Christie’s Bulletin for Professional Advisers
Thomas Chippendale Senior: ‘The Shakespeare of English furniture makers’
Robert Copley Christie’s International Head of Furniture
Ann Sumner Former Historic Collections Adviser to Harewood House Trust, Yorkshire
An excerpt taken from an interview
When did he move to London, and what was
conducted between Christie’s
his work life like there?
International Head of Furniture,
AS: ‘We don’t know exactly when and
Robert Copley and Ann Sumner, the
why he left Yorkshire, but we do know
former Historic Collections Adviser
that by the time he married Catherine
to Harewood House Trust, discussing
Redshaw, in 1748, he seems to have been
the life and legacy of the legendary
settled in London. In 1754, Chippendale
cabinet-maker and furniture designer.
moved to St Martin’s Lane, where he oversaw a large workshop called The
Who was Thomas Chippendale?
Cabinet and Upholstery Warehouse.
Robert Copley: ‘Thomas Chippendale (1718–
There, he and his financing partner James
1779) is without question Britain’s greatest
Rannie employed probably as many as
cabinet-maker. He excelled in every style
50 craftsmen. A fire in 1755 destroyed
he worked in, from the whimsical Rococo
22 craftsmen’s tool chests, suggesting
and the fashion for all things Chinese
that a larger number of journeymen were
in his early career, to the Neoclassical
employed in other parts of the building –
with its straight lines derived from the
probably at least double that number.’
ancient world. His reputation spread far beyond the shores of his homeland, and
What was The Gentleman and Cabinet-
his genius is reflected in the number of
Maker’s Director, and how significant was
beautifully designed and executed pieces
it for Chippendale’s career?
of furniture that survive in excellent
RC: ‘The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s
condition nearly 250 years after his death.’
Director catalogued 160 Chippendale designs that could be built for clients, or that
What do we know of his early life?
other cabinet-makers could copy. Published
Ann Sumner: ‘Frustratingly little.
in 1754, it undoubtedly launched his career.
Chippendale was born in the town of Otley, in Yorkshire, in 1718, the only son of John
AS: ‘While a handful of furniture designs had
Chippendale (1690–1758) and Mary Drake.
been printed before, Chippendale’s Director
His father’s family was involved in the
was the first publication on such a large
timber trade and carpentry, and his mother
scale. It included designs for ‘Household
was the daughter of a local stonemason.
Furniture’ – chairs, sofas, beds, commodes, clothes presses, clocks, writing tables,
‘Chippendale’s father, John, moved to
bookcases, pier glasses, picture frames – in
Otley, where he worked as a ‘Joyner’. The
the ‘Gothic’, ‘Chinese’ and ‘Modern Taste’,
activities of his relatives give an indication
the latter referring to what would today
of the atmosphere of craftsmanship in
be termed the French Rococo style.’
which Thomas Chippendale grew up in Yorkshire. Chippendale may have trained
RC: ‘Chippendale was an astute
with his father before possibly working
businessman, and the Director was aimed
as an apprentice for the furniture-
at promoting his trade. His intention was to
maker Richard Wood in York. There is
sign up 400 subscribers who would receive
scant information about Chippendale’s
the 160 plates either bound at £1.14 shillings
personal life, but we know he was
or loose at £1.10 shillings. A subscriber would
married twice and had 12 children.’
have to make a 50% down payment, but would receive a discount on the eventual
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