Pictures of Chairs by Thomas Chippendale

These chairs designs are in the French rococo style of the mid 18th century. They were meant to be made from mahogany and feature modified cabriole legs, carved with leaf ornament, ending in a scroll or curl over foot. Unusually for the period, these chairs do not use the claw and ball foot.

The Chippendale design chairs here have central open work splats with finely carved ornaments. The top rails are serpentine in form, again borrowing from the French rococo style. The uprights are slightly curved.

¶ Are a variety of new pattern chairs, which, if executed according to their designs, and by a skillful workman, will have a very good effect. The fore feet are all different for your better choice. If you think they are too much ornamented, that can be omitted at pleasure. The proper dimensions of those chairs are one foot ten inches in the front, one foot five inches ½ behind, and one foot five inches from the front of the back foot to the front rail; the back, one foot ten inches ½ high; the seat one foot five high; but that is made lower according as the seat is to be stuffed.

Next Page: Ribbon Back Chairs.