Six designs for tea chests which appeared as plate no.159 in The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director (1762 ed.), Thomas Chippendale
Design
ca.1753-1762 (designed)
ca.1753-1762 (designed)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
These six designs for tea chests (more commonly known today as tea caddies) appeared as plate no.159 in The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director (1762 ed.). This plate was engraved by the engraver W. Foster whose name appears on the plate but not on this original design. In the plate description in the Director, Chippendale gives the instruction that ‘The Ornaments should be of Brass or Silver: The Plans are below with a scale’. Tea chests were popular objects during the 18th century, inspired by the extensive importation of tea from Asia. Tea was a luxurious and popular commodity, demonstrated by the delicate designs in this plate, however as the 18th century progressed tea became more widely available.
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.
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 | |
Title | Six designs for tea chests which appeared as plate no.159 in The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director (1762 ed.), Thomas Chippendale (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Pen and ink and wash on paper |
Brief description | Six designs for tea chests, engraved and published in the Director (1762 ed.), pen, ink and wash on paper, ca.1753-1762, Thomas Chippendale |
Physical description | Six tea chest designs all with lids and loop handles. The top three are bombé and rococo in style, especially the centre top, and have rococo edge and lid ornamentation. The bottom three designs are plainer and more neo-classical. The bottom left and right are of rounded shape, the bottom centre is square with a central oval cartouche. Below each design is an outline drawing of the plan-view of the chest with a cut-away inside view. |
Dimensions |
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Style | |
Production type | Design |
Marks and inscriptions | 6 designs of tea chests (Title in black ink to top centre) |
Object history | This design came to the museum with a collection of single designs by Matthias Lock. They were bought from a descendant, George Lock, and had been exhibited by him at the International Exhibition held at South Kensington in 1862. The mixed nature of this Lock and Chippendale material has helped to fuel the idea that the two collaborated professionally. It has even been suggested that Lock ‘ghost’ designed for Chippendale, but it now seems more likely that he provided piece-work carving for Chippendale’s larger projects. |
Historical context | This design appeared as Plate 159 in the third edition of Chippendale's pattern-book The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director. |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | These six designs for tea chests (more commonly known today as tea caddies) appeared as plate no.159 in The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director (1762 ed.). This plate was engraved by the engraver W. Foster whose name appears on the plate but not on this original design. In the plate description in the Director, Chippendale gives the instruction that ‘The Ornaments should be of Brass or Silver: The Plans are below with a scale’. Tea chests were popular objects during the 18th century, inspired by the extensive importation of tea from Asia. Tea was a luxurious and popular commodity, demonstrated by the delicate designs in this plate, however as the 18th century progressed tea became more widely available. 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. |
Bibliographic reference | The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director, 1762, pl.159 |
Collection | |
Accession number | 2624 |
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Record created | June 30, 2009 |
Record URL |
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