Design for two halves of a rococo pier-table

This design by Thomas Johnson was engraved and published in ‘One Hundred and Fifty New Designs’ which was printed in two editions in 1758 and 1761. This design is typical of Johnson’s flamboyant interpretation of the rococo style. The rococo became popular around 1730 in Britain, characterised by curvaceous forms, asymmetry and natural motifs. Designers working in the rococo style would often use images of animals within their designs such as the barking dog and squawking bird within this drawing. Such imagery was often inspired by other designer’s works such as the illustrations for Aesop’s Fables by Francis Barlow. The pagoda shape and the Chinese-inspired bird on the left of the piece demonstrates the use of chinoiserie and the popularity of Chinese motifs within carved works.