2017-03-20 Mon

Chippendale furniture had become a raging sensation in the late 18th Century. It was named after Thomas Chippendale, a cabinetmaker who combined English, Gothic and Chinese designs and made new designs with exquisite and extensive carvings.

He published his detailed collection called Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director in 1754, a portfolio of fashionable English furniture design templates and one of the first design books. This was such a hit that Chippendale became a household name and all mid-18th-century furniture came to be called Chippendale. Both furniture makers and sellers in England, on the European continent, and in the American Colonies rushed to purchase it.

He soon moved to spacious premises and hired around 40-50 artisans with the finance of James Rannie. He was a versatile man and took up designing anything from wallpapers, carpets and complete room schemes to objects for the servant’s room and domestic offices.

His son, Thomas Chippendale the younger took up his work after his death in 1779. Chippendale furniture continues to be famous even today.

United States Postal Stamp issued this 4 cents definitive stamp of Chippendale Chair on 19th July 2007.