About Chippendale Furniture

History

• Thomas Chippendale was born in 1718 in Otley, Yorkshire, England, where he served his carpentry apprenticeship with his carpenter father, John. "The Antiques Almanac" reports Chippendale's early life to be a mystery with relatively little known about him other than he was a social climber and self-publicist who used advertising and marketing techniques to draw attention to his cabinet making business.

Fame

• In 1754, Thomas Chippendale published his furniture design portfolio, the "Gentleman & Cabinet Maker's Director." According to "The Antiques Almanac," the book was designed to allow Chippendale's wealthy patrons to choose from the many styles contained in the book, which would then be produced in Chippendale's workshop on St. Martin's Lane, London. Chippendale's early work as a cabinet maker remains a mystery with no pieces being found dating from prior to the publication of the "Director."

Style

• Chippendale's style of furniture is described by "Furniture Styles" as a watered down, Anglicized version of the more elaborate French Louis XV style of furniture. Chippendale's early work is characterized by carvings on the legs of his furniture, including the cabriolet leg. Other elaborate carvings are described by "Artisan of the Valley," including lion's paws, shells, dolphins and roses. Later styles of Chippendale furniture replaced the elaborate furniture legs with straight legs.

Copies

• As the popularity of Chippendale furniture grew, the "Gentleman & Cabinet Maker's Director" became a useful tools for other furniture makers who wished to sell Chippendale styles to wealthy individuals. Original Chippendale furniture uses mahogany as its common wood because of its quality when carved, while other manufacturers in England used oak. "The Antiques Almanac" reports that in the U.S., the Chippendale style was created using cherry, while in Bermuda local cedar was carved into the Chippendale style.

Design

• The Chippendale company supplied elaborate furniture to wealthy individuals around the world but would also supply basic pieces of furniture for use in servants' quarters in large houses. One of the only complaints accompanying the design of Chippendale furniture is reported by "The Antiques Almanac" as being the removal of comfort to be replaced by the overall beauty of a piece.