The House of Miniatures

THoM Product # 40010 - Chippendale 6 Drawer Chest

Catalog Description: An exquisite miniature of a handsome original. Traditional bracket feet, heavy top molding, and solid brass pulls and keyhole plates add to its stately beauty. C. 1750-1790. 5"h x 3 1/2"w x 1 7/8"d.

Circa: 1750-1790

Style: Chippendale

Period: Colonial

Design © 1976

Thomas Chippendale, the best known and best advertised figure in the history of furniture making, was born about 1705. Few furniture designers become influential enough to have their names rather than a monarch's linked with current styles. One of these was Thomas Chippendale, who operated one of the most fashionable shops in London from 1745 until his death in 1777, after which his son, known as Thomas Chippendale the younger, continued the business into the 1790's. During the years in which Chippendale prevailed in America from about 1755-1785, practically all of our furniture of the better sort was made in this style. The style continued for some time after it was supplanted in England by new styles. This occurred because of the Revolutionary War which stopped business relations between the two countries for several years. The American cabinet makers, not having the new styles, continued in the Chippendale tradition. This elegant six drawer chest with bracket feet is typical of those built by American cabinet makers of the mid to late 1700's. The traditional bracket feet and heavy top molding give this tall chest a clean, simple, stately line. It was a common practice to keep valuables and important papers in chests; each drawer had an individual lock and thus a brass plate with a key hole on each drawer.

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