilising the norc contcrnlora'! rhetonc
ol theYcllor Peril. a te,qrhoblc Luropran. Norrh Ancr .an 'nid Ausmlian
fcsponsc 1o leirs o\$ Clincsc lrnmjgrJilorl

C h i n o i s c ri e, Modetni ty and xl oderni sm

\\r|i lst thc /!f.n dlJ.fr. ol tlie lalc I 9rbccniur\' ( ill cd lor subtle conibinattrns
o1 green iD.l turquoiif, .lramrtjc .olour . orn bi'ii't'ons \1crf an lmPoriant
Ii! 6 l. l!g!er.d !n n, Chrn.sr frcic,r ni lbc ribranL trodernit\ ol1920\ .hinoisuie. Lrrc 1890s and earlr
Cliin,.Dl]ile lDttcn \n\nfcr, i!,flulirs 190(k adr i.e hrd Lrccntor plair s alls a rerction ag.lnid the ilnrk 'tnd
i, rrr of h.lu.f.d Ji,,ntrtri. lhf buL bt I 91 l, l.rtqe ChrnesePattcfns \rcrc benrg
IloridVictorirn ntcrior
\\ill}]]pcr \huh.nnc, ! I tl.. 192n.
Rn e Books& Sf..iJ Lr.rlle.!.Ds, Jul,iLee
rccomrnendcd, usnig ri.h colours on a Lrlackbackground 1or a rnodcn
hp.rct. Blacl and scarlct \\ erc \a1.1'naLL!alla' to suggesta 'Clhjnesc r"on'
ch.]rl-\ insP;,cd br thc colours ot lacqucr lurniruc, and a sallpapcr bccam
i
a rri l a b l er hi ch used rhe l ate l 8 centur. chi rri s$i e w i l l os l attcrD f r int ed
in blacL, scatlet anrl golrl.r'r RcJ lacqucr lurninLrc I as much prelirt:*l aborc
blur lacqucr or drrk alLJroughoccasionalLablesin crcm. rtllov, and
"oods,
grccr lacquclrere usd as scll, proidnrg collrlul and conn.astnrg
rr
e h me n ts \\i 1Ll n thesc \i r1clscl i crnes
A 1 9 2 0sC hi nesei ntcri .,rra! a]s.,mcanl to be as{l osr i s P o$j bl c
ArcLitect Basillonidcs !.lesign 1or a red ha11or startase reconrmendcd hearilr
\afnished p: els oi\j]]o\v patrcrn ivallpaper in blacL. qold ud scarlcr "ith
biacl. trrourrls, r jth all $ood$.,rk also P.rirted black Dd lica\ih 'afni5hedrl
'Ilic lloor n asto be colouted scrrlct, rarni'lri<l rnd then q arcd' and black
jti
lacgluerliamcd nirrors rrere to bc used nrltead ofPictures Tcarled \
scarlct and gold curtalns. scarler Lrpholstcr) s lth gold edges,cushlons\ ir h
largc tass€ls rd scarlcr la.quer ornamenr\, lhis Plan li:anedhcarilr on Chinese
DflLrencesro ptoducc a rerr nitnse lisual cxlerjcncc. Thus, l modern Chnles!
roon, \!as thc rer\. aDtidlesr ofdullness, ard the glcamnrqcopper ll'rrr ind
cur gli$ iLLtrcs ofFlcur's lictnrnal drasnig room bcgin to makc sensc'
Yc'r,Fleur's drarring roon also containcrl a strangc mjxturc ot th€ or(rtlr
old in.l the arant grrdc lacqucr chestsurd coppcr lloornig retirrug to
thc earlier \ogue lirr cbinois€ric in Brjtiin r\rnjdsLa generil reriral o1 l8L!
ccnrury strlcs, rhe Cluese'dcsigns oliurnitur€ makers rch ;s Clijppcndale
bcc:rme fashionableLccausetlic\ seem€d li{hter and nore rcllned thm
\iiclodan dcsigns,maLing then scem iiodctn e\.n lhough rhcl rer'
reproductnn ilig {:.2). Cropieso1 older chbolserics nlso Prcscnted rn
opportunitv to erploir a nostalgir lor thc l8'r''tsnlur! as an aril'lote 10 the
bustllng, brrsh \l.rclnnc .\ge oI cars, cincrnas rnd rlcpartntnt srores A
fecling ofconser\atnc modernir; Ias crc:rrecltiial uPheld riller tlun

78
 c h rl l c n g cf rh,: * rms quo j .! an upp.r .l a$ thet hrd cxp$i r:r,ccdr s har p
rl c e l i n c1 ,,y:,cj oeconomi cporc,. hri des desj tncd i brrl rrr:,oDw i th ChDcs.
ra l l p a p c , r,d a trssel l ei l i {hl I LLi i i rl .r Lrtl r D i ana D u 1 C ooper,a nd
r a rtu u : o rhd ( hi nest nrLcr0 s.rr \' l eanrtri l c. l l uccr IIrrr cteatedhcr
ctlcLrarcrl t hinese Clilppcndalc rr:rD at Buckhghan, Prhcc. m s hich an
o l d p i c c c ol chi roi seri esi l kprorrl cd the pattcrn tof n.\ s Jl l P ater PaniLt .
c u rta i n surl uphol sterr (1i ! 6 l . (i 1f.l 6l .r+
S u c hu sc' or .hnri seri . scrc f.Jsl mi nq becauscthcr g.\c th...mlof t f iq
b L rtm l s lcarl i ngi mpresstrnof Lncl ,r!)gj ngso.i eri e\ Il r l tri ,, rnd nr ( h nr a
ln licL. li,llon inr the nid 19 ccnlurr n ds thrt r crc loughr or er thc righr
ofthc\\'csrcrn p.Irrs to trrdc n, Chinr, (lhna's stiDdnrq I r th.\Ve.t hid
s l l T td l i on,.: {eni nqh nnnti l ,l c 1r.r(l i ns]]o\crto a soci crrl ncl eclner it h
a ranquishiJ. scmi coLoni.rlsrcLLL: j\lor. arnred .onflicr .Lurinr rJlesuffr.$n'1
o f th . B o \.r Ll Irl si ngi n 1900had l i rtl r$dectee-ed i ts !1i nl i ,rg. an.l
c o n tri L uLc(l 1l rr]]edenri seofGcQl nsdrnasti nrl 9l l i n(l Lothee.ti bli- liDr cnl
o fr n c s R r:pubLl c.Thus. c.cn a' rl rc nr.sterl ousrorl ,l ol ,:nrp,:rorsrn d
manrhrDs rccedng bel;fc llir Lldc ot senernisrtion, 20'r'c..tun British
"r'
o Lhr:* ebrqoneprc col oni rl rrl atl onshTs
.h n i o b c ri . o,ri nl ai red rn i l l Lr-.n,n
(.rhnci d l,r F, trtn
'rifn $ i th a l nl a. i n(l r more rotnanti .,l cs\ r, oubl i nr $1!1d.ri
( l rill \ i . r ! r ir S \1 ,.,r \ltr s.n m
ri i o n scrral | c approachesto C l ui csc fcsi qr aLso.\i sL.d \ l l ri f rh e
re a l n .o f B r L sh nodernj sni . D .\j gl (f l l euri .c S l t\di m! (d. l 9+ I J
a d \i s e drci dc, \ 1o rroi .l both prrl otl rcproducti rnsand norcl tr' de. ign-
ti o m th . .onti rfD r ( hi .h he consi dcrcf LD beanbh c\oti c, 1o rhf l oint
o l ' mp u dcncc' . " ' 1m as rl so l i s sLatl l oP i ni oni hi r i n 1l r. m( .rn
aptropriitnD ol Cl,if.se LaLrquer, Uhincs( li,Tr. rn.l m.rii\ Jr.,LLl,lt.,t
b e u s e d .N !\ crrl ,.l rsi . .\damss orn so,L ras nyedLr thc C hl ne. e .
c o mh n nrg uorl crr rersrons of 18 ccrtrn ti uni tur. and !l i l i hl s $it h
b h c k fl o ors url o,i tor., uhutsc crrpct.. rnd bLreksi l k l i Lrri turc
u l h o l s t.f\ d.cor aL,rd\' 1th gol i l C hD csc frr{ons :' A drns s nr1$i or s
re re s rnl to conbl nc cul ture, ni l d l LLrur atd {oo.l tnst.' , uci (l D{ I
fa rh b e t \\e€n Ll i cl rad l l onal aD dthc arrtl e.rj 1l ..and rborc rl l csti b llshur q
th rt .h ni oi s.ri c, l ;f l ronr bei n€cxol i !, s.)! sonreho* natLLral l .rnd
tr" te i u l l i B ri ti sl ,' "
rhc rranr garrl erork o1E i l ,n Grai and l ci n D Lr..i ndin f r incc.
l i l l rrDg
:\d n N , Ii kc ni an\ oth.r desi gn.rsofl Lc P fri .,.l , \rs el so trci l i l g tr oder n
li,rnjture m irt d.co d,npes. Iinnhcd nr a sl, n cortmg of L,hck laLqu*
(l l { 6 .+ , .rt C .l i i . E \cn here, U hnt.c dcsi qnroul d mri nt.l i Di ts cod ir c. r i. ns
s i th i e n i i ni ni rr h1l .tri .L i 9l 0s.B .rh J!.1 (nrkF{l \\i th f,nrrl r}ri. t
C e c i l L e si i r to pr orl ucernodern l acquri .(l l urnl tl rre thi t \ r\ 1ci l ur. . l in
ar ldeal Bourloir' lor rhe l)aili Xlail llcrl l lome Lrhibitirn a: br I roran
1.r- r n onrn s ulc. " Flor erer. rcprorlucriors ol l E" cintuf \ sL.P.. still
p r c r a i l ed w i th l i rns sut h as I l l l l e produci ng 1rcquerecl
turni tu, c palnt r 'cl
\ j1h Chmes€fiqurcs i,n(l hrdscape-., shilsL cl,inoisene Lrcqucrcd l,cd.
.e re s o i d bi H crl s rl onqsi dethcr nofc \{ od.rni st .l esi gns.
'

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Okl chnroseries also crpcr i.n.f.l a renrjssan( in dr( 'Chrrese' ele.tric linip,
teated br using Chincsc ccranic ioms lirr tlic bascs,and ometnres fanciful
' C l ,i n e s e ' shrdes of Chinc"c
l /r. r.ot,J,6. H .,,. tcl l s us' Lampdranes
asrcl l
lnspn-rtlonenlo\ .l p.rcmiJl popLrlaritr.the nrrc claboratr lillornrg the lils
01th( prgodr and Chnicst tcmpLc,tasselsand ornrmcnls nr thf rorm ofLells.
rrrl chainsol beadstistooncd 1'oor angle to angle,iorning r|c great teatureto
rl i c l r J e . orati on.' (fi { 6.j i i Li l hl i n{ el l ects\er. sai d10bc P arti .ul ar hg. od
rhcn the basewas madc liom Clhineseforcelain or EuroPcan.,hjnoiserje
ccraDics such rs rasrs, gnrgcr iars ind tigurines. tlic larrcr bcn,g toppetl rlth
fir rr.r Iimt^ le.n aller \ lus . nm . a sLarlcn r'lantastic li,rn sucli rs a p*rsol or prlanquin'.r'
In ,o gLrcdrtmg the 1920s,Lhc' l i rtasti c' nrture ofcl i i noi scrj c not or Lr
lcf\(a J\ a lo.ation lir LuropQn crctss and vrci.ll transgr.5sion dltjng the
l0 r' .cntu-\; but ilso pro\ idcd a , !.t\slrnrg set .rf contnruilics rflirrin{ brck
ro thc lll'r' .entur\'. ChDcsc dcsign iD dre housesof thc rich sas a nostalqlc
rc l l ri n J cr ol thosethmcr ti mc! $| .r1tel ati onshi psni th C l ur. \ere
unconplicrtcd b1 rrrtere and imrLlgration, and China rppcarcd urtouched
L r\ s c s L cfn j nl l ri en.es.C on\cfscl \,1hc chrl l engi ngnattucoftl l hrncscness,
\ ith its !!!o. jations of threatcnnig (aI rl tis( ii rting) exotic bllia\ io !ri cl:iull
L,c uscd Lo rrpres some uNctrlnrg asp..ts oi modernitr L,ccauscc,l a
Irq .r l r' .. ., ..i r . ' r ' l :,. I
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shapcsand motl l s, anrl materi al ssuch asl ; t quer
c d rL ,j n l l i ons, l ashi onahl e
tliat r crc highh ir th ential Nithnr n\ anLgarde .lesign. l hus, chnoiscric \ .rs
a fa n ta s \01 C hi ri athat ronti nued to scr\c thc ncedsol $estefn i oci cL\ .

Sarah Cheang

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