| ody"> | | | | Mahogany was preferred choice of wood for |
| Chairs crafted by Thomas Chippendale were dazzling | | | | Chippendale style furniture. Solid wood; not veneers |
| examples of quality furniture in their day. Today, they | | | | was often used because of the detailed carving |
| remain extraordinary examples of antique furniture. | | | | involved. |
| Chippendale style, ball and claw and ladder backs, | | | | A Lesson in Legs. |
| there's lots to know. Here's your guide to one of the | | | | There are six basic style - lion's paw, ball and claw, |
| world's most celebrated chairs. | | | | the late Chippendale, the Marlborough, the club and |
| Who is He. | | | | the spade. Early Chippendale furniture used the |
| Thomas Chippendale (1714-1779) was an English | | | | cabriole leg which is a serpentine style ending with a |
| furniture maker in the mid 18th century whose work | | | | lion's paw, ball and claw or the club. The late |
| was influenced by English, French and Chinese | | | | Chippendale, Marlborough and spade were straight |
| furniture design. | | | | legs and appeared later in the period. |
| A Book Made Him a Household Name. | | | | Seat Selection. |
| In 1754, Thomas Chippendale published the first of | | | | Chippendale style chairs were wood, upholstered or |
| three editions of his book, Gentleman and | | | | caned. |
| Cabinet-Maker's Director. It put him on the map. This | | | | Chair Back Choice. |
| illustrated directory showed examples of the furniture | | | | Upholstered, rail backs, ladder backs, rung back, splat |
| that Thomas Chippendale could make for his | | | | backs, carved backs, ribband backs. The chair backs |
| customers. Wealthy clients could see illustrated | | | | are one of the most definitive parts of the chair that |
| examples, pick out the designs that they liked which | | | | typify the style. Ribband backs are carved to look |
| would be handcrafted in his workshop. At the time, | | | | like bow. Very few were made in the 18th century |
| Thomas Chippendale probably didn't expect that this | | | | because it required expert craftsmen and was very |
| book would become so widely copied for so many | | | | time-consuming. And very few survived passed the |
| years by other furniture makers. It continues to be | | | | 18th C. Most ribband back chairs around today were |
| used today. | | | | made in the 19th and 20th centuries. |
| A Claim to Fame. | | | | What to Look for When Buying. |
| Thomas Chippendale was the first non-reigning | | | | Look for original condition. Repairs and replacement |
| monarch to have a furniture style named after him. | | | | lower the value. Actual pieces from Thomas |
| Before Thomas Chippendale, furniture styles were | | | | Chippendale's workshop are rare indeed. Make sure |
| named after reigning Monarchs such as Louis XIV, | | | | the provenance is strong documented when a dealer |
| George I, Queen Anne. | | | | says it is a Thomas Chippendale versus a Chippendale |
| Chippendale versus Chippendale Style. | | | | style chair. Keep in mind that very few ribband back |
| Anything made by Thomas Chippendale's workshop in | | | | chairs survived from the 18th century. Be wary when |
| England is a Chippendale. Furniture made incorporating | | | | someone tells you that they have one. |
| the features used by Thomas Chippendale is | | | | Reproductions Versus Antiques. |
| Chippendale-style. American Chippendale refers to | | | | You can tell modern reproductions from the real thing |
| Chippendale style furniture that was made in the US - | | | | by looking closely at the carving. Is it uniform in |
| mostly in Philadelphia. | | | | depth and symmetrical? If so, it's a modern |
| Chippendale Style Particulars. | | | | reproduction. Antique Chippendale's would be hand |
| The style reflected elements of the Rococo, Chinese, | | | | carved which is irregular in depth and never exactly |
| Gothic and Noeclassical styles. Deep hand carving was | | | | symmetrical because it's virtually impossible for even |
| prevalent. Common motifs were of shells, lions, | | | | a master artisan to achieve it. |
| masques, eggs, darts and scrolls. | | | | Pricing. |
| Favorite Wood. | | | | |