Drawing for a Gothic candlestand

This is the original drawing for one of the candlestands on plate CXLV of the 1762 Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director. It is a fine example of Chippendale's ‘rococo Gothic' style and seems far removed from his interpretation of Langley's ‘classical Gothic', with its use of implied orders, or the antiquarianism of his version of the ‘cathedral Gothic' style. Here Chippendale has juxtaposed a variety of decorative motifs to create an entirely fanciful object. The central shaft is composed of a crocketted pinnacle above a cusped cinquefoil lancet resting on pierced ogee arches. The leafy scrolling feet and the brackets supporting the galleried top are more ‘Modern' than ‘Gothic', yet appear to merge seamlessly. The feet terminate with angular key frets, another solecism which fails to jar the overall decorative effect. The other three designs on this plate are in the Modern or French style. Chippendale commented that ‘if finely executed, and gilt with burnished gold, [they] will have a very good effect'. Chippendale was well aware that some of his designs might be criticised as being impractical, or as ‘…so many specious drawings … (especially those after the Gothick and Chinese Manner) impossible to be worked off by any Mechanick whatsoever'. This candlestand has only been rendered in elevation which dodges the complications involved in executing it in three dimensions. Even so, Chippendale insisted that he had produced 'no Design but what may be executed with Advantage by the hands of a skilful Workman'. He even boasted that every design in the book could be improved, ‘both as to Beauty and Enrichment in the Execution of it' - by himself.

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