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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
A design for a bookcase, the bottom half only outlined; pen and ink and wash on paper; Chippendale
Physical description
A design for a bookcase, the top half ornamented, the bottom half only drawn in outline. The Large central door with arched top is topped by arched moulding and rococo decoration, the door with rococo lattice work. A narrow door in similar style, but shorter and with simpler ornament, is to either side. To either side again is a wider door with lattice work, each between scroll-topped pillars and below rococo crest work. More detailing of the upper moulding is drawn in on the far left-hand pillar than on the others.
Dimensions
  • Height: 318mm
  • Width: 210mm
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.709-1906

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
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