In the span of time from its first commissioned work in 1747 to the company’s ultimate bankruptcy in 1804 Chippendale Furniture, characterized by its ornate woodwork and a style both rococo and neo-classical, would make a name for itself among the English elite. Begun by its namesake Thomas Chippendale of Yorkshire, a carpenter’s son himself, Chippendale Furniture would fill the homes of many English nobles, commissioned some sixty times during the company’s solvent life.
Chippendale Furniture’s ultimate legacy, however, is much greater than the inventory of surviving pieces from its fifty-seven years of operation. The name Chippendale would become synonymous in England and beyond with style and elegance. In its era of operation Chippendale Furniture achieved great popularity with a notable resurgence in the mid to late 1800’s.
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Much of the company’s initial success and lasting impact owes itself to the publishing of Thomas Chippendale’s book, "The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director". The book contains a collection of Thomas’ many designs, very influential to fellow and future tradesmen.
Ultimately Chippendale Furniture, perhaps most lastingly known for its Chippendale desks, has become a term larger than itself. Thomas Chippendale's book was so influential that many refer to all furniture from the mid-1800’s as Chippendale Furniture, and the Chippendale name has come to define a style all its own. Today, a Chippendale is a prized piece of any antique furniture collection.
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