Chippendale
Posted on Sep 16, 2008 by Shilpa
Named after British furniture designer and cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale, this graceful and refined style emerged following the 1754 publication of his furniture designs in “The Gentleman and the Cabinetmaker’s Director” and prevailed until 1790. Chippendale furniture was produced in Dublin and Philadelphia as well as in Lisbon, Copenhagen, and Hamburg.
Photo featuring Chippendale courtesy of Decorati partner Hancock & Moore.
There are three primary influences within the style: French, Chinese and Gothic, with each type bearing characteristic features. In America, Chippendale represented an evolution of the Queen Anne style and featured such telltale elements as cabriole legs often with decorative carving on the knees, ball-and-claw feet, and broken pediment scroll tops on tall case pieces. Mahogany and cherry were the primary woods used, underbracing was limited, and chair backs were either upholstered or were wooden and shaped as ladderback or slatback, as lattice splats with openwork or decorative carving of oriental-looking crossed strips, or as pierced or carved central splats. Ornamentation on Chippendale pieces comprised finials, fretwork and oriental lacquerwork.
Written by Donna Sapolin.
VIEW EXAMPLES OF CHIPPENDALE PRODUCTS ON DECORATI
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INTERVIEW WITH LESLIE AND HARRY HOLLAND ABOUT THE CHIPPENDALE STYLE
Access Magazine conducted an interview with Leslie and Harry Holland of Decorati partner HL Holland Antique Designs, in which they shared their four generations of knowledge, appreciation and passion for Chippendale style furniture. According to HL Holland,
“Our small English workshops are the foundation of our business. Our skilled cabinetmakers, whose experience has given them a deep respect for antique furniture and furniture making, are dedicated to completing each piece to the last detail. Attentions to proportion, scale and authentic French polishing give our reproductions the look and feel of the original.”
Can you please tell us about your professional background?
I have a business degree from Georiga Tech and have studied independently as well as enrolling in art history and interior design courses through institutions such as New York School of Interior Design, Victoria and Albert Museum, National Gallery in London and others. Much of my background learning came from my father and grandfather who were interior designers and students of art, architecture and history as well as antique dealers.
How did you first become interested in creating Chippendale inspired furniture?
Most students and collectors consider Chippendale the master of 18th century furniture, especially English. His work and life is chronicled throughout the history of furniture making, so it becomes ingrained in anyone interested in the subject. I learned from an early age, mainly inspired by my father.
Do you know of any prominent places, such as buildings, hotels, public places, that have used Chippendale furniture successfully?
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England’s famous Harewood House contains a suite of library furniture commissioned during its construction in the 1760’s. Most homes and offices as well as public and hospitality areas contain elements of his style or outright copies of his designs if their theme is at all traditional.
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Can you name any well-known designers that typically incorporate Chippendale style furniture into their projects?
Any designer who is working within traditional parameters will lean toward Chippendale at some point, whether trying to achieve an eclectic mixture or reconstructing a period room. Cousins Dorothy Draper and Sister Parrish, early proponents of style as we know it, and more up-to-date designers such as Mario Buatta, John Roselli and Henrietta Spencer-Churchill use Chippendale influences in schemes.
Can you please clarify the difference between the Chippendale and Queen Anne styles?
Elemental and textbook differences can be found in the type of woods used- walnut and oak are usually seen in Queen Anne era pieces. Those styles drew from Dutch architecture since the royal families came from Holland. Chippendale liked mahogany and the spice route navigators of that day found Cuban wood to be the best. He took from many sources and incorporated French, Chinese and other elements into a completely different view of furniture during his life.
What are some of your favorite Chippendale furniture pieces you have created?
Our Chippendale Game Table looks great and it can be made as a writing table, console, etc. We have a wonderful Mahogany Bureau Bookcase in the works now that will be a focal point piece.
Please briefly describe the process of producing a piece.
Of course, first comes the design. We take from actual antique pieces in private collections and museums, or work from published images of antiques. Then our English workshops prepare a prototype which we inspect. The production, wood cutting, turning, carving, etc… is done by the workshop specializing in the style. If leather is to be applied, it then goes to another shop, and finally to our polishing and finishing shop.
How do you think the market perceives the value of antique Chippendale furniture today? Do you see that changing? Do you think antique Chippendale pieces are smart investments?
There will always be collectors for the finest antique pieces, although the market reacts to style changes and economic conditions. This may be an excellent time to buy a very good 18th century or early 19th century copy of one but no one will probably find a true Chippendale piece outside a museum. Any very good antique I perceive as a good investment, but I advise clients to buy only things they like, then they will probably not want to sell them anyway.
Do you see Chippendale furniture being incorporated into today’s more contemporary designs?
The lines of many Chippendale pieces lend themselves to contemporary atmospheres and many designers use more elaborate Chippendale furniture, perhaps pieces with bold carvings, to “play off” more austere and serious furnishings.
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VIEW HL HOLLAND ANTIQUE DESIGNS’ PRODUCTS ON DECORATI
HL Holland Chippendale Style Products on Decorati |
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 Game Table by HL Holland Holland Antique Designs |
 Concave Chest by HL Holland Antique Designs |
 Secretary by HL Holland Antique Designs |
 Sheraton Chest by HL Holland Antique Designs |
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Tips for Buying Reproduced and Antique Chippendale Furniture:
What to Look for When Buying.
Look for original condition. Repairs and replacement lower the value. Actual pieces from Thomas Chippendale’s workshop are rare indeed. Make sure the provenance is strong documented when a dealer says it is a Thomas Chippendale versus a Chippendale style chair. Keep in mind that very few ribband back chairs survived from the 18th century. Be wary when someone tells you that they have one.
Reproductions Versus Antiques.
You can tell modern reproductions from the real thing by looking closely at the carving. Is it uniform in depth and symmetrical? If so, it’s a modern reproduction. Antique Chippendale’s would be hand carved which is irregular in depth and never exactly symmetrical because it’s virtually impossible for even a master artisan to achieve it.
Pricing.
Any Chippendale 18th century chair whether it was made by Thomas Chippendale himself or one of his contemporaries will cost several thousands of dollars. If it’s not in that price range, it’s most likely not 18th century. Even high quality modern reproductions can be pricey.
These tips can be found on the the Antique Web Network.
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EXAMPLES OF ROOMS THAT INCORPORATE CHIPPENDALE STYLE:
Photo featuring Chippendale courtesy of interior designer, Angela Free.
Photo featuring Chippendale courtesy of interior designer, Angela Free.
Photo featuring Chippendale courtesy of Decorati partner Jessica Charles.
Photos featuring Chippendale above courtesy of Decorati partner Trosby.
OTHER ONLINE RESOURCES:
Thomas Chippendale at the Harewood House
Connected Lines- Chippendale (1750-1790)
The Antiques Almanac- Chippendale: The Royalty of Antique Furniture
Ezine Articles - The Furniture Style of Thomas Chippendale
European Furniture Imports Antique Furniture Guide- The Chippendale Style
House Beautiful-Chinese Chippendale Chairs
BLOGS:
Home Interior Decorating Tips- Thomas Chippendale and His Legendary Chairs
Dose of Design- Chippendale Chairs
The Furniture Store Blog- Mahogany Chippendale Furniture
BOOKS:
American Furniture: Queen Anne and Chippendale Periods 1725-1788 by Joseph Downs, Henry Francis Du Pont, September 2001
The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker’s Director by Thomas Chippendale, June 1966
Arts and Crafts Style by Isabelle Anscombe, May 1996
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