Box
Unknown Artist
1749–50
Medium
silver gilt and enamel
Dimensions
6.4 × 8.6 cm
Classification
Enamel
Department
Decorative Art and Design
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade
Accession Number
1916.588
About this artwork
Chinoiserie in 18th-century France incorporated imitations of East Asian motifs, designs, and ornaments into European art. These imitations were often distorted by the European imagination and were not accurate representations of the cultures from which they drew inspiration. Elements of chinoiserie in this box can be seen primarily on the lid where enormous, vibrantly colored flowers tower over two crouching figures and a grouping of buildings.