Design
ca.1732-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 rococo firescreen in pen, ink and wash on paper, Chippendale. |
| Physical description | A design for a fire screen; rococo with a plain centre and awkward perspective angle to the visible leg. The design is mounted in a composite with 2623. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production type | Design |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Associated object | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 2622 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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