The Chippendale Society

In London Chippendale married Catherine Redshaw on 19 May 1948, and their first son, Thomas Chippendale Jnr, was born the following year. Catherine died in 1772 and Chippendale married again in August 1777, to Elizabeth Davis.

It was probably in London that Chippendale learned to draw in the fashionable French or Rococo style. In 1753 he teamed up with the talented engraver Matthew Darly (d.1778), who engraved this invitation drawn by Chippendale himself.

The Director was the first comprehensive catalogue of fashionable household furniture ever published, comprising 160 pages of furniture designs in the latest French, Chinese and Gothic styles. Its success made Chippendale a household name and ensured that the name ‘Chippendale’ achieved worldwide recognition while his contemporaries and rivals are mostly forgotten.

This is an original drawing by Thomas Chippendale which was engraved for inclusion in the Director. There were many good cabinet makers in London but few with Chippendale’s artistic talent.  

The success of the Director led to two further editions, in 1755 and 1762. The 1762 edition was expanded to 200 plates, and this the original drawing for one of the new plates. 

This table was made about 1772 for the Circular Dressing Room at Harewood House, designed by Robert Adam and furnished by Chippendale’s firm.

This armchair was made about 1773 for Sir Peniston Lamb of Brocket Hall, near London. It is a variant of the ‘lyre back’ pattern used by Chippendale for several clients and was probably inspired by designs for similar chairs by Robert Adam.

This is the original design drawing for a set of six pedestals and lanterns supplied to Harewood House, Yorkshire, in 1774. The drawing is attributed to Chippendale’s son, Thomas Chippendale Jnr, who in the 1700s assumed an increasingly prominent role in the firm.

Everyday articles such as reading stands were made to standard patterns. This one was made in 1769 for Sir Rowland Winn, one of Chippendale’s most demanding clients.

This little bookcase was made for the actor David Garrick about 1775, part of the furnishings of his villa by the River Thames at Hampton Wick, near London. It was originally plain mahogany but was painted by Chippendale’s firm to match some Indian chintz hangings imported by Mrs Garrick.

Chippendale provided a complete furnishing service, which included carpets, bedding and wallpaper. Chippendale supplied wallpaper of this pattern to a London client in 1760.

Room borders of many different designs were needed to trim the walls. These elaborate examples come from Harewood House, furnished by the Chippendale firm between 1767 and 1806.

Furniture for funerals included not only coffins with fine brass metalware but the whole paraphernalia of mourning; black crepe gloves and hatbands and a hearse with ostrich-plumed horses. These brass plates furnished the coffin of Lady Bridget Heathcote, who died in 1772.