by Tim Harry

Created on: June 20, 2009   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

The name of Chippendale is arguably the most famous name amongst antique furniture designs, and just about everyone has heard of Chippendale furniture, even if they have absolutely no interest in antiques. The name is synonymous with the highest quality and the most exclusive of furniture from the eighteenth century, and yet the name has now been morphed to be added to many pieces of reproduction furniture with the simple phrase, Chippendale Style. There is though a clear meaning of what Chippendale style should mean, and theoretically a reproduced piece should be in the style of the original.

The original Chippendale was Thomas Chippendale a Yorkshire furniture and cabinet maker who made his name in eighteenth century London. A designer of note, Thomas Chippendale made use of Neoclassical, Georgian and English Rococo design traits in order to create his own personalised style. This developed over time and in later years it would be said to be a combination of Chinese influence, Gothic and English Rococo. The high quality pieces produced were in high demand, and were purchased by some of the wealthiest and most notable families in Georgian England. Relatively few pieces were produced but Thomas Chippendale still had a profound impact on furniture design as he published his designs in a book called The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director.

Soon the Chippendale style of furniture design spread amongst his rivals, who made use of the same influences. The Chinese influence was seen most clearly in the European interpretations of their perceptions of China, often from stories told by travellers. These interpretations may have very little to do with reality, but during the eighteenth century there was also a steady influx of Chinese pieces of furniture coming into Europe on which new designs could be based.

The Gothic influence is normally more associated with architecture than furniture, and although it originated in France, it was something that became peculiarly English. Within furniture design it was about straight edges and points, but it was something that was easily buried beneath the Chinese and Rococo elements.

The Rococo element of the Chippendale style is perhaps the more distinctive, and although it also originated in France as an idea, it was something taken to new levels by English designers. A combination of French words for rockwork, rocaille, and shell patterns, coquille, Rococo became a term for curvilinear designs, designs that

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