Background
Thomas was born in Otley in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom in June 1718. He was the only child of John Chippendale (1690–1768), joiner, and his first wife Mary (née Drake) (1693–1729).
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(Book by Joy, Edward T.)
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Thomas was born in Otley in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom in June 1718. He was the only child of John Chippendale (1690–1768), joiner, and his first wife Mary (née Drake) (1693–1729).
Thomas received an elementary education at Prince Henry's Grammar School. He probably received his basic training from his father, though it is believed that he was also trained by Richard Wood in York, before he moved to London.
In 1754 Chippendale moved to 60–62 St. Martin's Lane in London, where for the next 60 years the family business operated. In 1754 he also went into partnership with James Rannie, a wealthy Scottish merchant, who put money into the business at the same time as Chippendale brought out the first edition of the Director. Three editions were published, the first in 1754, the second - a year later and the third - a revised and enlarged edition, in which Chippendale's illustrated designs began to show signs of Neoclassicism. This work, containing 160 plates and some descriptive notes, was intended to serve as a trade catalog and guide to clients.
One of Chippendale's important early commissions was the furnishing of Dumfries House in Scotland in 1759. This house was the first independent work of the architect Robert Adam, and it was probably here that the long association between the two men began. It appears that henceforth Chippendale absorbed the Adam manner so successfully that the architect had the fullest confidence in leaving the design of movable articles to Chippendale, who supplied furniture in the neoclassic style to Harewood House, Newbey Hall, and Nostell Priory, all in Yorkshire, and to other houses with which Adam was concerned. The pair of important satinwood and mahogany marquetry china cabinets at Firle Place, Sussex, is in Chippendale's neoclassic style.
In 1766 his partnership with James Ranni was dissolved by his death. Thomas Haig seems to have borrowed £2,000 from Rannie's widow, which he used to become Chippendale's partner. One of Rannie's executors, Henry Ferguson, became a third partner and so the business became Chippendale, Haig and Co. In 1779 Chippendale moved to Hoxton and died in London in November 1779.
Thomas Chippendale became the first cabinet-maker to publish a book of his designs, titled The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director. The designs are regarded as reflecting the current British fashion for furniture of that period and are today reproduced globally. Chippendale's Director was the principal inspiration behind the characteristic mahogany furniture of the mid-18th century, and his designs (furnishing of Dumfries House, Harewood House, Normanton Hall) were used, often in greatly simplified form, by innumerable provincial and rural craftsmen.
There is a full-size sculpted figure of Thomas Chippendale on the façade of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
(Book by Joy, Edward T.)
Chippendale was elected a member of the Society of Arts in 1760.
Thomas married in 1748 Catherine Redshaw at St George's Chapel, London; his eldest son, also named Thomas, was born in 1749. Later he married Elizabeth Davis at Fulham Parish Church on 5 August 1777. He fathered three more children.
