18th century, Georgian, bell metal bowfront fender

18th century, Georgian bell metal bowfront fender, pierced and engraved frieze with Ho-ho birds, Chinese dragons and trailing bell-flower detail, with scrolled top and applied half round moulding. A cast, moulded base of inverted caveto form.

This fender demonstrates exceptional quality and a fine, sophisticated design after Thomas Chippendale. The interest in the exotic orient in the mid 18th century saw the prolific use of Chinese decoration upon many items in wealthier homes. However, it was this use of both the dragon and Ho-ho bird that is particularly unusual and interesting; their pairing represents Chinese symbolism of strong and happy relations and was especially used to decorate the furniture of royalty as well as the homes of the newly married. The trailing bellflower was employed by leading 18th century designers such as Thomas Chippendale, Mayhew & Ince and Robert Adam as a delicate symbol of neo-classicism.
English, circa 1730-1760