Antique American Furniture

Some Things That Antique Chippendale Furniture Collectors Should Know

Thomas Chippendale, born in 1718, was considered as the greatest furniture maker. Antique Chippendale furniture collectors will second this notion that the quality of adapting the best ideas and modifying them into his own designs made him the greatest adapter of that time. He took inspiration from the early Georgian period onwards and changed the style of that time by molding them into simple, charming, graceful and lighter form.

Chippendale was one of the greatest carvers of wood and furniture. What he had produced is considered as matchless. He was not only perfect in his work but a good business man too. He not only published his book on his designs but also advertised his product. This propaganda really helped him and this almost doubled his customer. English people only wanted to purchase his furniture. He was considered as first cabinetmaker whose name carried value like a great painter.

Most of the Chippendale's work was done on mahogany, as this wood had fine grains which allowed elaborate carving to be done on it easily. This wood was imported by him from West Indies to Europe and America. Because of this a number of new forms were developed. Some examples were Breakfront bookcases, Kettle stands, serpentine back sofas, kneehole chests and drop-leaf tables.

Pieces made in the Chippendale Highboys style were the dominant pieces of his work. They were richly decorated and engraved with shells, tendrils and vines both at the upper and lower sides. This highboys design became so popular that it left English accomplishments far behind in this area. Chinese influence in Chippendale's furniture could also be seen as they showcased a design of pagoda roof on its back.

Gothic influence by the use of Gothic motifs could easily be the other inspiration. The other major thing was curved open pediment top. Today we called it as Chippendale Clock, as he used it in his grandfather, clock. This design was taken from the Queen Anne period style but Chippendale used it extensively.

By 1760 small furniture makers in America were imitating Chippendale furniture and it was particularly famous in Philadelphia and Boston. Although the earlier Queen Anne Style still continued in this Chippendale period but now rich carving took place instead of smooth one. The Chippendale furniture continued till 1770s but after that the French style replaced it.

Though it didn't last long collectors of antique Chippendale furniture will still agree to the fact that it was considered as the greatest one. Collectors would agree that the quality of Chippendale that made him famous was that he made furniture according to the desire and need of his clientèle. The only major drawback in his work was that he imitated so many wood workers and tried so many furniture designs that it was difficult to point out which one was absolutely his own creation.