Chippendale, Thomas

Chippendale, Thomas (1718-79), furniture maker, b. Otley Yorkshire, England.

Thomas Chippendale was the son of a wood carver.

The family moved to London and there, in 1753, Thomas opened a workshop in St Martin's Lane.

He became the best known furniture maker of his time being noted especially for his chairs. They were gracefully designed in mahogany, a wood new to England at that time.

In 1754 Chippendale produced a catalogue of his designs, The Gentleman & Cabinet-Maker's Director, and other furniture makers began to base their designs on it.

See Rene Bilodeau Celebrating Thomas Chippendale