Thomas Chippendale Furniture, His Own Style

The Chippendale furniture style that was best known between 1749 and 1779 was the creation of Thomas Chippendale.  In fact, Thomas Chippendale was the first creator to have a style of furniture named after him.  He is known as a great designer but in fact he was a great adapter.  That is not to take anything away from his designs.

Chippendale combined the most important elements of previous styles and the styles of his contemporaries.  He adapted from the Queen Anne style and the Louis XV primarily yet took a few ideas from the Gothic and embraced Chinese styling.  In fact, he developed a style known as Chinese Chippendale, although it has never been as popular as some of his other designs.

Thomas Chippendale had his own originality that added to his furniture designs.  It can be said that Chippendale was a versatile designer, a master wood carver, a skilled cabinet maker, and an excellent business man.  While Chippendale’s designs were primarily his adaptations of other designs, his touch definitely defined his style as British.

The creator of this popular design moved to London with his father in 1727 where he worked with his father and learned his trade.  In 1749 young Chippendale opened his own furniture shop and four years later moved his business to one of the most fashionable streets in London where society embraced him and his designs.

With such a discriminating clientele Chippendale’s designs were always evolving.  Each piece was a masterpiece and an individual piece.  With his clientele being the high society duplication would have been frowned upon.  So, with each piece of furniture Chippendale made a distinction that was noticeable, although perhaps slight.

Over time Chippendale began to move away from the curved lines of the Queen Anne style and began to work with more linear structures.  The conception of more linear designs was brought into play by the Brothers Adam.  Making concessions to the new style and new tastes, Chippendale followed with linear elements added to his creations.

Although Chippendale himself had a taste for ornamental designs such as Louis XV or the overdecorated with rococo ornament and elaborate carvings, he has become best known and remembered for his simpler, plainer styles.

 

To recognize the Chippendale style read more about the 14 elements of the Chippendale style.