Tray with Man on Bridge near a Pagoda
Medium
metalwork
Classification
metalwork
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1931-64-23
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the elegant world of late 18th-century Britishwork with *Tray with Man on Bridge near aoda* by Henry Chawner (1764–1851). Crafted around 1790–91, this finely wrought tray captures a serene chinoiserie scene—a lone figure poised on a delicate bridge beside an ornate pagoda. Chawner, a skilled London silversmith, exemplifies the era's mastery in decorative metal objects, likely employing techniques like chasing or engraving to bring exotic motifs to life on silver or plated surfaces. This piece reflects the height of chinoiserie mania in Britain, fueled by expanding trade with China a...