The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director

This is the first edition of The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director, published in 1754. It is arguably the most influential and certainly the best known book of furniture designs ever published, and established Thomas Chippendale among the foremost furniture makers in 18th century London. Almost nothing is known about Chippendale's life or work in the five years after his marriage in May 1748, but this apparent inactivity ended abruptly on 19 March 1753, with an announcement in the <i>London Daily Advertiser:

To be published by Subscription

THE GENTLEMAN and CABINET MAKER'S DIRECTOR

Being a New Book of Designs of Household Furniture in the GOTHIC, CHINESE and MODERN TASTE, as improved by the politest and most able Artists. Comprehending an elegant Variety of curious and original Drawings in the most useful, ingenious and ornamental Branches of Chair, Cabinet and Upholstery Work…A work long wished for, of universal Utility, and accommodated to the Fancy and Circumstances of Persons in every Degree of Life…Subscriptions are taken by the Author, Thomas Chippendale, in Northumberland Court, Charing Cross…

The book was to contain 160 engraved plates and be limited to only 400 copies. Its cost to subscribers was £1 10s if bought in sheets or £1 14s if bound, half to be paid in advance and half on completion. Following publication, the price would be raised to two guineas. In the event Chippendale secured 308 subscribers who ordered 333 advance copies and it appeared four months early, in April 1754.
This was by far the most ambitious design book yet to be published by a mere artisan. Previous books or collections of designs for furniture or ornament had been small scale ventures, intended for the trade. Chippendale's proposal was a deliberate emulation of the more prestigious folios produced by architects, intended principally for their clients. His intention was to bridge the gap, being intended both for gentlemen and cabinet makers, ‘to assist the one in the choice, and the other in the execution of the designs'. He trusted that he had combined ‘novelty as well as usefulness', and that if a drawing failed to please, ‘there will yet be found a variety of hints to construct a new one'. Evidently he was not concerned that the designs should be followed exactly and was confident that each one could be improved by being made by him. The vignette at the end of the Preface gives a further hint of his intentions. It shows the winged figure of Mercury – the messenger of the gods - holding a riband with the motto Colligit ut Spargat - ‘bring together in order to scatter'.
This copy bears the bookplate of Edward Montagu Stuart Granville Montagu-Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie, first Earl of Wharncliffe (1827-1899), of Wortley Hall, Sheffield, Yorkshire.

This item is owned by The Chippendale Society. Explore the Society’s website and collections by clicking the external link below.