Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level E , Case W, Shelf 9, Box A(ii)

Drawing

ca.1738-ca.1776 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Thomas Chippendale was a fashionable designer and cabinet-maker in the eighteenth-century, providing furniture to such famous contemporary figures as David Garrick. His company produced high-quality furniture, including some key masterpieces, but Chippendale's outstanding skill was in design. His pattern-book The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director went through three editions in the 1750s and 60s and inspired trade catalogues and pattern-books from fellow designers. Usually produced by architects, a large, elegant pattern-book was an ambitious project for a craftsman at this time. The Director showed the full range of furniture available in the eighteenth century, and the range of styles that were fashionable. Chippendale created a trademark fusion of rococo style with Chinese and gothic elements, which was the basis of 'English' rococo. His style influenced furniture design in contemporary Europe and colonial America, and had a marked Victorian revival in England. The Director designs were the main source for Chippendale's high reputation until his furniture was first identified in 1906.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink and wash on paper
Brief description
Two designs for 'French' chairs, in pen, ink and wash on paper, Chippendale.
Physical description
Two designs for upholstered 'French' chairs, only slightly different from each other. The right-hand design is fully drawn with simple rococo ornament to the back, arm and legs, with bracket feet and with the upholstery nails drawn in. Only the front two legs are visible. The left-hand design has the rococo back fully drawn with ornament, and an outline rococo arm, but the seat and legs are in outline only, in a plain square design without upholstery and with the stretcher drawn in.
Dimensions
  • Height: 192mm
  • Width: 260mm
Style
Production typeDesign
Subject depicted
Summary
Thomas Chippendale was a fashionable designer and cabinet-maker in the eighteenth-century, providing furniture to such famous contemporary figures as David Garrick. His company produced high-quality furniture, including some key masterpieces, but Chippendale's outstanding skill was in design. His pattern-book The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director went through three editions in the 1750s and 60s and inspired trade catalogues and pattern-books from fellow designers. Usually produced by architects, a large, elegant pattern-book was an ambitious project for a craftsman at this time. The Director showed the full range of furniture available in the eighteenth century, and the range of styles that were fashionable. Chippendale created a trademark fusion of rococo style with Chinese and gothic elements, which was the basis of 'English' rococo. His style influenced furniture design in contemporary Europe and colonial America, and had a marked Victorian revival in England. The Director designs were the main source for Chippendale's high reputation until his furniture was first identified in 1906.
Collection
Accession number
D.712-1906

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
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