The Chippendale style of furniture is named after Thomas Chippendale, an 18th-century English cabinetmaker. One of the defining characteristics of this style is the curved lines and ornamentation used in the design. These curves, often referred to as the "curve of the Chippendale," add elegance and sophistication to the furniture pieces. The curve of the Chippendale can be seen in various elements of the furniture, such as chair backs, table legs, and cabinet doors. These curves are typically sinuous and graceful, adding a sense of movement to the overall design. The use of curves allows for a more visually interesting and dynamic appearance, as opposed to straight lines that can feel rigid and static.
The use of curves allows for a more visually interesting and dynamic appearance, as opposed to straight lines that can feel rigid and static. In chairs, the curve of the Chippendale can be found in the chair back. The backrest is often shaped with an outward curve, creating a comfortable and supportive seating experience.
American Furniture, 1730–1790: Queen Anne and Chippendale Styles
During the second quarter of the eighteenth century, the bold turnings, attenuated proportions, and dynamic surfaces of the Early Baroque, or William and Mary, style were subdued in favor of gracefully curved outlines, classical proportions, and restrained surface ornamentation. This new style, variously called Late Baroque, Early Georgian, or Queen Anne, was a blend of several influences, including Baroque, classical, and Asian. Boston was the leading colonial city in the early eighteenth century and the first to implement aspects of the new style. “Crooked” or S-curved chair backs, which conformed to the shape of the sitter’s spine, first appeared there in the 1720s. This feature was borrowed from Asian designs and reflected a growing concern for comfort in the period. By the 1730s, Boston makers had developed a standard chair form with a vase-shaped splat and S-curved cabriole legs (46.192.2). With their rounded outlines, chairs of this type represented a dramatic departure from the stiff, straight chair backs of the preceding eras. Boston makers produced thousands of Queen Anne-style chairs for export and sold them to other colonies as part of the inter-coastal trade. In Philadelphia, craftsmen responded to competition from Boston imports by developing distinctive seating forms with more elaborately curved lines (62.171.21). Revealing the Late Baroque emphasis on negative space, the solid splat and the flanking stiles were carefully designed so as to produce a gracefully curved void between them. Case furniture in the Late Baroque style became more architectural, with proportions and ornament derived from Renaissance precedents. New translations of Andrea Palladio‘s Four Books of Architecture (1570) provided craftsmen with formulas for determining proper proportions while offering a range of classically inspired ornament. By the 1730s, Boston makers were incorporating cabriole legs and broken-scroll pediments into high chests of drawers (10.125.62). This standard Boston form was adapted and refined elsewhere in the colonies. In Newport, Rhode Island, cabinetmakers integrated distinctive scrolls and scalloped shells into the skirts of high chests and dressing tables. Whereas Boston cabriole legs were somewhat stiff and vertical, Newport makers favored more curvilinear legs that terminated in pointed slipper feet (1994.449). One notable exception to the subdued ornamentation of Queen Anne-style furniture is japanning, a technique developed in the West to imitate Asian lacquerwork. In Boston and New York, Late Baroque forms were painted with fantastical scenes of the Far East known as “chinoiserie” (10.125.58). Although this form of decoration originated during the William and Mary period, it remained popular through the 1750s. Intercoastal trade brought fine Virginia and Pennsylvania black walnut within reach of craftsmen throughout New England and the Middle Atlantic, and it was the most popular wood in the Queen Anne period (1730–60). Walnut was often stained to resemble imported Caribbean mahogany, which became the wood of choice during the subsequent Chippendale, or Rococo, era (1755–90). The publication of Thomas Chippendale’s The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director (1754) reflected the growing influence of the French Rococo style, which found expression in America in overlays of playful, naturalistic carving (2007.302a-c). Chippendale did not invent the richly carved style that now bears his name; rather, he codified the reigning fashion in England for creative blends of Gothic, Asian, and French Rococo designs. Chairs in the Chippendale style became more rectilinear, with square seat frames, straight stiles, and outward-flaring “ears” at the top corners. Claw-and-ball feet with sharply articulated talons replaced the smooth contours of pad and slipper feet. Back splats, formerly solid and unornamented, came to be pierced and intricately carved with foliage and interlaced patterns (57.158.1). In case furniture, the Chippendale style was an extension of the Queen Anne: in Philadelphia, for example, traditional Baroque forms such as the high chest of drawers were updated with carved Rococo ornament (18.110.6). In New England, where the influence of immigrant craftsmen was minimal, cabinetmakers relied primarily on shaped facades rather than on ornamental carving to impart visual interest (10.125.81a; 2001.644). Leisure activities became more commonplace in the late colonial period, a result of greater prosperity and the widespread pursuit of refinement. To satisfy demand, cabinetmakers produced specialized furniture forms such as tables for playing cards and taking tea. These pieces increasingly took on bold three-dimensional shapes and often rested on leaf-carved cabriole legs ending in claw feet (25.115.31; 67.114.1). By the 1750s, Philadelphia had surpassed Boston as the largest colonial city. Immigrant artisans trained in the latest European fashions created lavish interiors and furnishings for the Georgian-style homes of Philadelphia’s mercantile elite (Powel Room, 18.87.1–.4). New York also benefited from a surge in immigration in the years preceding the Revolution. Artisans there catered to the Loyalist sympathies of their patrons by closely following English forms, such as the five-legged card table, and the chest-on-chest (47.35; 64.249.3). By contrast, the most original American furniture was made in Newport, Rhode Island, where native-born cabinetmakers held sway. Led by members of the Townsend and Goddard families, Newport cabinetmakers developed a distinctive local style epitomized by block-and-shell case pieces that have no known parallel in European furniture or contemporary furniture books (15.21.2). The transition from Queen Anne to Chippendale furniture in the colonies was neither immediate nor universal. Outside the major cities, the change was gradual and, at times, imperceptible. Late Baroque forms remained extremely popular, and gracefully curved pieces with restrained surface ornament continued to be produced well after the Revolution. Nevertheless, by the 1780s, the sweeping curves of the late Baroque and the exuberant ornament of the Rococo were giving way to a renewed interest in classical precedents, which found expression in the delicate, rectilinear forms of the Neoclassical, or Federal, style.
Citation
Vincent, Nicholas C. “American Furniture, 1730–1790: Queen Anne and Chippendale Styles.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/chip/hd_chip.htm (December 2009)
Further Reading
Eversmann, Pauline K. The Winterthur Guide to Recognizing Styles: American Decorative Arts from the 17th through 19th Centuries. Winterthur, Del.: Winterthur Museum, 2001. Heckscher, Morrison H. American Furniture in the Metropolitan Museum of Art: Late Colonial Period: Queen Anne and Chippendale. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1985. See on MetPublications Jobe, Brock W. "The Late Baroque in Colonial America: The Queen Anne Style." In American Furniture with Related Decorative Arts, 1660–1830, edited by Gerald W. R. Ward. New York: Hudson Hills Press, 1992.
Additional Essays by Nicholas C. Vincent
- Vincent, Nicholas C.. “Shaker Furniture.” (March 2012)
- Vincent, Nicholas C.. “American Furniture, 1620–1730: The Seventeenth-Century and William and Mary Styles.” (March 2010)
Related Essays
- American Georgian Interiors (Mid-Eighteenth-Century Period Rooms)
- American Rococo
- Art and Identity in the British North American Colonies, 1700–1776
- Interior Design in England, 1600–1800
- Thomas Chippendale’s Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director
- Abraham and David Roentgen
- American Federal-Era Period Rooms
- American Furniture, 1620–1730: The Seventeenth-Century and William and Mary Styles
- Architecture in Renaissance Italy
- Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate in Early Colonial America
- English Ornament Prints and Furniture Books in Eighteenth-Century America
- George Washington: Man, Myth, Monument
- John Singleton Copley (1738–1815)
- John Townsend (1733–1809)
- The Lansdowne Dining Room, London
- The Manila Galleon Trade (1565–1815)
- Nineteenth-Century English Silver
- Visual Culture of the Atlantic World
Chronology
- The United States, 1600–1800 A.D.
Keywords
Artist or Maker
- Affleck, Thomas
- Chippendale, Thomas
- Goddard, John
- Gould, Nathaniel
- Palladio, Andrea
- Townsend, John
- Townsend, Thomas
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This curve also adds a decorative element to the chair, making it a focal point in the room. Table legs in the Chippendale style often feature an S-shaped curve. This curve can be seen in both the front and back legs of a table, adding a sense of balance and symmetry. The curve of the Chippendale in table legs creates an elegant and refined look, making the table a statement piece in any space. Cabinet doors in the Chippendale style may also incorporate the curve of the Chippendale. This curve is often seen in the top rail of the cabinet door, creating a visually appealing and distinctive design. The use of curves in cabinet doors adds a touch of sophistication and refinement to the overall piece. Overall, the curve of the Chippendale is a hallmark of the Chippendale style of furniture. It adds elegance, movement, and visual interest to the design, making Chippendale furniture highly sought after for its beauty and craftsmanship. Whether it's a chair, table, or cabinet, the curve of the Chippendale is sure to enhance any space with its graceful and timeless appeal..
Reviews for "The Chippendale Curve in British Design History"
1. Sarah - 2/5
I found "Curve of the Chippendalex" to be quite disappointing. The storyline lacked depth and the characters felt one-dimensional. The humor in the play fell flat for me, and I found myself losing interest halfway through. The actors did their best with the material they were given, but it wasn't enough to salvage the overall experience. I was expecting something more engaging and thought-provoking, but unfortunately, this play fell short of my expectations.
2. John - 1/5
I cannot express how much I disliked "Curve of the Chippendalex". The plot was almost nonexistent, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The attempted humor was cringeworthy and left me more annoyed than entertained. The cast seemed disengaged, which only further underlined the lackluster script. I regret spending my time and money on this play and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a meaningful theater experience.
3. Emily - 2/5
"Curve of the Chippendalex" had the potential to be intriguing, but it failed to deliver. The plot meandered aimlessly, and the characters were difficult to connect with. The attempts at humor often fell flat, and the pacing felt off, making it hard to stay engaged throughout the performance. While there were a few moments that showed promise, overall, I was underwhelmed by this play. I left the theater feeling unsatisfied and wishing I had chosen a different production to attend.