A Man of Yummy Inspiration

We will determine if the ribbon back chair is an original 18th century Chippendale style chair made using a plate from Chippendale’s book, The Gentleman & Cabinet Maker’s Director as its guide; or if it is instead a fake or reproduction produced in a subsequent era. 

Unabridged -1966 Dover republication-Third Edition 

 

An introduction to Thomas Chippendale and the furniture he made is next, but first let’s clarify “fake” furniture:

Simply put, furniture made in the time period original to a style’s first appearance is considered a true period piece.  That which is made after the period no matter how exactingly it is produced is then called a reproduction.  If the reproduced furniture is acknowledged to be a reproduction, that’s okay.  ...But if a person attempts to pass a reproduction as an original, then the item is a fake!

Now about Thomas; Mr. Chippendale (1718-1779) (1)was a cabinetmaker who produced furniture for a wide variety of clients in 18th century England. His style became famous and subsequently synonymous with the golden age of English furniture (1740 -1780) (2) even though he was but one manufacturer in a thriving industry of proficient cabinetmakers making comparably styled and equally executed furnishings. 
Chippendale and his widow published his book illustrating the furniture he made and the styles contemporary to his time. His pattern book, The Gentleman & Cabinet-Maker’s Director was widely dispensed throughout Europe and the American colonies.  Cabinetmakers used the Director as a catalog to sell the items pictured to their clients.  At that time most furniture was commissioned rather than pre-made and sold at a store.(3)

(www.findagrave.com)

Chippendale outside the old Prince Henry's Grammar School in Manor Square, 

in his home town of Otley, near Leeds, Yorkshire

In short Chippendale's name became synonymous with this period of furniture because he published his design book. Little is known about Thomas Chippendale aside from the legacy of his work. His Director remains a seminal design text.

  
Theresa
Yummy Furniture and Design
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Footnotes 

1. Thomas Chippendale, The Gentleman & Cabinet-Maker’s Director (Dover Publications, New York, Reprint 3rd Edition 1966) Back cover

2. John Kenworthy-Browne, Chippendale and his Contemporaries, London, (Orbis Publishing 1973) 3

3. Alexandra Alevizatos Kirtley, The 1772 Philadelphia Furniture Price Book, An Introduction and Guide, (Dept of Publishing, Philadelphia Museum of Art 2005) 17.
Kirtley explains that the name Cadwaleter (sic) and a brief description of a firescreen and frame was discovered on the inside front cover of the Price Book.  The Cadwaladers were known to have commissioned numerous pieces of furniture in Philadelphia in the 18th C. 
Joh T. Kirk, American Furniture, Understanding Styles, Construction and Quality, New York. Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers. 115. Kirk explains that 18th c furniture buyers chose the different features to be incorporated into items they were purchasing. Thus the items were made to order.