Chinese Folk Designs — W. M. Hawley, Dover 1971

📖 Chinese Folk Designs by W. M. Hawley (1971, Dover Publications) — an unabridged republication of 300 traditional Chinese cut-paper designs originally created for embroidery, pottery, and decorative arts. This copy is in Very Good condition with clean pages and tight binding.

QUICK FACTS

• Author/Compiler: W. M. Hawley (Willis Meeker Hawley, 1896–1987)
• Supplement: Francess Hawley Seyssel, “160 Chinese Art Symbols and Their Meanings”
• Publisher: Dover Publications, Inc., New York (Dover Pictorial Archive Series, Catalog No. 22633-6)
• Year: 1971 (unabridged republication of the original 1949 edition)
• Format: Trade paperback in stiff card boards, 319 pages
• Dimensions: 6½ × 9¼ inches | ISBN: 0-486-22633-6
• Condition: Very Good (VG) — full report below

THE STORY

Chinese paper-cutting (jiǎnzhǐ) is a folk art tradition dating back centuries, used to decorate windows, mirrors, clothing, and household objects. These designs carried symbolic meaning — dragons for power, phoenixes for renewal, lotus flowers for purity, and persimmons for good fortune. Hawley’s collection preserved 300 of these motifs at a time when many were at risk of being lost, creating one of the most accessible English-language references for Chinese folk decorative patterns.

THIS EDITION

Dover’s 1971 republication is an unabridged reproduction of Hawley’s original 1949 work. The Dover Pictorial Archive series was designed as royalty-free resources for artists, designers, and craftspeople — all 300 designs could be freely reproduced for commercial and personal use. The supplementary section by Francess Hawley Seyssel explains the meaning behind 160 traditional Chinese art symbols, making this both a visual reference and a cultural dictionary.

COVER ART & ILLUSTRATIONS

The cover features a bold red Chinese dragon within a circular border on a glossy maroon background, with white sans-serif title lettering. Inside, 300 numbered plates present white cut-paper designs on richly colored backgrounds — brown, blue, and red — creating a striking visual contrast. Subjects range from mythical creatures (dragons, phoenixes) to botanical motifs (grapes, barberry, persimmons, flowers) to symbolic animals (snakes, frogs). Each plate is individually numbered and titled.

WHY IT MATTERS

• Dover Pictorial Archive — a landmark series of royalty-free design references used by generations of artists, printmakers, and textile designers
• One of the few English-language compilations of traditional Chinese cut-paper folk designs, preserved from a tradition dating back centuries
• The Seyssel supplement on Chinese art symbols adds scholarly context — understanding what each motif means, not just how it looks
• Referenced by the Smithsonian Institution and available in major research libraries

FREQUENTLY ASKED

What edition is this? Dover’s 1971 unabridged republication of the original 1949 work. This is the standard Dover Pictorial Archive edition (Catalog No. 22633-6).

What condition is it in? Very Good — glossy maroon covers with minor edge wear, clean unmarked pages throughout, tight binding. Full report below.

Can I use these designs commercially? Yes — the Dover Pictorial Archive series is specifically designed as royalty-free resources. All 300 designs may be reproduced for personal and commercial projects.

FOR COLLECTORS

This Dover Pictorial Archive edition remains the standard English-language reference for Chinese cut-paper folk designs. The 1971 printing with the original $5.00 cover price on the rear is the edition most commonly cited in art and design bibliographies.

Condition Report

Overall Grade: Very Good (VG)

Cover & Spine: Glossy maroon paper covers remain bright with original red dragon graphic intact. Minor rubbing to the edges and corners. Spine has a light, non-color breaking crease along the center with light shelf-wear at the spine ends.

Text Block & Pages: Lightly age-toned text block edges. Pages remain clean and unmarked throughout with full-page illustrations in bold colored backgrounds.

Binding: Square, tight paperback binding with no loose leaves, torn or folded or removed pages.

See accompanying images for full condition details.

Will ship promptly, carefully packaged.

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