the Chap... By Wisbeach
An advice column in which readers are invited to pose pertinent questions on sartorial and etiquette matters, and even those of a romantic nature. Send your questions to wisbeach@thechap.co.uk
Mike George: I am writing to ask your advice, since it will soon be the birthday of a lady friend. What would be suitable as a gift? I don’t want to be too charming, as I need to remain a bit of the cad in this field. Wisbeach: Sir, it was a tradition among Chinese emperors of the Ming Dynasty to select gifts for important dignitaries that only they could give. This tradition was reciprocated much later by the British, with the aim of impressing the Emperor and presenting Britain as scientifically advanced. One such example was a mechanical model of the solar system, known as an orrery, illustrating the relative positions of the planets to the Earth. When this gift was given to the Emperor in 1793 it was worth around £14,000, over one million in today’s money. The ultimate aim of giving such a valuable and unique gift was to pave the way for favourable trade negotiations for the British in China and to place a permanent British ambassador there.
16
