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 were more fanciful and imaginative than designs from previous years.
It may seem that Gothic and Rococo are incompatible but it was the workings of Thomas Chippendale that gave it its own uniqueness.
Knowing about the influences on Thomas Chippendale is all well and good but means little without being able to picture what this means when it comes to furniture. The most easily identifiable features have been the feet and legs of the pieces designed by the furniture master. The earliest works made use of the animal imagery and in particular the lion and the serpent, often combined together. The ball and lion claw were very popular in the earliest works. Style though changes over time and later in his career Chippendale was matching the latest styles, making use of straight legs.
Chippendale chairs are also easily identifiable although is far greater range making use of carved, splat and ladder backs. The backs of the chairs were in general far simpler than the works of most of the other furniture makers of the day.
Although it might be said that original Chippendale pieces are unique, the style of design is not. Even in the lifetime of Thomas Chippendale the style was being reproduced across, England, Europe and into North America.
In theory the term Chippendale Style should be a piece of furniture in keeping with original Thomas Chippendale design, although look at some modern pieces and they are as far removed from the eighteenth century design as could be imagined. Many people selling old furniture will add the name Chippendale in order that the price of their item is increased, something which surprisingly works. In legal terms it means relatively little, and only the works designed by Chippendale himself, and clearly attributed, should achieve the highest prices for antique furniture.