Chippendale chairs

Philadelphia-made side chair, one of six, circa 1779

I have always been fond of Chippendale...chairs and sofas. This is likely the result of my mother, grandmother and so on back in my family, all of whom have also been Chippendale-inclined.

Thomas Chippendale was a furniture maker of the mid to late 18th century. He was probably born in 1718 but there is no record of his birth, only his baptism in that year. He was the son of an Otley, Yorkshire, England carpenter and most likely an apprentice to his father. He published a manual about the style of chairs he was creating, thus spreading the word of his designs.

Chippendale chairs were made in England and the colonies. Many were made right here in Philadelphia in the late 1700's.

There are six different basic Chippendale style legs. These are the lion’s paw, the ball and claw, the late Chippendale, the Marlborough, the club and the spade. Three of the styles are based on the cabriole shape, which is an elegant, serpentine style ending in a distinctive foot. These include the lion’s paw, which ends with a lion paw shaped foot, the club, which is a simple round foot and the ball and claw, which looks like a claw holding a ball. The remaining leg styles are straight with the Marlborough being a plain, square leg; the spade a tapered round leg often with a square or trapezoid foot and the late Chippendale having a square leg with a square foot.



There are many variations on the basic leg styles, but close observation will reveal the basic pattern. If carving is present, and it most likely will be to some degree, it will be detailed and deeply cut. Leg joints will be precisely done with evidence of handwork. Check for repairs where the leg and seat frame meet. Sometimes, chair legs will have been cut down at the bottom to a shorter stature and this lessens the value of the chair.

Stretchers are the horizontal rungs between chair legs. They are sometimes present in Chippendale style chairs. These, too, will be well joined, show evidence of handwork and will often be carved.

The chair backs will vary by the intended purpose of the chair. There are upholstered backs, rail backs, ladder backs, rung backs, splat backs, carved backs and in the case of stools and window seats, no backs. Often there will be piercing, where the solid wood has been pierced through as part of the back detail. One popular splat (back support) type is the lyre shape. Joinery will be well done and show evidence of handwork.

We use our chairs all the time--at our dining room table, in the drawing room and library, and we even drag them onto the porch if we don't have the outdoor furniture out yet. They're meant to be used, not just preserved.





Sitting pretty,
ABL