About this sheet
Chinese & Japanese Ornament Print – Color Lithograph of Asian Decorative Arts, c.1869
This exquisitely detailed chromolithograph offers a rich visual overview of traditional Chinese and Japanese ornamental design. Plate XI from L'Ornement Polychrome, the print presents a vibrant collage of stylized motifs, borders, and decorative panels inspired by East Asian textiles, ceramics, woodwork, and architectural detail.
The composition is filled with colorful patterns arranged in a harmonious mosaic. At the top, undulating cloud motifs—typical of Chinese scrolls and temple decorations—frame the plate with their rhythmic, symmetrical flow. The central field highlights a floral medallion surrounded by phoenixes (fenghuang), symbols of grace, virtue, and high status in Chinese mythology. Flanking designs exhibit geometric repetition, stylized waves, lotus blossoms, fret patterns, and fan-like arrangements that reflect both Chinese and Japanese influences.
Among the distinctive motifs are birds and butterflies amid blossoms, a recurring subject in East Asian art signifying joy, transience, and the cycles of nature. The palette is rich with traditional tones—sky blue, cinnabar red, golden ochre, jade green, and ivory—used with great sensitivity to pattern, scale, and symmetry.
Published in Paris around 1869 by Firmin-Didot, this plate was lithographed by Durin as part of Racinet’s influential project to document and categorize the world's ornamental styles. Chromolithography was the ideal medium to reproduce the subtle gradients and crisp lines of Asian art, enabling European audiences to appreciate the decorative harmony and symbolism of these distant cultures.
This print is historically significant not only for its documentary value but for its influence on 19th-century design, especially in the Art Nouveau and Aesthetic movements, both of which drew inspiration from East Asian aesthetics.
Framing tips: A lacquered black or cherry wood frame will enhance the refined Eastern aesthetic. Pair with a soft cream or pale blue mat to complement the artwork’s color palette and emphasize its harmonious intricacy.
