The Gentleman's and Cabinet-Maker's Director
Medium
furniture
Classification
furniture
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-450-146
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Thomas Chippendale (1718–1779), one of Britain's most celebrated furniture designers, published *The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's* in 1755. This seminal work, housed in the Smithsonian American Art's collection, served as a comprehensive pattern book featuring intricate designs for household furniture in the fashionable rococo, chinoiserie, and Gothic of the Georgian era. Acquired through the generosity of the Museum's Advisory Council, it exemplifies fusion of artistry and craftsmanship that defined 18th-century decorative arts. The book's historical significance lies in its role as a desig...