Celebrating Thomas Chippendale, 250 Years of Influence

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover
• Published by: The Learning Mill Press
• Edition: 1st Edition 2005
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0976212404
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0976212409

Product Description
This book celebrates Thomas Chippendales, The Gentleman and Cabinet-Makers Director. A pattern book of household furnishings published in 1754. Chippendales folio would become the most important and significant publication of its time, influencing furniture design and style up to this day. Thomas Chippendale was born in Otley, England, in 1718 and, like many others in the family, was influenced to pursue a woodworking career. At the age of 21, he went to London and set up his shops on St. Martins Lane, an area that attracted well-to-do craftsmen and artists. Cabinetmakers coming from Europe to the American Colonies brought copies of pattern books with them, along with the skills to masterfully execute the styles. The Gentleman and Cabinet-Makers Director allowed Colonial cabinetmakers to borrow from the designs of fashionable English styles. The furniture illustrated was reproduced and modified to a makers own recognizable version. Many well known 18th century American cabinetmakers such as Anthony Hay and Benjamin Randolph received inspiration from Chippendales Director. Throughout the following decades, adaptations of furniture designs by locals were copied by others, creating a unique flavor. These modified versions were then passed on as being Chippendale, even though they were copies of other craftsmens work. Mass production increased competition and created a proliferation of products among furniture manufacturers. Branding of products were essential for survival.The Chippendale brand was created and it defined the furniture produced during the mid 18th century. Thomas Chippendale did not die a wealthy man, but the furniture he produced stands as a testament to his craftsmanship and design genius. The legacy and brand he left demonstrate without question his outstanding skills in marketing; a talent, that has left an indelible mark of influence on the world for some 250 years.