American Chippendale furniture

Probably the only household name in antique furniture, taking the last name of Thomas Chippendale, a furniture London cabinet maker and furniture designer who published a book of his designs, titled 'The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director' in 1754.

The designs in the book reflected the current London fashion for furniture for that period, and were used by other cabinet makers outside London.

Very little of the furniture described as 'Chippendale' can be actually traced to Chippendale's workshop, and if it can, the value of the items is greatly increased. Certainty of manufacture by Chippendale would require an invoice from the time, together with a history of the item since manufacture.

In fact most 'Chippendale' furniture that comes onto the market was made at a later date following in various degrees the designs from his 'Director', as the popularity of Chippendale designs has continued through to the present more... time. The name 'Chippendale' has become a generic term for furniture in the style associated with him and sometimes in later examples, the style bears little resemblance to the designs in the 'Director'

Chippendale was also an interior designer who advised on soft furnishings and colours and his aristocratic commissions included Blair Castle Perthshire for the Duke of Atholl, Harewood House Yorkshire for Edwin Lascelles and Petworth House Sussex for the 3rd Earl of Egremont. In all 26 of these commission have been identified and furniture from Chippendale's workshop can be identified in these houses.

Thomas Chippendale (1718-1779) was born in Yorkshire and appears to have come to London about 1745. he was in partnership with James Rannie, a cabinetmaker from about 1753 until Rannie's death in 1766, and then with Thomas Haig from 1771. At the time the partnership was formed, Chippendale is recorded as employing 22 cabinetmakers in his workshop.

Following Chippendale's death in 1771, his son Thomas Chippendale II took over his share of the business and continued the partnership with Haig until 1796. Thomas Chippendale II opened showrooms in the Haymarket, London, and then moved to Jermyn Street in 1821. Thomas Chippendale II died in 1823. less...