Moements with Chinese Ornament
Owen Jones (1809-1874).

Owen Jones was a versatile architect and designer, and an influential design theorist of the nineteenth century. His theories on flat patterning and ornament still resonate with contemporary designers today. He was a pivotal figure in the formation of the South Kensington Museum (now the Victoria & Albert Museum) and advised on the foundation collections for it. Jones was also responsible for the interior decoration and layout of exhibits for the Great Exhibition building of 1851.

During the turmoil in China in the 19^th century particularly the Ti-ping Rebellion, vast collections of Chinese artifacts from the Ming, Ch’ing dynasties were sold to Western Collections. Our fine art note card series of florals and prints represented in Chinese ornaments come from ‘Examples of Chinese Ornament in the South Kensington Museum and other collections, by Owen Jones and was published in London in 1867.