THOMAS CHIPPENDALE

Thomas Chippendale was born in Otley, Yorkshire in 1693 and baptised on June 1718. His family had been involved in the wood working and timber trades and this influences his childhood. He received instruction from his father and had further training with Richard Wood, the leading furniture maker in York before moving to London. He received elementary education at Prince Henry´s Grammar School. In 1749 he rented a house near Covent Garden and in 1754 he moved to St. Martin´s Lane in London where he ran his business for more than 60 years. Chippendale worked as a journeyman cabinet maker and freelance designer before embarking on his project: the publication of the book The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker´s Director that appeared in 1754 and that showed "elegant and useful designs of household furniture in the Gothic, Chinese and Modern taste". For many critics, this was an ambitious project. However, the first edition was sold out and reprinted. A third edition appeared in 1762. Chippendale´s Director book marked a breakdown in the history of furniture. It was the first time they published designs for furniture in England as means of self- promotion. Thanks to this work his business became known to a wide circle of potential clients like the Dumfries and his name became distinctive of the rococo style. Nevertheless, he combined a wide-range of styles in his works.

Chippendale described himself as an upholder. He was able to supply his clients with designs of every kind. For his time, he was an entrepeneur, running a business that employed more than 50 craftsmen. He supervised the workforce, the production and always was a step ahead of new fashions. Chippendale preferred equipping large houses from attic to basement with "neat but substantially good items" for the family rooms. His objects were elegant and symbolized the prestige of its consumers. He used French mirror glass, the most expensive item, and he was prepared to act in whatever situation his clients commissioned him. Research until now has identified seventy Chippendale´s clients, 600 pieces of furniture and the development of his style can be traced from rococo furniture, to early Adam inspired pieces converging to neo-Clacissisms and ending on super- refined elegance. Chippendale died in 1778.