The House of Miniatures

THoM Product # 40037 - Chippendale Corner Chair

Catalog Description: These chairs were popular with 18th century ladies because they accommodated their voluminous skirts. A faithfully reproduced miniature with blue fabric seat. 2 5/8"h x 2"w x 2"d.

Circa: 1750-1780

Style: Chippendale

Period: Colonial

Design © 1977

The corner chair quite obviously derives its name from its shape which allows it to be placed in a room corner and yet allows a person to be seated facing any desired direction. This flexibility also led to it often being called a "roundabout chair." Its use is not strictly relegated to filling a room corner, however, since it was also used as an occasional chair or a desk chair. The corner chair was a favorite with the cabinet maker since it gave him an opportunity to demonstrate his art. Unlike an ordinary side chair duplicates of the same design were seldom necessary allowing him a wide design latitude. The dual splats, the cabriole legs, and the flowing arms and their supports gave the cabinet maker a chance to show off his carving and finishing skill. The Chippendale and Queen Anne versions of the corner chair were often very similar in design, but the Queen Anne versions that used four cabriole legs usually had turned spreaders connecting the legs. Chippendale was almost exclusively of mahogany and the cushion was most often covered in damask.

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