Today we are showcasing some exquisitely rare pieces in the manner of Thomas Chippendale. Chippendale was much more than just a cabinet maker, he was an interior designer who advised on other aspects of decor such as soft furnishings and even the colour a room should be painted. During the company’s period of greatest success it could act like a modern interior designer working with other specialists and contract for the supply of fully decorated and furnished rooms or whole houses, once the principal construction was done. Chippendale often received large-scale commissions from aristocratic clients.
The unprecedented influence of Chippendale’s publication ‘The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director’, 1754, Chippendale’s book of furniture designs cemented Chippendale’s name as England’s most famous cabinetmaker and also endured to inspire furniture design up to the present day. Chippendale collaborated in furnishing interiors designed by Robert Adam and at Brocket Hall, Hertfordshire, and Melbourne House, London, for Lord Melbourne, with Sir William Chambers.
The image above depicts an 18th Century mahogany pembroke table in the style of Chippendale, the shaped butterfly top with fret moulded edges raised over single drawer with brass pulls, carved bellflower and foliate motif over shaped frieze supported on slender tapering leg joined with intricately carved stretcher surmounted with blossoming foliate motif terminating on ornate four sided foot with hidden casters. I have included also some rare pieces from our collection in the manner of Chippendale dating from the 18th to the early 19th Century for you to view.
An 18th Century Gainsborough armchair in the manner of Chippendale with ribbon carved apron supported by cabriole leg adorned with C scroll motif terminating on scroll foot with acanthus leaf carving.
An Early 19th Century Gainsborough mahogany armchair in the manner of Chippendale, upholstered in sage green silk damask in the traditional 19th Century style with brass studding, the shaped padded back above padded arms with down swept arm supports raised over square leg joined with H Stretcher terminating on brass casters.
An 18th Century George II Irish carver in the manner of Chippendale, the bow shaped back rail centred with carved bell husk motif flanked with scrolling acanthus leaf and C scrolls raised over pierced interlocking back splat with C scrolls and beading above curved outswept and moulded arms with opposing shell motif on terminals supported on curved supports, circa 1750.
An early 19th Century Regency giltwood compartmental overmantle mirror the period glass plate divided by stylised columns within a carved and pierced giltwood frame, the carved crest surmounted with inverted acanthus detail, C-scrolls and ruffles flanked with acanthus leaves, circa 1820.
An 18th Century Irish Chippendale mahogany side table of rectangular form, the moulded top with carved banding of flowerhead and ribbon motif raised over pierced apron with central stylised acanthus fan flanked with scrolling acanthus and scroll motif ornately carved in high relief supported on open fretwork moulded square leg to the fore with flowerhead motif and moulded square leg to the rear terminating on block foot.
This finely ornate finely carved apron is superbly executed, there is beautiful detail in the acanthus leaves and c scrolls.
Please feel free to browse through our website to see some of our fine pieces in both our Dublin and New York Galleries. If you have any questions about these pieces, or if we can assist in any other way, we are always happy to hear from you.
