Industry Icons: Thomas Chippendale

Chippendale: the greatest cabinetmaker of all time? A sweeping statement, certainly, but not far-fetched. Thomas Chippendale is among the most important, recognised and emulated of any designer in British history.

Born in Otley in 1718, Yorkshire would remain significant to Chippendale for the rest of his life. We know little else about his early days and can only assume he arrived in London to pursue a cabinet-making apprenticeship. The rest is history, as the young man would go on to become a key player in a golden age of furniture design - the Georgian period.

The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director

Chippendale set up a workshop on the prolific St. Martin’s Lane and his business grew quickly. A major turning point came when he published a pattern book, The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director, in 1754. Comprising 160 engraved plates, Chippendale presented the book as: 'The most Elegant and Useful Designs of Hous(e)hold Furniture.' This pattern book swiftly secured his reputation. Georgian England had a flourishing middle class who desired practical yet fashionable furnishings. Interiors were rapidly changing, and cabinet-makers were high in demand. Chippendale answered the call, and his Director served as a catalogue of sorts.

The Director covered everything from highly fantastical designs to essential 18^th Century domestic furniture. Chippendale even included designs specifically for country craftsmen, hence the parallel ‘country Chippendale’ style that emerged. Indeed, The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director was enormously well-received and ran to various editions. High levels of production ensured that it was distributed far and wide, catering to the upper and middle classes and providing a textbook for provincial carpenters.

This was a clever publicity move. As more and more copies of his book sold, Chippendale’s prowess became famous throughout the country. Hence, commissions flooded in from society's elites as everyone wanted a piece of this man's expertise.

Recognising Chippendale antiques

Master of all styles

Perhaps Chippendale’s most important skill was his adaptability. The 18^th Century was an exciting period of developing styles and Chippendale acted as an incessant facilitator. He intercepted every new fashion and taste and swiftly made them his own. He is most noted for his anglicised take on the rococo style. Chippendale's British rococo furniture drew inspiration from French Louis XV femininity but insisted on a more English refinement. One of the most famous Chippendale chairs, the ribband back with its cupid’s bow cresting rail, demonstrates his mastery of this style. Remarkably, he spanned two vastly different styles during his career - rococo and neoclassicism - with ease.

Everything Chippendale came across enchanted him. He experimented extensively with the chinoiserie and gothic styles in particular. Indeed, the Chinese Chippendale style was synonymous with chic in the 18^th Century. This was a time when the western world found all things oriental fascinating, and Chippendale never let an opportunity pass. He expertly incorporated pagoda-style pediments, fretwork, and other intricacies into his designs. The Chinese Chippendale chair, with its lattice back and faux bamboo and lacquer structure, was intensely popular in its time and remains iconic today.

Chippendale was unrivalled when it came to chair backs, and he expressed the gothic taste with pointed arches and s-shaped curves. Whatever he turned his hand to, he tapped its beauty and executed the designs with grace.

Chippendale's patrons

It wasn't long before Chippendale's reputation preceded him, and he received no shortage of high-profile commissions. In the late 1750s, the 5th Earl of Dumfries needed to furnish the majestic Dumfries House. He really wanted to impress; the Earl was heirless and needed to attract a new bride. Upon a visit to Chippendale's store on St. Martin's Lane, the Earl fell in love with the craftsman's work. He ended up ordering in one of the largest collections of Chippendale furniture on record, much of which still resides in Dumfries House today.

In 1767, he received a huge commission to furnish Harewood House. Returning to his roots, the neoclassical interiors of this Yorkshire house are some of Chippendale's very best work. Chippendale held the hand of his patrons right through the process. Surviving invoices for his project at Nostell Priory charge for everything from large-scale furniture to a chopping block. Indeed, when we think of Chippendale we often think of his most grandiose work. However, evidence and anecdotes suggest that the more mundane aspects of furnishing an interior were not beneath him. Remarkably, the cabinet-maker never received a royal warrant for his work - unlike some of his competitors.

A formidable legacy

Chippendale furniture has a classic elegance that we never tire of and will surely grace our interiors for more centuries to come. His furniture appeals to period and more contemporary schemes alike. His legacy lives on in every ribbon-carved chair and camelback sofa. It is also in the details, like his preference for a ball-and-claw foot or a set of glazed astragal doors. Period Chippendale furniture commands high prices today, but there are plenty of replica examples and pieces in his style. This is no bad thing, so long as you know what you are getting and it is well-made.

Statues in his hometown of Otley and on the facade of the V&A museum recognise Chippendale's extensive contributions. In so many ways, the craftsman encapsulates why antique furniture is so desirable. His work reflects a period of true excellence in pre-industrial cabinet-making, when the individual held a close relationship with a piece right through from its conception to its placement in a home.

To learn more about Chippendale's era, read our article: 'Spotlight on: Georgian furniture.'